Qu'est-ce que STAR Method ?
Definition
The STAR method is a structured framework used to answer behavioural interview questions — those that ask for a specific past experience as evidence of a competency. STAR stands for: Situation (what was the context?), Task (what was your specific responsibility?), Action (exactly what did YOU do?), Result (what was the outcome, ideally quantified?).
In practice
For candidates, STAR structures answers that are concise, specific and evidence-based — avoiding vague generalisations like "I'm a good team player" in favour of "In 2023, our project was three weeks behind schedule [Situation]. As project lead, I needed to recover the timeline without budget increase [Task]. I renegotiated scope with the client, restructured the team's sprint plan, and ran daily standups [Action]. We delivered on the revised date, the client extended the contract, and the team's satisfaction scores improved [Result]." For interviewers, STAR provides a consistent structure for evaluating the quality of behavioural evidence and asking targeted follow-up questions. Some frameworks extend STAR to STAR+L (adding Lessons learned) or use SOAR (Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result).
Key takeaway
Action and Result are the most revealing parts of a STAR answer — push candidates past the situation description to the specific choices they made and the measurable outcomes those choices produced.
Définitions connexes
Behavioural Interview
Interview technique based on the premise that past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour, using questions that elicit specific examples of past experiences.
Structured Interview
Interview format using a predefined set of identical questions for all candidates, scored against standardised criteria, to maximise fairness and predictive validity.
Soft Skills
Interpersonal, emotional and behavioural skills — communication, adaptability, critical thinking, leadership — that determine how a person works with others and handles situations.
Hard Skills
Specific, teachable, measurable technical skills and knowledge acquired through training or experience — programming, accounting, foreign languages, etc.