How To Identify S.T.A.R. Employees During the Interview Process

By implementing the S.T.A.R. behavioral interview approach, you find out much more than what is on a person's resume, such as how they performed and made decisions in a specific situation—which is a good indicator of how they will perform in your organization.

• Situation: What was the goal?

• Task: What tasks were they asked to complete?

• Action: What actions did they undertake?

• Results: What were the outcomes?

The benefit, to organizations of all sizes, of using the S.T.A.R. behavioral interview approach is that it provides more insight into a candidate's thinking process and ability to achieve goals:

• Identify past behavior and performance.

• Predict future behavior and performance (in your organization).

• Ensure proper fit with job, company culture, and management style.

For example: We worked with a client, an auto dealership, that was interviewing candidates for a sales position. One candidate applying for the job proclaimed that he consistently sold 20 cars per month at his previous job. After implementing the S.T.A.R. behavioral interview approach and asking more situational questions, the interviewer discovered the candidate was part of a team that sold 20 cars per month. That makes a big difference!

Combining the S.T.A.R. behavioral interview approach with pre-employment testing not only expedites the prep and interview time but also yields a "one-two punch" that will dramatically improve the interview process.

1. Pre-employment testing provides an objective snapshot of how the candidate behaves and acts in certain situations.

2. The S.T.A.R. approach reveals how the candidate's thinking manifested itself in real-life situations.

Want to learn how to do this in your own business? Check out our guide on "How To Conduct a S.T.A.R. Behavioral Interview."

Wish Upon a S.T.A.R.

Stop dreaming about finding the ideal job candidates. Whether your organization provides goods or services, is B-to-B or B-to-C, or large or small, implementing the S.T.A.R. behavioral interview approach should be part of your hiring and selection process.

• Increase sales

• Reduce turnover

• Improve customer satisfaction

• Enhance culture

• Train new employees faster

• Mitigate risky behavior such as theft, accidents, and lower morale

Want to learn more? Sign up for our online Behavioral Interview Training, which provides a proven guide to understanding and implementing effective behavioral interviewing techniques to identify top talent, improve your hiring ROI, and increase your company's competitive edge in today's market.