1. Becoming Interview
STARs
Developing Workplace Competencies
Engineering 3000

2. Why be an interviewing STAR?
 Good interviews get you the job offer!
Application
Initial Interview
Second Interview
and/or Trip
Job Offer
A good resume and cover letter
A good interview
A good match

3. I need a volunteer from
the audience!

4. TTYP – Turn to Your Partner
Which interview style elicited more useful
information? Why?
 Think about your response.
 Share your response with your partner.
 Come to agreement between the two of
you.
 Be prepared to share your answers.

5. What you saw was BBI
 BBI = Behavioral-based Interviewing
 Past behavior is the best predictor of
future performance.
 Focuses on demonstration of
competencies.
 Provides standard and objective
assessment criteria.
 Over 80% of companies interviewing for
engineers at USF use BBI.

6. BBI vs. Traditional Interviewing
Personal Traits
Personal History
Accomplishments
Interviewer
Confirmation
Traditional
Competencies
Situation
Action
Validation
BBI

7. A reminder: USF Competencies
Engineering
Knowledge
Innovation Teamwork
General
Knowledge
Cultural
Adaptability
Integrity
Continuous
Learning
Analysis &
Judgment
Professional
Impact
Quality
Orientation
Planning Customer Focus
Initiative Communication
Safety
Awareness

8. STARs and BBI
 Career specialists suggest applicants
answer BBI-type questions using a STAR:
 Situation or Task
 Action
 Result
 You should go into interviews with your
“A” game, confident and well-prepared.
 STARs help you prepare for BBI
interviewing.

9. An Example STAR
 The Question:
 “Tell about a time when you showed initiative.”
 Situation or Task
 "I was a member of the student organization,
XYZ. We planned to have a float for EXPO. Our
president stopped attending meetings or
communicating with the other officers. Attendance
dropped and nothing happened at meetings. Our
organization had been on campus for a long time
and had a great reputation.”

10. An Example STAR
 Action
 "Although I was not an elected leader, I asked two officers
to meet me at the union to talk about the float.“
 Result
 "At the meeting, I mentioned that XYZ had a great
reputation and my Dad talked about XYZ when he was a
student. The vice president agreed to meet with the
president to clarify his role. We learned the president was
having problems and was relieved that the vice president
was willing to assume leadership. The three of us looked at
the requirements in the by-laws and took the necessary
steps to change the leadership to the vice president. I
contacted the members who stopped attending. We got a
late start, but we pulled together and had the float in the
parade."

11. Initiative Competency
 Definition
 Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives;
taking action to achieve goals beyond what is
required; being proactive.
Key Action In the
STAR?
Takes independent action 
Goes above and beyond. 
Responds quickly. ?*
* Interviewer may ask a follow-up question.

12. TTYP – Turn to Your Partner
Question 1: Describe a situation where others you
were working with on a project disagreed with
your ideas. What did you do? (Teamwork)
Question 2: Tell about a time when you had too
many things to do and you were required to
prioritize your tasks. (Planning)
 Each of you take a question.
 Think about your response – jot down some
notes in the form of a STAR.
 Share your STAR with your partner.
 Be prepared to share your STARs.

13. Create a Library of STARs
 You should have at least one STAR for
each of the 15 competencies.
 Focus on the Key Actions.
 This collection of STARs is a useful
library.
 It should change over time.
 Use it for preparing for interviews.

14. On Your Own
 Create a STAR for three of the seven
“core” competencies:
 Engineering Knowledge, General Knowledge,
Analysis and Judgment, Communication,
Continuous Learning, Initiative, and Teamwork.
 Focus on the Key Actions.
 Use these headings for each STAR:
 - Situation/Task
 - Action
 - Result(s)