25 frequently asked STAR questions in job interviews

Preparation is half the battle. That goes for job interviews as well. No two conversations are ever the same, but there are questions that recur. We’ve put together a list of 25 questions that have a high chance of being asked at an interview where the STAR-method is being used.

#1 Have you ever had a customer crying on the phone? How did you respond?

#2 What is the toughest criticism you’ve received in your career until now? How did you deal with this?

#3 Tell us about a time you took the initiative on a project or task at work.

#4 How do you tackle a task you’ve never done before?

#5 Have you ever unintentionally offended or upset someone? Can you describe the details?

#6 Can you tell me about the last time you had to act on something without a formal policy or procedure on how to go about it?

#7 Can you tell me about a time when you let someone down? How did you handle it?

#8 Can you tell me about a time when it was particularly important to impress the client? What did you do different from usual?

#9 Was there ever a time you had to work with someone who had a completely different personality than your own? How did that influence your work?

#10 Describe a time when you had difficulty building a relationship with a colleague. Did you overcome this?

#11 Describe your first job. How did you learn the ropes?

#12 Describe a time when you had to manage many responsibilities at once. How did you deal with this?

#13 Describe a moment you convinced someone to see things your way at work.

#14 Tell me about a time you had to explain something difficult to someone who knew little about the subject.

#15 In your career so far, have you been working under close of loose supervision? Which style do you prefer?

#16 Can you give an example of how you deal with change?

#17 Tell me about a mistake you made at your last position and what happened after?

#18 Describe a situation when you knew you were right about something, but you had to follow your manager’s (different) instructions.

#19 Can you tell me about your last work related uncomfortable conversation?

#20 Give an example of a plan you presented and how you dealt with the feedback.

#21 Describe a time when you were confronted with a stressful situation. How did you handle it?

#22 How do you deal with dissatisfied customers?

#23 Describe a situation in which you have convinced someone of the added value of your work.

#24 Can you give an example of a time when you tried to achieve something and failed?

#25 Can you give an example of a setback you overcame during the last year?