PROJECT 11: Behavioral Based Interview—S.T.A.R.S.
OVERVIEW
Many employers use this specialized interview technique to identify the qualities they prefer in a
candidate. The idea is that past behavior determines the likelihood of future behavior. This
project will prepare you for this style interview which you are very likely to encounter during your
job search now and in future years as you change jobs or seek promotions.
PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS:

Chapter and figure numbers listed within the project refer to the textbook Career Planning
Strategies: Hire Me! (5th Edition).

Your finished project should fulfill all parts of the listed requirements.
Behavior-Based Interview
A. Re-read the section titled “Anticipate Questions” and the section titled “Interviewing Styles”
in chapter 18. Identify a job title and a brief job description summary with a job qualifications
list.
B. Review these PowerPoint lectures:
1. Behavioral Interviewing
2. A Primer on Behavioral Interviews
C. Using the website’s search engine, enter the phrase “behavior-based interview” and look at
relevant sites. You may also find the following sites helpful: www.quintcareers.com,
www.wetfeet.com, and www.vault.com. Use Google, Yahoo, or another search engine to
locate others needed.
D. Behavioral-based Competencies: Write one to two pages summarizing the information on
behavior based interviewing from these websites. Identify your non-textbook resources based
on your search engine search and other web-based research.
E. Behavioral-based Questions: Write ten questions an interviewer might ask seeking a
behavioral-based answer that specifically relates to your career interest and your background.
If you did project 5 on Interview questions, choose different questions from those used there.
F. Behavioral-based S.T.A.R. Answers: Choose five of those questions and write with a
convincing answer based on your personal experiences. State what you HAVE done and not
what you MIGHT do. These are responses that you might use in future on- and off-campus
interviews. You must identify at least 3 S.T.A.R.S. that will convince the interviewer that you
possess the competencies required to do the job.
G. Deliverables: You should turn in to your Career Counselor
a. Describe the concept of behavioral based interviewing, why it is used. Name your sources.
b. List ten questions most likely to be asked of you.
c. Identify three S.T.A.R.S. that you will use to reveal your past behaviors. Turn in an outline
of your three S.T.A.R.S. using one page per situation.