You finally get that interview for your dream job! While you’re there, the hiring manager looks over your resume and asks you:
“What happened to this project on your resume? Was it successful?”
Crafting the perfect response to this question can land you the position!
The STAR Strategy
The STAR strategy stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Using this strategy during interviews allows you to give well-rounded examples that show why you're the best person for the job.
Before starting the STAR technique, listen to the question and think about the project in detail.
Situation: describe the project's goal
Task: explain the task you had to complete
Action: describe specific actions you took to complete the task
Result: explain how it turned out
How To Answer If Your Project Was Successful
S: This project was the first task I was given at my job.
T: I was asked to create a short video that would be included in a course. At the time of my project assignment, I had very little knowledge about the subject matter.
A: The first thing I did was speak to the course creator. They guided me to some great resources to learn more about the topic. Then I gathered all of the media I needed to assemble the video.
R: I created the video without problems and completed it after some minor edits. I had fun and now I continue to help build other videos for courses when needed!
How To Answer If Your Project Was Unsuccessful
Sometimes projects don't go well. It's okay to be honest! Tell the interviewer why your project wasn't successful and how it could have been better.
S: I did this project in school for my public speaking class.
T: I was asked to present for 30 minutes about a subject that I had no previous knowledge of. I had to explain why this topic was important.
A: I researched the topic, and gathered resources to create the presentation.
R: The presentation didn't go well. Unfortunately, I didn't meet the time requirement and my argument wasn't strong enough. I could have slowed down my speech and prepared more. Later, I created a better presentation for the final assignment!
Quiz
A hiring manager asks you, "I see there is a web design project on your resume. How did that turn out?" The project went poorly because of some decisions you made. How should you explain the result? Select all that apply.
Take Action
While in the interview, remember that you want these projects to reflect why you're the perfect candidate! Your answers should show off your skills, like problem-solving, learning, and working with a team.
Good luck!
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