When interviewing for a new job, you’ll likely be asked how you’ve handled challenging situations in the past.
With budget, time, and staff restrictions commonly found today’s workplace, there are plenty of situations you can draw upon. In addition, the person asking you this question could be from any generation from pre-Boomer to Gen Z, which influences the answer they would like to hear. Using the STAR method of Situation, Task, Action, and Result is a good tactic for describing how you worked in a challenging environment. Here are some strategies to use STAR when interviewing with employers from different generations.
Situation.
The first step of the STAR method is to describe the situation you were in that was challenging. A Boomer might be most affected by hearing about a time when you were ambitious but didn’t have the resources to achieve what you wanted. A Gen X or Millennial might like to hear about issues you’ve faced about work-life balance. And a Gen Z is going to be interested in challenges you’ve dealt with around our social climate.
Task.
When discussing the task with an interviewer, you are narrowing in on the problem or challenge you were in charge of solving. Older generations may want you to focus on things that are important to them like achieving goals and setting new processes. Younger generations might want to hear stories where you focused on making your work environment more diverse or helped overcome a social economic issue. Be prepared with a task that speaks to each generation.
Action.
When you address the actions that you took to overcome challenges, you have an opportunity to illustrate what skills and character you have. Again, older generations are going to like to see concrete qualities like following schedules and seeking more education. Younger generations appreciate an outward focus so the actions you take should include other people’s well-being as well as your own. Look at describing your actions as way to demonstrate qualities that each generation will appreciate.
Results.
Finally, the last step of the STAR method is to discuss what results came from your actions. Boomers love loyalty, so emphasize how you developed customer loyalty for your company through solving your deficits. Gen X love people who are motivated, so give examples of increasing motivation among your team members. Millennials thrive on collaboration, so give your interview a picture of how your team learned to come together to make decisions. And Gen Z puts a high value on diversity and inclusion, so always demonstrate how you created a work environment where each member felt heard respected.
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