Speaking: Specific Purposes B2 - Lesson 3: Participating Actively in Job Interviews (Behavioral Questions)
Welcome back! Modern job interviews go beyond simple questions. Interviewers often use behavioral questions1, which start with phrases like "Tell me about a time when..." or "Give me an example of...". They do this to understand how you have behaved in past work situations, as this is the best predictor of your future performance.
The STAR Method: Your Key to Powerful Answers
The best way to answer behavioral questions is with a clear, structured story. The most famous and effective structure is the STAR method2. It helps you tell a concise, powerful story that demonstrates your skills.
The STAR Method Framework:
- S - Situation:
- Briefly describe the context. What was the situation? Where were you? (1-2 sentences)
- T - Task:
- What was your goal or responsibility in this situation? What needed to be done? (1 sentence)
- A - Action:
- This is the most important part. Describe the specific actions *you* took to handle the situation. Use strong action verbs.
- R - Result:
- What was the positive outcome of your actions? Quantify3 it if possible (e.g., saved time, increased sales by 10%).
Scenario: Answering a Behavioral Question
Listen to this interview question and the candidate's excellent answer using the STAR method.
Interviewer: "Tell me about a time you had to deal with a major, unexpected obstacle4 in a project."
Candidate's Answer:
(S - Situation) "Certainly. In my previous role as a project coordinator, my team was organizing a large charity event with only two weeks to go. Suddenly, our main sponsor pulled out due to their own budget cuts."
(T - Task) "My main **task** was to secure a new sponsor urgently to ensure the event could still go ahead as planned without a major loss of funding."
(A - Action) "First, I immediately **analyzed** our list of potential backup sponsors. I **identified** the top three companies whose brand values aligned with our charity's mission. Then, I **customized** our sponsorship proposal for each one, highlighting the specific benefits for them. I **scheduled** and **led** emergency meetings with all three companies within two days."
(R - Result) "As a result, not only did we find a replacement, but one of the companies was so impressed with our mission that they offered to sponsor the event for the next three years. The event was a huge success, and we actually raised 15% more than our original goal."
The Language of Competence
Use Powerful Action Verbs: Instead of "I was responsible for...", say what you *did*. Verbs like `managed`, `organized`, `coordinated`, `implemented`, `negotiated`, `analyzed`, `resolved`, and `improved` sound much stronger.
Focus on "I", Not "We": The interviewer wants to know about *your* contribution. It's okay to say "we" to give context to the team, but when you describe the actions, be specific about your role.
Instead of: "We improved sales."
Try: "I **analyzed** the customer data, which helped my team **develop** a strategy that increased sales by 10%."
Practice Quiz: Identify the STAR Component
Read the sentence from a STAR answer and identify which part it is.
1. "As a result of my new scheduling system, my team's efficiency increased by 20%."
A) Situation
B) Task
C) Action
D) Result
→ Answer: D. This sentence describes the positive, quantifiable outcome.
2. "The main goal was to reduce customer complaints by 50% within three months."
A) Situation
B) Task
C) Action
D) Result
→ Answer: B. This sentence clearly defines the specific objective or task that needed to be achieved.
Your Mission: Prepare Your STAR Story
Your mission is to prepare an answer for one common behavioral question so you are ready for your next interview.
- Choose one of these questions:
- Tell me about a time you worked successfully on a team.
- Describe a time you had to learn a new skill quickly.
- Give an example of a time you showed initiative.
- Think of a real example from your work, a project, or your university life.
- Use the STAR method to structure your story. Write down keywords for each of the four sections (S, T, A, R). Do not write full sentences.
- Practice telling the story out loud using your keywords. Use strong action verbs and try to make the result sound impressive. Having 2-3 of these stories prepared will make you feel incredibly confident in any job interview.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Behavioral Question: (Noun Phrase) - សំណួរឥរិយាបទ - An interview question that asks a candidate to provide a specific example of how they have behaved in a past work situation. ↩
- STAR Method: (Noun) - វិធីសាស្ត្រ STAR - A structured technique for answering behavioral questions by outlining the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. ↩
- To Quantify: (Verb) - វាស់វែង - To express or measure the result of something with numbers. ↩
- Obstacle: (Noun) - ឧបសគ្គ - Something that blocks you or makes it difficult to achieve something. ↩
- To handle: (Verb) - ដោះស្រាយ - To deal with a situation, a person, an area of work, or a strong emotion. ↩