How to use the STAR Method to Create a Superior Resume?

 

The STAR Method is a method of organising facts and data you want to emphasise to create an eye-catching resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers. The STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action Result) is like the AIDA Approach, except it emphasises your achievements at work rather than just stating basic background information.

1: Situation

 

This is the first step in creating your resume using the STAR Method. You need to state an "In-Context" situation that demonstrates your skills, achievements, and attributes relevant to this particular job. The key here is relevance. Your resume is a marketing document for you as a prospective employee, so use specifics from the job posting and words specific to the company if they already appear on their website. 

2: Task

 

A good example of actionable words in this section would be "managed," "established," or "designed." Notice I avoided saying what these people did (like created graphics or directed customers). Unless it's evident from context who was doing what activity, you should avoid getting too specific. You'll want to be general to expand the relevance of your achievements to other jobs, as well as avoid making assumptions or raising questions about what tasks were delegated and by whom.

3: Action & Results

 

The final piece of content in this section is a list of results produced from your actions. You must include quantifiable data wherever possible because hiring managers become interested when they see proof that you can deliver measurable results for them. This helps identify opportunities for improvement on their part, so don't leave out any numbers! 

You can choose to present these results as a list, or you can go with the text. It is unnecessary to describe the actual result of your activity or achievement, but it's essential to mention what was different after the fact. In this case, you should state if your actions increased sales, reduced costs, improved efficiency (speed), etc. You will want to avoid using any trite terms like "increased," "decreased," and "improved" to increase the impact of what you are sharing with potential employers.

 

How To Write A Resume Using The STAR Method

 

While we've gone through some examples of resumes using the STAR Method, it's time to examine how to write a resume using this method! Follow these steps to make sure your resume is written effectively using the STAR Method format :

1: Understand Your Desired Position

 

When writing your resume for specific positions, investigate what skills are required of potential employees first. Once you know what words and phrases are being used in different job postings, you'll want to modify your resume for the position by adding those keywords in your resume's executive summary. Target the right skills and keywords to ensure that hiring managers notice your accomplishments because they're written in a way that makes them easy to find!

2: Write The Situation

 

Think about how you would introduce yourself to someone. Don't list out all of the facts about yourself (i.e., born on January 5, 1985; went to Sweet Valley High School from 2003 through 2009; married Mary Doe; etc.), but instead write a statement or two describing what led you up until this point. You can choose a timeline if that works best for your situation, but be sure it doesn't hinder you on your way to including those keywords relevant to the position!

3: Describe Your Task & Action

 

This section summarises the tasks that led up to the achievement mentioned in the action and results. This should be written as one sentence within each bullet point. Now's not the time to talk about how much effort you put into completing each task, but now is an excellent time to acknowledge what steps were required before proceeding with your subsequent actions.

You'll want to avoid using trite descriptions like "managed" or "developed" here because it's too specific. It's better to describe exactly what you did concerning your overall goal (resume writing) and then tell readers how close you came to reaching your desired outcome.

4: Include Quantifiable Data (numbers, percentages, and dollar signs)

 

You can choose to write a list of results or create text that describes the benefits of each action/activity. You must include numbers wherever possible because hiring managers become interested when they see proof that you can deliver measurable results for them. This helps identify opportunities for improvement on their part, so don't leave out any numbers! 

It is unnecessary to describe the actual result of your activity or achievement, but it's essential to mention what was different after the fact. In this case, you should state if your actions increased sales, reduced costs, improved efficiency (speed), etc. If you did something that someone else was doing before, be sure to point out how your actions managed to improve upon the performance of others.

5: Close With A Call To Action

 

Once you've described all of the tasks and results, close by stating that you'd like to speak with them because you can add value to their business, you can use this opportunity to include some keywords from the job listing again if relevant.

If any previous experience is required for the position (e.g., retail merchandise or financial services), mention it here on your resume's executive summary. Find a way to summarise those years in an impactful way through numbers whenever possible! 

 

Final Thoughts

 

When you're done summarising every part of the S T A R Method resume writing technique, close by repeating the critical situation that led to your being in the job market, this is not only an excellent way to utilise keywords from the job listing, but it also serves to stress your interest in the position.

By utilising the STAR Method, you'll be able to make sure that your resume includes the right keywords precisely. This will make it easy for hiring managers to find out if you're a good fit for their organisation without reading through a boring list of the irrelevant information!

We hope this article helps you use the STAR Method effectively and get noticed by potential employers. Be sure to bookmark our site to help give you more ideas on rock your following interview or presentation when it comes around.

Your best friend in job search, 

Faruse Team

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