Application advice and STAR / CAR methods
For international Students
When applying for jobs or other opportunities in the UK, it is essential to communicate your skills and experiences clearly and professionally. Your application may take the form of:
- a CV and cover letter
- an application form with short-answer questions
- video interviews or assessment tasks (for example - psychometric tests).
Whatever the format, it’s important to follow any instructions provided by the employer and tailor your answers specifically to the job you’re applying for.
Why use STAR and CAR?
When answering competency-based questions — commonly found in interviews and application forms — employers want to know how you have behave in real situations. The STAR and CAR methods are popular and effective frameworks that help you structure your answers in a clear and logical way.
These methods help you highlight your skills, actions, and results so that employers can clearly understand your experience.
What is the STAR method?
Situation – Briefly describe the context or background.
Task – Explain the challenge or goal you needed to achieve.
Action – Describe the specific steps you took.
Result – Share the outcome and what you learned or achieved.
Use of the STAR method in a written application
Question: Describe a time when you worked effectively as part of a team.
Response:
- Situation: During my role on the student council, we organised a charity event.
- Task: We aimed to raise £5,000 and increase awareness of homelessness.
- Action: I coordinated logistics, secured sponsorships, and led promotional activities.
- Result: We raised £7,500 and were featured in the local newspaper.
Use of the STAR method in an interview
Question: Tell me about a time when you faced a significant challenge.
Response:
- Situation: I was interning at a marketing firm working to meet a tight campaign deadline.
- Task: We had just one week to develop a full social media strategy.
- Action: I organised planning sessions, delegated tasks, and ensured daily check-ins.
- Result: We delivered the campaign 2 days early and received client praise.
What is the CAR method?
Context – Explain the background or situation.
Action – Outline what you did.
Result – Describe the outcome, feedback, or impact.
Use of the CAR method in a written application
Question: Provide an example of a time when you demonstrated problem-solving skills.
Response:
- Context: While volunteering, we lost a key supplier before an event.
- Action: I contacted alternative vendors and worked with the team to redesign the plan.
- Result: The event ran smoothly and received excellent feedback.
Use of the CAR method in an interview
Question: Describe a time when you had to lead a group to achieve a goal.
Response:
- Context: My team was behind on a university group project.
- Action: I set up a clear plan, virtual meetings, and shared resources for collaboration.
- Result: We completed the project on time, and the group praised my leadership.
STAR and CAR – what is the difference?
Method: STAR
Structure: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Focus: Emphasises the task and the challenge you faced.
Method: CAR
Structure: Context, Action, Result.
Focus: Focuses on the situation and the actions taken, without explicitly stating a task.
Tips for using STAR and CAR effectively
Be specific
Avoid general statements. Use 1 clear example that shows your skills.
Example: Instead of saying, “I’m a good communicator,” say, “I led a workshop for 30 students on nutrition. I received positive feedback, and more students joined our campaign afterwards.”
Focus on your role
When talking about teamwork, explain what you did.
Example: “I contacted local businesses and secured £2,000 in sponsorship. I also arranged for the sponsor’s logos to be shown during the event.”
Tailor your examples
Match your answers to the skills mentioned in the job advert.
Example (for problem-solving): “During my internship, I designed a new Excel system to track inventory. This reduced errors by 40% and saved time.”
Practice out loud
Practise saying your answers to common questions aloud. This helps with confidence and fluency.
Tip: Try recording yourself answering: “Tell me about a time when you managed your time well.”
Keep it professional
Use clear, formal English. Do not use informal words or expressions.
Example: Instead of saying, “We did complete it and everyone loved it,” say, “We successfully exceeded our targets by 30% and received very positive feedback from both staff and students.”
For more information, please head to the following resources:
Student Circus: International Student Careers Manual
Handshake: International Students: Resources for you
National Careers Service: STAR Method
Student Circus: Using the CAR Method