Professional Development: Competency-Based Questions and STAR Method

This report focuses on the application of the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique for answering competency-based interview questions. The introduction explains the STAR technique as a method for providing coherent answers, highlighting its four key steps. The report then presents two examples of competency-based questions, addressing achievements and situations involving change. Each example meticulously breaks down the scenario using the STAR framework, detailing the situation, the task at hand, the actions taken, and the resulting outcome. The first example describes a situation where the author was recognized as 'Consultant of the Year' during their medical degree, detailing the development of a new CT scanner. The second example focuses on a situation where the author had to take over a presentation due to a colleague's absence, demonstrating adaptability and problem-solving skills. The conclusion emphasizes the effectiveness of the STAR method in structuring answers to competency-based questions, making information more impressive and effective in a presentable style. The report also includes a list of references, citing books, journals, and online resources that support the concepts discussed. The report aims to provide a practical guide for interview preparation using the STAR technique.

Competency Based Question

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. Achievement that you are proud of and challenges to achieve target................................1
2. Situation where you implemented change..........................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Facing an interview is simple as well as complex at the same time. It depends on the
perception and styles of delivery of answers that attract the interviewers most. STAR technique
is the best way to resolve competency based questions which render a coherent communication
that includes 4 major steps which is situation, task, action and resolution (Craft better job
interview answers with the STAR technique, 2017). This report will answer few questions with
the help of STAR method.
1. Achievement that you are proud of and challenges to achieve target
Situation
The main achievement of mine is that I was announced as 'Consultant of the year' while
pursuing my medical degree. A team of Acne Medical System recruited me for developing a new
scanner of computed tomography while I was performing in other company as a consultant of
product development. Company assigned me to create a new scanner with cardiac facility for
presenting in their upcoming events which was were organised by college in which there is visit
of vice president included. For that, the CT-scanner evolution was required to be made for which
I was hired (Jordan and et. al., 2012).
Task
Building keyboard is a complicated process as it is a big and complex instrument
including knobs, tools, cardinal and others. Major issues that I faced while formulating this was
that it was too big to fit in any production instrument. The calculated days it had took was
approximately 2 weeks in making due to complexity of process. I had only few days for
developing the project for college and so, I worked from 8 am till mid night for developing the
project. Thus, whole weekend was spent in the same routine. I initially worked on the designs of
keyboard forming the entire new structure ensured with consumer. To provide the assembled
plan, for the next time, I altered CAD abilities to digitally distinguish the complicated structure
to convert them into smaller elements for having ease in production.
Activity
I utilize the finite component structure to ensure my clients about the assembly procedure
which was their demand (Watkins, 2012). When my clients were dealing with the other parts of
scanners, I was interacting with suppliers for making effective and cost effective deal. I met with
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six people and convinced suppliers according to the budget of organisation. I have chosen 3 of
them and worked on the process of production. Lastly, I met the third provider and completed
whole manufacture and rendered the projects to college before the day of vice president visit.
Result
The result was pleasing as the prototype keyboard made attractive and completed before
a day of last schedule made under the budget amount. The scanner was manufactured 20% below
the cost of usual scanner. For hard work and efforts that I made, college honoured me with the
title of “Consultant of the year”.
2. Situation where you implemented change
Situation
When I was working in a company last year, I and my colleague William Malcolm were
working on a new product development project from past few months. The concept was
impressive and we both have allotted our work in different tasks (Brightwell and Grant, 2013). It
was the day when William was going to deliver his report on our project in front of 25 interested
businessmen and he got stuck in heavy traffic in Birmingham due to some accidents on the
presentation day.
(Source 1: Use the STAR Technique to Ace Your Behavioural Interview, 2008)
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Task
The question which is my role in the whole process. My role in the situation was to seek
the possible alternative of this solution to portray a better image of company before industry
players and grasp the opportunity (Falender and Shafranske, 2012).
Activity
Before acquiring any change, I need the permission of manager and admin of
organisation so that I can make variables in running commends. After convincing the higher
authorities, I reviewed entire presentation and documents and ran towards the meeting room and
gave the presentation.
Result
I was unaware about some information mentioned in the presentation file so it was a quite
rough time. I explained the complexity of consequences to those delegates and warmly presented
file for 15 minutes (Sue, Rasheed and Rasheed, 2015). In the meanwhile, William made out from
the traffic situation and headed directly to the meeting room. At the end, we made it by creating
two person our company permanent clients and it was quite impressive presentation (Anderson,
2012).
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that STAR method of answering competency
based question is helpful which clears the information while decoding the message of
interviewee. To answer in a systematic way, utilization of this technique makes the information
more impressive and effective in presentable style.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Anderson, M. B., 2012. The question of competence: Reconsidering medical education in the
twenty-first century. Cornell University Press.
Brightwell, A. and Grant, J., 2013. Competency-based training: who benefits?. Postgraduate
medical journal. 89(1048). pp.107-110.
Falender, C. A. and Shafranske, E. P., 2012. The importance of competency-based clinical
supervision and training in the twenty-first century: why bother?. Journal of
Contemporary Psychotherapy. 42(3). pp.129-137.
Jordan, C., and et. al., 2012. Competency-based faculty development in community-engaged
scholarship: A diffusion of innovation approach. Journal of Higher Education Outreach
and Engagement. 16(1). pp.65-96.
Sue, D. W., Rasheed, M. N. and Rasheed, J. M., 2015. Multicultural social work practice: A
competency-based approach to diversity and social justice. John Wiley & Sons.
Watkins, C. E., 2012. Psychotherapy supervision in the new millennium: Competency-based,
evidence-based, particularized, and energized. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy.
42(3). pp.193-203.
Online
Craft better job interview answers with the STAR technique. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/interviews/craft-better-job-interview-
answers-star-technique/>. [Accessed On 23rd September 2017].
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