You have limited space on your resume to impress a prospective employer, so you need to make every word count. The STAR method can be a powerful way to showcase your strengths, experience, and abilities.
With a STAR method resume, you not only tell an employer what you can do—you show them with concrete examples of your past achievements.
What is the STAR method in a resume?
The STAR method is a technique you can use on your resume to highlight your professional accomplishments and contributions. STAR is an acronym that stands for:
- Situation: A situation, such as a problem or a challenge, you encountered in your job.
- Task: Your role in the situation and the task you needed to complete.
- Action: The action you took to complete the task and address the challenge.
- Result: The positive outcome of your actions.
On your resume, the STAR method can help you describe your impact in a previous job. With this technique, you can provide specific examples or metrics to show the outcomes of your work.
Faced with [describe the situation/challenge], I was responsible for [explain your task]. I took action by [describe your actions], which resulted in [describe the result and impact].
Should you use the STAR method in your resume?
The STAR method can make your resume stand out, but it also has some drawbacks. Consider the pros and cons when deciding when and where to use the STAR method on your resume.
Advantages of a STAR method resume
The STAR resume method can help you emphasize your achievements, particularly through the use of quantifiable metrics. By focusing on measurable outcomes, you can showcase your strengths and skills to prospective employers.
Using this technique can also help you differentiate your experience from other candidates with similar backgrounds. Instead of listing the same duties as everyone else, you can provide concrete examples to offer context about your unique skills and experiences.
Disadvantages of a STAR method resume
Some professionals, such as those in creative or artistic fields, may find it difficult to measure their impact. For example, an artist’s work is subjective and can’t be quantified in the same way as for a salesperson or a project manager.
Another disadvantage of the STAR method is that it can make your resume seem repetitive if overused. Using the STAR method for some resume bullet points—but not all—can have a greater impact.
How do you write a STAR method resume?
Ready to try the STAR method on your resume? Follow these steps:
Review the job description
Take a close look at the job description, including the experience and skills an employer has mentioned. The job description can give you some insight into the situations, tasks, and actions you may take on in the new role. Based on this information, start to think about similar situations you’ve faced in your previous jobs.
Identify your achievements
Before you begin writing, make a list of your achievements in past jobs. Consider times when you’ve had to solve a problem, handle a new responsibility, or deliver results. These achievements will form the basis of your bullet points.
Problem Solving:
- Resolved a system error that reduced downtime by 20%.
- Implemented a new scheduling process that improved team efficiency.
Teamwork and Leadership:
- Coordinated a cross-functional team to complete a client project, earning positive feedback.
- Trained junior staff, resulting in a 30% reduction in errors.
Customer or Client Impact:
- Handled a high-priority customer complaint and turned it into a long-term relationship.
- Increased customer satisfaction scores by 12% through improved service protocols.
Innovation and Initiatives:
- Designed a new workflow that reduced processing time by 25%.
- Developed a marketing campaign that increased web traffic by 40%.
Write concise STAR bullet points
Choose a few achievements you want to highlight using the STAR technique. Make sure these accomplishments directly apply to the job you want to get. Once you’ve chosen your achievements, break them down using the STAR method on your resume.
Here’s an example:
- Situation: The company had a below-average customer satisfaction rate.
- Task: I was tasked with developing a strategy to improve customer satisfaction.
- Action: I created a customer feedback system to address complaints quickly.
- Result: Customer satisfaction increased by 30% within one year.
Now, condense this information into a concise bullet point, like this:
- Created a customer feedback system to address complaints quickly, improving the satisfaction rate by 30% and leading the company to exceed industry standards.
In some cases, it’s difficult to limit a STAR example to one bullet point. You can use multiple bullet points to outline each component in more detail.
Here’s an example:
- Analyzed workflow inefficiencies to address a 15% decrease in warehouse productivity.
- Developed a new inventory management system based on employee feedback to minimize fulfillment times.
- Trained a 25-person warehouse team on the new system, increasing order fulfillment by 35% within six months.
- Use powerful action verbs, such as “created,” “developed,” “managed,” “drove,” and “executed.”
- Be specific about the outcomes of your actions. Use keywords from the job description to match your skills to the role.
- Include pronouns, such as “I” or “my.” Start each bullet point with a strong verb instead.
- Write general or vague statements. Give concrete, relevant examples of your impact and value instead.
Focus on metrics
While some achievements may be hard to quantify, incorporate metrics into your STAR bullet points wherever you can. Metrics provide evidence of the contributions you make in the workplace. Think about where you can add data and figures to support the outcomes of your work.
If you’re having a hard time coming up with metrics, consider these ideas:
- The number of tasks or projects you completed weekly, monthly, or quarterly
- Your productivity or efficiency rate
- Your customer satisfaction or retention rate
- Your accuracy rate on tasks or projects
What is a good example of a STAR method resume
Check out this STAR method resume example for more guidance on using this technique. You can also have a look through our resume examples section to find inspiration and take your resume to the next level.
Hannah McClain
Phoenix, AZ
(419) 555-1739
Work Experience
Customer Success Manager, GreenTech Solutions, Phoenix, AZ
June 2021 - Present
- Launched a new onboarding program to boost user response rates, contributing to a $500,000 increase in revenue.
- Coordinated four cross-functional teams to solve user issues, reducing churn by over 20%.
- Developed and executed training webinars to increase user engagement, leading to a 43% increase in retention.
Customer Service Representative, Silverline Solutions, Phoenix, AZ
April 2019 - May 2021
- Handled 50+ customer inquiries daily to resolve issues, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate.
- Implemented a streamlined ticketing system to reduce response times by 25%.
- Trained and mentored four new service representatives, strengthening the team and contributing to increased efficiency.
Skills
- Customer relationship management
- Project management
- Data analysis
- Ticketing systems
- Communication
- Problem solving
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Arizona State University
