A functional resume focuses on skills more compared to other sections and that too in exclusive details. So we can tell that the STAR-method is similar to a functional resume at a junction if not whole.
The STAR-method resume is quite popular and modern job seekers know how to use it for their benefit. It helps in answering interview questions that are observable or say detectable during the hiring process.
The prime focus of the STAR-method is to create a resume that showcases your accomplishments, job history, and relevant skills to the hiring managers. What's the idea behind presenting efforts, experience of previous-job, and skills? By doing this you get to qualify for the next phase of the interview process. In short, using the STAR-method adds a uniqueness to the resume that others won't have.
Does the STAR-method work? Is the STAR-technique still valid? The short answer is yes it does work and it is valid. Let's find out more in this STAR-method resume examples and writing tips guide.The STAR-acronym stands for situation, tasks, action, and result. The STAR-approach is based on four elements answering interview questions that are observable. You can also read it as physiological.
The STAR-method determines your course of action and how you dealt with a particular situation in your previous-jobs. This helps hiring managers assess your reaction to stress at the workplace and the skills that you apply to eliminate it. How productively you perform under stressful working conditions is determined by the STAR-approach method.
The STAR-method works differently when it comes to resume writing. For example, you will need to discuss a situation at previous-jobs, then the task outlined from the situation, and then the necessary actions are taken to drive the desired result. It works in a format the way the STAR-acronym stands for.
Imagine that you are discussing a situation, task, action, and result in job interviews in the presence of a potential employer. We don't find reasons why a potential employer will not be influenced.
To include situational information in a resume there has to be enough room for the applicant. This is possible with the help of the STAR-framework that allows employers to assess your skills and experience at a previous-job.
This is the reason why the STAR-method resume is the best resume format to follow to get into your dream job.
What Does STAR Stands for?
As discussed above, STAR stands for situation, tasks, action, and result. Here, the situation means circumstances aroused at a workplace in a previous-job. Task means problems at the workplace and action means the necessary steps taken to solve the problem.
Finally, the result means the achievement after neutralizing the problem. It also means the gains of an employer after applying the STAR-method. It is implied that you as an employee also learned valuable lessons and skills during the process. Hence, mention those skills in the STAR-method resume.
We have discussed the STAR-technique and STAR-approach but how to use the STAR-method is still an underlying topic. In the following detail, we will be discussing the same.
STAR-Method Resume Example
So here's the most awaited STAR-method resume example based on the STAR-framework. Follow the example below to create a STAR-method resume for yourself right away.
Terry K. Zwilling
Digital Marketer
Albany, Georgia
+1 229-359-3492
terryzwilling@teleworm.us
Summary
Dedicated digital marketer with 9+ years of experience. Skilled in online advertising, business growth, and search engine optimization. Eager to lead the digital marketing team at Blue Panda, San Francisco to successfully complete company projects by employing advanced-SEO, PPC, and CPC techniques. Spearheaded an online advertising and campaigning team for an e-commerce store that resulted in a strong customer-base and $240K in yearly revenue.
Work Experience
Digital Marketer
The Big Frog
Albany, Georgia
2019-2023
- Implemented new process digital marketing techniques that resulted in a 19% increase in monthly visitors.
- Created digital marketing campaigns that helped elevate monthly sales by as much as 67% with the team’s efforts.
- Spearheaded a group of online campaign designers for PPC, CPC, and search engine optimization.
- Solid understanding of digital campaigning tools, software, marketing technique, and team effort in work completion.
Key Accomplishments
- Managed and supervised a team of graphic designers, digital marketers, and online advertisers to generate a revenue of $240K.
Online Advertiser
Metas Agency
Albany, Georgia
2012-2019
- Devised manual and automated product campaigns on Amazon that elevated page and product visibility.
- Collaborated with the graphic design team to reduce the page loading time of the e-commerce site.
- Tested client’s websites on GTMetrics parameters and configured the sites accordingly.
Key Accomplishments
- Configured the Google My Business page of the client’s offline pet-shop garnered 1200+ positive reviews online and maximum visibility.
Education
Master in Computer Science
University of Georgia
Albany, Georgia
2008-2012
Skills
- Digital marketing
- Product campaigning
- Online advertising
- E-commerce sales
- Content creation
- Project management
- Problem-solving
- Creative thinking
- Leadership skills
Certifications
- Certified Digital Marketing Professional
- Microsoft Certified Office Suite Associate
Languages
- English (native)
- French (intermediate)
- Mandarin (beginner)
Digital Footprints
- Digital Marketing YouTube Channel having 120,000+ subscribers.
- Facebook Fan page with 205,000+ followers
- The Instagram handle has 245,000+ followers
How to Write a Resume Using the STAR-Method?
We have discussed a lot of details on how to write your own resume with specific examples. Now it's time to learn important lessons related to resume writing using the specific task of elaborating individual sections in more detail.
The question remains unanswered - How to write a perfect resume using the STAR-method? Here's the outline example to create a STAR-method resume.
- Decide a proper format by reading a specific example of generic resumes.
- Finalize the structure by following the same examples of generic resumes.
- Giving more detail using bullet-points in the header is unnecessary.
- Write a short header section without using a bullet-point.
- Write an excellent opening statement called the summary.
- Mention work experience with practical examples and talking points.
- Describe a complete description with key achievements in bullet-points.
- Use a sample resume to find how the education section should be written.
- List your skills in multiple bullet-points by referring to the job description.
- Include additional details using multiple bullet-points at the end.
This is the flowchart to write a resume using the STAR-method. Now we will discuss the format of your own resume.
STAR-Method Resume Format
A resume makes you stand out from other candidates. This happens only when the format of your resume is parallel with the four elements of the STAR-method. The ideal and universal format is the reverse chronological order.
If you decide to use the STAR-method then the reverse order will align with it easily and the writing task will be effortless. Once the format is decided proceed with the structure.
STAR-Method Resume Structure
Resume bullet-points, STAR-statements, and examples of job qualifications can make a sample resume sound interesting and appealing but that's not all.
Look at the STAR-method resume examples above or across this guide. You will find a resume structure that is not only comprehensive but also appreciated by employers. To help you understand the structure here's the example.
- Contact details
- Summary
- Work experience
- Key accomplishments
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications
- Languages
- Digital footprints
The work experience, key accomplishments, skills, certificates, languages, and digital footprints will have multiple bullet-points and practical examples. The rest of the sections will be written using keywords and actionable verbs from the job description. The result will be a perfect resume.
Contact Details in a STAR-Method Resume
Header aka contact details is the critical thing to make a resume stand alone in the competition. A compelling resume has very limited details in the header section. Unwanted info will reduce the chances of the resume being even read in the first place.
Secondly, avoid writing headers in bullet-points because it will take up a large space and your resume will be lengthy.
Albany, Georgia
+1 229-359-3492
terryzwilling@teleworm.usDigital Marketer
319 Williams Lane
Albany, Georgia
+1 229-359-3492
terryzwilling@teleworm.usDOB - July 24, 1982
Zodiac - Leo
Height - 5' 5" (164 centimeters)
Weight - 132.7 pounds (60.3 kilograms)
Blood type - B+
Summary Writing with Specific Examples
Prospective employers like it when they find skills, experience, and expertise in the resume. To write a more compelling resume you need a solid introduction that includes all four elements of the STAR-method only if you decide to use the STAR-method to compile a resume.
Below mentioned are two examples of summary STAR-response. Follow the details and see how they differ in similar and other context. One more thing, skip writing a summary in multiple bullet-points or even everything in a single bullet-point.
Writing Work Experience for Job Interviews
Job application can be overwhelming for job seekers because writing a more compelling resume than before can be a daunting task. It must have references from job qualifications, STAR bullet-point, key phrases from the job description, STAR-statements, and most importantly all four elements.
To get a job interview call you need to compile STAR-statements in the experience and for that, you must have the knowledge needed to do so. Following are the two examples of how to use STAR-statements and STAR bullet-points.
The Big Frog
Albany, Georgia2019-2023
- Implemented new process digital marketing techniques that resulted in a 19% increase in monthly online visitors.
- Created digital marketing campaigns that helped elevate monthly sales by as much as 67% with the team's efforts.
- Spearheaded a team of online campaign designers for PPC, CPC, and search engine optimization.
- Solid understanding of digital campaigning tools, software, marketing technique, and team effort in work completion.
- Managed and supervised a team of graphic designers, digital marketers, and online advertisers to generate a revenue of $240K.
Metas Agency
Albany, Georgia2012-2019
- Devised manual and automated product campaigns on Amazon that elevated page and product visibility.
- Collaborated with the graphic design team to reduce the page loading time of the e-commerce site.
- Tested client's websites on GTMetrics parameters and configured the sites accordingly.
- Configured the Google My Business page of the client's offline pet shop garnered 1200+ positive reviews online and maximum visibility.
The Big Frog
Albany, Georgia
2019-2023
- Implemented new process digital marketing techniques.
- 19% increase in monthly online visitors.
- Created digital marketing campaigns to elevate monthly sales.
- Spearheaded a group of online campaign designers;
- Knowledge of digital campaigning tools and company software.
- Managed and supervised graphic designers, digital marketers, and online advertisers.
Metas Agency
Albany, Georgia
2012-2019
- Devised manual and automated product campaigns on Amazon.
- Collaborated with the graphic designers to reduce the page loading time.
- Tested clients' websites on GTMetrics parameters and configured them.
- Configured the Google My Business page of the client's offline pet shop.
Education in a Perfect Resume
Describing education is an effortless job and feels like a cakewalk since there's no complex knowledge needed to write it. Moreover, the education section in the resume makes it look easy to compile.
Therefore without further ado go through the examples below. Remember, this is not the skill list hence refrain from using a bullet-point.
University of Georgia
Albany, Georgia
2008-2012
University of Georgia
Graduation Year 2012
Listing Skills in STAR Bullet-Point
First thing first, use a single bullet-point for individual skills, and don't combine two skills using coordinating conjunctions. These small tips are crucial when writing a resume for a job interview. Refer to the list below.
- Digital marketing
- Product campaigning
- Online advertising
- E-commerce sales
- Content creation
- Project management
- Problem-solving
- Creative thinking
- Leadership skills
Additional Details in a STAR-Method Resume
Resume writing is a creative work and to make it more engaging add some extra information to it. You won't lose anything but there are high chances that you will gain a job interview call from prospective employers.
What kind of details can you submit in the additional section? For instance, certificates, language proficiency, digital presence, awards, books, blogs, portfolio websites, and much more. There are unimaginable and creative elements, a candidate can include here.
Following are two examples that will teach you the task to add extra details to impress future employers.
- Certified Digital Marketing Professional
- Microsoft Certified Office Suite Associate
- English (native)
- French (intermediate)
- Mandarin (beginner)
- Digital Marketing YouTube Channel having 120,000+ subscribers.
- Facebook Fan page with 205,000+ followers
- The Instagram handle has 245,000+ followers
- Certified Digital Marketing Professional
- Microsoft Certified Office Suite Associate
- English (native)
- French (intermediate)
- Mandarin (beginner)
- Digital Marketing YouTube Channel having 120,000+ subscribers.
- Facebook Fan page with 205,000+ followers
- The Instagram handle has 245,000+ followers
Frequently Asked Questions
Potential employers don't read the entire resume when they come across one. They just scan the headings, bullet-points, and lists if any. In that condition, flat sentences without bullet-point are read or scanned at the end. In short, a single bullet-point separates vital information and a task making it readable. This is the reason why bullet-points are critical.
A STAR-method works differently and lays a greater impact on the reader. It is because a straightforward approach is employed to answer crucial questions. This saves time and energy to write a task. Moreover, the burden to think and assume details is shifted from the reader's mind.