How To Create a STAR Method Resume (Tips and Examples)

What is STAR? 

The STAR method is a way to describe your professional achievements. It’s most commonly used in job interviews, but you can use the framework to build a compelling resume. The letters “STAR” are an anagram that stands for:

• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result

This model helps you convey your experience better by focusing on specific scenarios and the steps you took to achieve success and solve a problem. For example, you might describe a time when your soft skills, like communication and emotional intelligence, helped you de-escalate a situation with an angry customer.

Understanding each element of STAR 

Let’s break each letter down so you can better understand the STAR resume format.

Situation

First, you describe the situation to put the hiring manager in your shoes. This serves as the foundation for your description, so make sure it correctly sets the scene and relays the right feeling. For example, mentioning you worked in a fast-paced, competitive sales environment.

Task

This is a task, responsibility, or problem you had to solve. It’s a good idea to try to match this to the job description you’re targeting. Does the job post say you must calmly answer customer questions? It’s a good idea to discuss your duties at the front desk talking to customers and clients.

Action

Now it’s time to impress the recruiter – how did you complete the task and solve the problem? Detail the actions you took and don’t sell yourself short. Focus on the soft and hard skills you used and emphasize the role you had (even if it was a team effort).

Don’t forget to mention if you did this at your job frequently. Solving a problem once is great, but tackling it every time it arises is excellent.

Result

Here’s the best part: What did your skills and experience accomplish? The “Result” is all about the impact of your work and what you achieved, so make sure you use powerful language.

Try to use quantifiable achievements to add extra weight to your words. For example: “I debugged the system and had it back in working order in only 2 hours, totaling only 3 hours of downtime.”

Determine relevant accomplishments 

You’ve achieved a lot in your career so you have plenty of accomplishments to choose from. Consider your experience and try to pick a handful of events that are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. The job description contains everything the employer is hoping to find in a new hire, so align yourself with their ideal employee and captivate them.

This is especially important when building a freelancer resume. Freelancers go through a wide variety of gigs so they need to choose their examples carefully – choosing the wrong one may make their STAR resume seem “random,” but choosing the right one makes them look like the perfect fit.

“This model helps you convey your experience better by focusing on specific scenarios and the steps you took to achieve success and solve a problem.”

Create compelling statements about your achievements

When it comes to an eye-catching resume, STAR method practices set the scene and pull the hiring manager into the action. However, you need to do your part and use engaging action language to grab their attention.

Start each bullet point with an exciting action verb. Words like “Achieved” and “Executed” have better fluency and make your entries sound more engaging. They also emphasize the impact you had.

Use measurable metrics whenever you can to add weight to the result of your actions. Saying that you “Implemented a new CRM system” is a great start, but it’s more meaningful to quantify the outcome: “Implemented a new CRM system, leading to better customer communication and a 20% increase in lead generation.”

A STAR method resume shows hiring managers the impact your work has on a company rather than listing out your previous responsibilities. Even when you aren’t able to add numbers and metrics, focus on the concrete results of your work. Here’s an example of a results-oriented work entry without metrics:

Check out our library of resume examples for more samples of work entries that focus on impact and outcomes.

Tailor experiences and achievements per role

No resume is a fit for every company and job role, so don’t send the same one to everyone. Take the time to update your resume for every job you apply for, matching its language and requirements to the job description.

Examine the job post and think about relevant experiences you’ve had. Does the company want a sales professional who’s an expert in creating value and handling objections? Be sure to add a specific achievement where you identified a customer’s needs, applied them to the company’s solution, and eased their concerns.

We have a huge collection of resume articles if you’re looking for more tips about personalizing your resume. You might want to check out our guide on building an ATS resume for specific advice.

STAR method resume: Best practices

Before we finish up, let’s take a quick look at the top do’s and don’ts of writing a STAR resume:

Do’s:

• Quantify achievements: Use measurable metrics to describe your experience whenever possible to add impact and depth
• Use relevant examples: Review the job description to ensure each accomplishment you list relates to the open role
• Focus on the outcome: Always emphasize the impact you had in your role, not the responsibilities
• Use a great template: Start with a great resume template to ensure your achievements are laid out in a clear, professional way

Don’ts:

• List responsibilities: Don’t list out your work experience list a to-do list, providing only the names of tasks
• Use too many details: Never overload the hiring manager with an excess of details, as this will only overwhelm them and they may skip over it entirely
• Exaggerate your achievements: Don’t sell yourself short, but don’t lie either – be honest about your impact

Show recruiters your value with a STAR method resume

The STAR framework sets you up to showcase your qualifications, whether it's through an interview or a STAR method resume. Focus on the Situation, Task, Action, and Result to convey your skills and experience and really “wow” employers. Be sure to follow our top tips:

• Quantify achievements with measurable metrics
• Emphasize the outcome, not the task
• Tailor each resume to the position you’re applying for

Ready to get started? Hop over to CVwizard’s Resume Builder to craft a professional STAR resume can be proud of.