How Do I Write and Say STAR Examples for Selection Criteria?

Key facts

The specifics, before the explanation.

• Proportions that work: Situation 15%, Task 10%, Action 55%, Result 20%
• Written STAR examples for a pitch or criteria response usually run 120 to 200 words each
• Spoken STAR answers should finish in 60 to 90 seconds, which is about 150 to 220 words at a normal pace
• Use I, not we, in the Action section; panels score your contribution, not the team's
• Results need evidence: a number, a time saved, a decision made, feedback received or a problem that did not recur

What this actually means

STAR is simple and most people still get it wrong in the same way: too much situation, too little action. A panel does not need three sentences on the history of your workplace. They need to know what you faced in one line, what you were responsible for in one line, and then exactly what you did. If your Action section is shorter than your Situation section, rebalance.

Writing STAR for a pitch or criteria response is about density. Each example should be 120 to 200 words, open with a sentence that signals which capability it addresses, and use active first person verbs: I analysed, I drafted, I negotiated, I escalated. Avoid passive phrasing and avoid describing what the team achieved without saying what you personally did. Finish with a result that someone could check.

Saying STAR out loud is a different skill. Written examples sound stilted when read aloud, and panels notice recitation. Convert each written example into three or four cue words, then practise telling the story from the cues until it comes out naturally in 60 to 90 seconds. Record yourself and listen for whether the Action is clear and the Result lands at the end rather than being tacked on.

Build a bank of eight to ten examples covering the capabilities that appear in most job packs: stakeholder management, problem solving, working under pressure, attention to detail, communication, initiative, teamwork and integrity. One well-chosen example can serve two capabilities if you adjust which actions you emphasise.

What to actually do

Rules and figures move. Confirm anything time-sensitive with the official regulator before you rely on it.

• Write each example with the Action section as at least half the words, and cut the Situation to two sentences
• Convert each written example to three cue words and practise saying it out loud from the cues, timing it to under 90 seconds
• Replace every we in the Action section with I unless the task was genuinely shared, and then say what your part was
• End every example with a result that can be checked: a number, a date met, a decision made or feedback received
• Keep a bank of eight to ten examples mapped to common capabilities and refresh it every six months

Frequently asked questions

How long should a STAR example be for selection criteria?

Around 120 to 200 words written, or 60 to 90 seconds spoken. Longer examples usually have too much situation and not enough action.

Can I use the same STAR example for more than one criterion?

Yes, if you emphasise different actions for each criterion. Avoid using the same example for more than two criteria in one application.

What if my result was not successful?

Use it if you can show what you learned and did differently next time. Panels value honest reflection, but lead with examples that have a clear positive outcome.