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How To Use the STAR Method To Write the Perfect Resume

The STAR method is a tried and true resume writing formula. For insight into what it means, how to do it — and why it works — check out this comprehensive guide.

2 years ago   •   6 min read

If you’ve been job seeking for a while, chances are you’ve stumbled upon people talking about the STAR method. Originally devised by recruiters as a method for answering interview questions, the STAR method has evolved to become a foolproof way of writing resume bullet points .

Let’s start with a quick overview of the STAR method before we walk you through how to use it to craft a five-star resume.

What is the STAR method of resume writing?

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result .

• Situation: What was the context of your accomplishment? What was the problem that needed solving?
• Task: What were your responsibilities? What was your end goal?
• Action: How did you address the issue? What exactly did you do?
• Result: What was the outcome? How did your actions benefit the company?

How to write a resume using the STAR method

• Situation: Check the job description. What is the context of the new role? What challenges are you likely to face? Brainstorm similar accomplishments and use Targeted Resume to identify relevant skills and keywords.
• Task: Think about what you did at previous jobs that was resume-worthy.
• Action: Start with a strong action verb to describe exactly what you did.
• Result: What was the bottom line? Use metrics here to quantify your accomplishments — talk about how much revenue you earned, time or money you saved, the size of the project, or the amount of work you completed .
• Upload your resume to a free ATS resume scanner to see how your overall bullet points score.

Writing STAR method resume bullet points

The four elements of the STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, and Result — can be used in any order and across multiple bullet points. This means that if you’re having a hard time packing everything into a single bullet point, you can use one or two at a time, as long as you include all four within a single job heading.

A STAR method resume template

Let’s take a look at an accomplishment that combines Situation, Task, Action, and Result into a single bullet point:

Aligned marketing plans to the promotion of product releases, resulted in 90% of customers upgrading to the new product release.

• Situation: The company released a new product.
• Task: Promoting the new product.
• Action: Aligned marketing plans to the new product release.
• Result: 90% of customers upgraded to the new product.

Combining elements of the STAR method

Sometimes, it makes more sense to combine the Task and Action. Here’s what that could look like:

Implemented a new process for evaluating credit offers in marketing campaigns; doubled disbursements.

• Situation: Needed to evaluate credit offers in a marketing campaign.
• Task/Action: Implemented a new process for evaluating those offers.
• Result: Doubled disbursements.

Using the STAR method across multiple bullet points

It doesn’t always make sense to use all four elements of the STAR method in every single bullet point, especially if you have multiple accomplishments related to the same situation. In that case, feel free to use only some of the elements in each bullet point, as long as you cover all four within the same job heading.

Here’s an example:

Operations Improvement Project -       Drove redevelopment of internal tracking system in use by 125 employees, resulting in 20+ new features, reduction of 20% in save/load time and 15% operation time. -       Refined outsourcing strategy, resulting in increased offshore headcount from 12 to 95 employees. -       Reduced development costs by 25 percent by creating a plan to merge related products into one, more streamlined product.

• Situation: A large-scale operations improvement project.
• Task: Improving the internal tracking system and streamlining products.
• Action: Drove redevelopment of the internal tracking system, refined the company’s outsourcing strategy, and created a plan to merge related products.
• Result: A faster internal tracking system with 20+ new features, an increased offshore headcount, and 25% reduction in development costs.

A good way to check if you’ve successfully used the STAR Method to write your resume is to upload it to the tool below — it’ll let you know if your resume contains the four elements of the STAR Method across your bullet points.

Why the STAR method works

The STAR method combines different elements of our tried and true advice for writing resume accomplishments . The STAR method:

• Focuses on what you did
• Is specific about your contributions
• Lists accomplishments, not just responsibilities
• Explains the benefits to the company
• Provides compelling details
• Keeps your bullet points concise and eliminates fluff
• Provides an easy-to-use template
• Allows quick customization to match the job you’re applying for

If you’re ready to get started using the STAR method to write your own resume, here are some more examples of STAR method bullet points to get you started.

STAR method resume examples

Let’s break down exactly what a STAR method resume should look like — and how to transform your old bullet points using the STAR method.

Old bullet point:

Improved departmental budget and reduced spending.

This says basically what you did but lacks specificity about your actions and leaves out any metrics to illustrate the impact they had. Let’s think about the Situation , Task , Action , and Result to see if we can improve it.

• Situation: Departmental overspending.
• Task: Allocate resources more effectively.
• Action: Established ROI metrics and budget controls.
• Result: Reduced overspend by $200K.

STAR bullet point:

Achieved $200K reduction in department overspend by establishing ROI metrics and budget controls to improve prioritization of the $4MM department budget.

This is a huge improvement. It remains concise but details the context, your specific actions, and the benefit to the company.

Managed social media advertising strategy for various social media accounts.

• Situation: Managing 50+ social media accounts.
• Task: Refine social media advertising strategy.
• Action: Led team members and managed vendors.
• Result: Increased conversions, CTR, and social web referrals in the first six months.

Lead team members and vendors to manage the social media advertising strategy for more than 50 social media accounts. Increased conversions by 145%, CTR 50%, and social web referrals 40% in the first six months.

Engineering

Created various project specific assets for different products.

• Situation: Releases involving UAT and regression testing.
• Task: Create and document assets.
• Action: Created knowledge transfer documents, test plan, and defect summary reports.
• Result: Successfully delivered 7 releases.

Created various project specific valuable assets such as knowledge transfer documents, test plan, defect summary reports and lessons learnt documents, successfully delivering 7 releases involving UAT and regression testing.

Design and Creative

Responsible for graphic design content, layout, and production materials.

• Situation: Producing daily graphic design content .
• Task: Manage content from concept to finished product.
• Action: Oversaw graphic, layout, and production materials.
• Result: 100% success rate on all projects and deliverables.

Strategically oversaw the daily graphic design content from concept to the finished project, regularly working on graphic, layout, and production materials, gaining a 100% success rate on all projects and deliverables.

Grew customer base through relationship building and strong sales skills.

• Situation: Company in need of expansion.
• Task: Secure new customers.
• Action: Performed valuation analysis on 150+ accounts.
• Result: Secured an average of 10 new customers yearly and 30% overall revenue increase.

Performed valuation analysis on over 150 accounts and secured an average of 10 new customers yearly with a 30% increase in revenue today.

Administrative

Responsible for coordinating travel for all members of the crew.

• Situation: Arranging business travel.
• Task/Action: Coordinate all travel-related issues and manage budget .
• Result: Successful management of 300+ member crew and $1M budget.

Coordinated all travel-related issues for a 300+ member crew. Maintained a $1M travel budget.

Entry Level

Ran and participated in student events while at university.

• Situation: Student networking events.
• Task/Action: Organized and advertised 10+ quarterly events.
• Result: 300 participants in 3 universities.

Organized and advertised 10+ quarterly networking events with 300+ participants in 3 universities in Boston.

Senior Management and C-Suite

Responsible for overseeing territory and meeting or exceeding sales goals.

• Situation: Growing sales territory.
• Task: Oversee territory and meet sales goals.
• Action: Created and maintained consistent sales pipeline.
• Result: Grew territory from $300K to $3 million and regularly exceeded sales goals.

Responsible for growing territory from $300k gross revenue to $3 million in 4 years; exceeded sales goals for 4 consecutive years by maintaining and creating a consistent pipeline.

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How to Create a Star Method Resume (Examples + Template)

3 key takeaways

• The STAR method is an acronym for situation, task, action, and result. 
• While this framework is typically used in job interviews, it can help you write more impressive resume bullet points and an impactful resume summary.
• Teal’s free AI Resume Builder makes resume writing easier by auto-generating achievements and professional summary based on your experience.

Think your resume should look like a job description? Think again.

Bullet points summarizing what you did in your previous jobs aren’t enough to catch the attention of hiring managers. You need to dive deeper into your specific actions and accomplishments, the impact you made, and the outcome or end goal you achieved for your employer.

It sounds like a lot of information to get across in a few resume bullet points, but a STAR method resume can help. It’s an acronym for situation, task, action, and result—and it’s a winning recipe for a standout resume. This guide breaks down the STAR method and how to apply it to your resume. ‍

Looking to transform your resume from a list of duties into a powerful showcase? Create a STAR method resume with Teal's AI Resume Builder.

What is the STAR method?

The STAR method is a framework typically applied when answering interview questions. However, you can also use the STAR method to craft a compelling and metric-rich resume. Here’s a breakdown of the letters in the acronym:

Again, this framework is most frequently used in job interviews—especially when answering behavioral interview questions (those “Tell me about a time when…” questions that all job seekers dread) or achievement-driven questions like, “ What are you most proud of? ”

But this approach can be equally useful for transforming your resume bullet points from flat and generic to clear and impactful. 

For example, take a look at how using the STAR method transforms this single bullet point:

Without the STAR method: 

• Assisted customer base with inquiries and resolved issues.

With the STAR method: 

• Implemented a streamlined ticketing system, resulting in a 30% reduction in response times and a 25% increase in customer satisfaction within three months.

It’s not hard to see the difference. The first bullet does nothing more than give insight into your previous job duties, not how you exceeded them. In comparison, applying the four elements of the STAR strategy provides plenty of context, highlights your skills, provides real-world examples, offers hard data about what you accomplished, and gives the employer confidence you’ll add value in a new role.

A STAR method resume is powerful and overlaps with another popular framework: the CAR method resume , which stands for challenge, action, and result.

The biggest difference from the STAR method is that the CAR method provides less context and background about your contribution and instead focuses on a specific problem or challenge you faced.

How to use the STAR method on your resume

Wondering how to apply this method on your own resume? To create a STAR method resume, you’ll focus on two specific sections during your resume writing process:

• Work experience
• Professional summary

Here’s a closer look at how to use the STAR method in both sections and give potential employers the level of detail they’re looking for on your resume.

How to use the STAR method in your work experience

When you’re ready to write your work history bullets and resume accomplishments , here are the steps to take to craft your STAR method bullet points: 

1. List your previous responsibilities

Start by choosing one of your past jobs to focus on and write a list of all of the things—tasks, responsibilities, solutions, recognition, achievements, and more—you did while you were in that role. This doesn’t need to be a polished list. Your goal is to get everything down on paper.

If you're struggling to remember what you did in a past role, look back at resources like:

• Your LinkedIn profile
• LinkedIn recommendations
• Performance reviews
• Meeting notes and summaries

Those provide a solid refresher on what you were responsible for. Knowing how to write achievements on a resume is as much about thoughtful reflection as it is about the actual writing.

2. Compare your list to the job description

You’ve likely heard this career advice before: the best way to make sure your resume stands out to recruiters and hiring managers is to confirm it’s a solid match with the job description.

The point of your resume isn’t to present you as qualified—it’s to present you as qualified for that specific role . It’s your resume’s job to draw parallels between the position’s requirements and your capabilities, rather than leaving the potential employer to connect the dots. 

Return to the job posting and look for relevant skills, qualifications, and traits that get a lot of emphasis. Compare those to the list you created in step one, spot the areas of overlap, and highlight the responsibilities you need to include in your document.

Matching Mode in Teal’s Resume Builder can help. Attach a job description to your resume and Teal will suggest top keywords and skills that should appear on your resume.

3. Describe the situation

Using the STAR method you can now craft your first STAR bullet point. Choose one specific responsibility or achievement to focus on first—that’s less overwhelming than working through multiple bullet points or talking points.

Ask yourself: What was happening in my organization or on my team when I did this? Was your company going through a rebrand? An acquisition? Were you in the thick of a new product launch? Or planning a big event? Or was there a major strategy shift? You don’t need to get into the nitty-gritty details. Rather, you just need to give a bit of background so the hiring manager can get the bigger picture.

Situation example

Our organization was grappling with declining sales in a key market. 

4. Determine your task

Of the four elements in the STAR method, task and action are the two most easily confused. But there is a difference between the two:

• Task: The responsibility or objective you were assigned.
• Action: The specific steps you took to fulfill your responsibility or achieve the objective.

Now, still looking at that single responsibility, ask yourself: What was my role in that situation? What was my obligation to the company? 

On a STAR method resume, most of your assigned tasks will be implied with your job title—it’s not something you need to explicitly spell out in every bullet point.

Task example

As a senior sales representative, I was tasked with revitalizing sales and meeting my quarterly targets.

5. Highlight your action

Now it’s time to go beyond the high-level description of what you were supposed to do and describe the details of the actions you took. 

Ask yourself: What specific steps did I take to fulfill my responsibility to my company? 

The more specific you can get here, the better. Recruiters don’t just want to see buzzwords—they want powerful action verbs and tangible examples.

Action example

Developed a targeted sales strategy, revamped my sales pitch, and conducted personalized outreach to high-potential clients.

6. Define and quantify your results

What’s the most important piece of the STAR resume format? The results. This is when you provide proof that you didn’t just do work—you did work that made a meaningful difference and added real value for your employer.

Look at your action and ask: What happened? What results did I achieve? Wherever you can, quantify your results with real numbers for extra impact. But that doesn’t mean every single STAR bullet point needs to include a hard digit. From forging strong relationships to streamlining processes, there are plenty of results you can include that aren’t strictly metric-driven.

Results example

Increased regional sales by 40% and exceeded quarterly targets by 15%.

7. Pull it all together

You’ve laid the groundwork and now you’re ready to pull it all together into an impressive STAR bullet point.

While you want to subtly incorporate all four elements of the STAR method, you don’t need to use them in their exact order every time. Here are a few different approaches you can use to mix things up and keep your bullet points engaging:

• [Situation] [task] [action] [result]
• [Task] [action] [situation] [result]
• [Action] [task] [result] [situation]
• [Result] [task] [action] [situation]

Starting with action verbs is important regardless of which order you opt for, as they demonstrate ownership over your work and stand out to recruiters. Here’s a look at how the same single bullet point could take shape using those different approaches.

STAR bullet point examples

• [Situation] [task] [action] [result]: Overhauled declining sales in a key market region by developing a targeted sales strategy, revamping the sales pitch, and conducting personalized outreach to high-potential clients, resulting in a 40% increase in regional sales and exceeding quarterly targets by 15%.
• [Task] [action] [situation] [result]: Developed a targeted sales strategy, revamped the sales pitch, and conducted personalized outreach to high-potential clients to revitalize sales in a declining market region, resulting in a 40% increase in regional sales and exceeding quarterly targets by 15%.
• [Action] [task] [result] [situation]: Developed a targeted sales strategy, revamped the sales pitch, and conducted personalized outreach to high-potential clients, achieving a 40% increase in regional sales, exceeding quarterly targets by 15%, and revitalizing sales in a declining market.
• [Result] [task] [action] [situation]: Achieved a 40% increase in regional sales and exceeded quarterly targets by 15% by developing a targeted sales strategy, revamping the sales pitch, and conducting personalized outreach to high-potential clients, leading to revitalization of sales in a previously declining market region.

It’s a lot of work for a single bullet, especially when you have plenty more resume bullet points to work through. But it’s well worth the extra effort to help your resume stand out.

You can make this process a little easier on yourself with the AI resume achievements in Teal’s AI Resume Builder . Click “add an achievement” and then “write with AI” and Teal will automatically write  three bullet point options for you to tweak and include on your resume.

Wondering how many bullet points to include with each job ? It depends on the recency and relevance of the position. You can use five to seven bullet points for more recent and related jobs, and fewer (around three to four) for older positions. 

STAR method resume examples for your work history

Software engineer STAR method resume bullet point:

Led the development of a new feature for the company’s flagship product, which involved collaborating with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and implementing the feature using Agile methodologies, resulting in a 20% increase in user engagement and positive feedback from key clients.

• Situation: The company’s flagship product needed a new feature to increase user engagement and meet client demands.
• Task: Tasked with leading the development of the new feature, ensuring it was delivered on time and met all requirements.
• Action: Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, designed the feature, and implemented it using Agile methodologies. Conducted regular code reviews and testing to ensure high quality.
• Result: Successfully delivered the new feature, resulting in a 20% increase in user engagement and positive feedback from key clients.

Human resources generalist STAR method resume bullet point:

Designed and implemented a comprehensive employee wellness program, collaborating with various departments to identify key needs and organize wellness activities, resulting in a 15% reduction in employee absenteeism and improved overall employee satisfaction.

• Situation: The company was experiencing high employee absenteeism and low overall employee satisfaction.
• Task: Tasked with creating and implementing an employee wellness program to address these issues and improve employee well-being.
• Action: Conducted surveys and focus groups to identify key wellness needs, collaborated with various departments to organize wellness activities and resources, and promoted the program through internal communications.
• Result: Successfully launched the wellness program, leading to a 15% reduction in employee absenteeism and improved overall employee satisfaction.

How to use the STAR method in your resume summary

Your resume summary (often called your professional summary) is an overview of your most relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments. It goes at the top of your resume just under your headline and it’s another place you can apply the STAR method.

Doing so works similarly to how you approached your bullet points, except you’ll look holistically at your entire career rather than individual job responsibilities.

Ask yourself:

• What major goals have I achieved?
• What big problems or challenges have I solved?
• What meaningful responsibilities have I fulfilled?
• What achievements are most notable?

Don’t forget to return to the job description to confirm the highlights you include in your summary aren’t just impressive, but also relevant to the job. 

STAR method resume example for your resume summary:

Seasoned content marketing professional with 5+ years of professional history driving significant improvements in digital marketing performance through strategic content initiatives. Experience developing and executing content strategies to address declining audience engagement and implementing data-driven optimizations and marketing techniques, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic and a 25% boost in lead generation within six months.

• Situation: Previous company (or companies) faced declining audience engagement.
• Task: Tasked with developing and executing a comprehensive content strategy to improve engagement and drive lead generation.
• Action: Implemented data-driven optimizations and marketing techniques.
• Result: Achieved a 30% increase in website traffic and a 25% boost in lead generation within six months.

Want to skip the legwork? Teal’s Resume Summary Generator can write you a tailored professional summary in a matter of seconds.

How to create a STAR format resume with AI 

Writing impressive resume bullets and achievements can be time-consuming and a little tedious. Fortunately, technology can streamline the process. 

How to write STAR method bullet points with ChatGPT

You can use generative AI like ChatGPT to craft your resume bullet points, provided you know how to prompt it effectively. Here are the steps to take:

• Find the job description and save it to your Teal Job Tracker with the free Chrome extension to surface hard skills, soft skills, and emphasis words from the posting.

• Compare those to your own qualifications to narrow down the skills and keywords you most want to include.
• Enter this prompt into ChatGPT : Write a resume bullet for a [TITLE] position that describes impact and uses metrics. Include at least 2 of these keywords: [A, B, C, D, E, F]. [Copy/paste the top 5 hard and/or soft skills highlighted in Teal].

ChatGPT will automatically generate a bullet point for you. Even if you don’t use it in its exact form (it’s always best to tweak and customize AI-generated content), it’s a helpful starting point.

How to write STAR method bullet points with Teal

You can do all of the above—analyze the job description, identify important skills and keywords, and auto-generate bullet points—directly within Teal. Here’s how:

• Start your resume in Teal’s Resume Builder , whether you upload an existing resume, import your LinkedIn profile, or start from scratch.
• Attach a job description to your resume by navigating to the “Matching” tab and choosing a job from your Job Tracker or creating a new job.

• In your Work Experience section, click “add an achievement” and then “write with AI.”

• Teal will automatically generate three bullet point options you can edit and add to your resume.

• Click the “try again” button to prompt AI to generate new bullet points or click the “customize with AI” button to add more keywords or even write a custom prompt.

Use Teal to write your standout STAR method resume

A star resume is exactly what it sounds like: a resume that stands out from other candidates. And the STAR method is a surefire way to make that happen.

This framework keeps you focused on the details that matter most—the situation, task, action, and result—so you can demonstrate your impact, impress hiring managers, and get one step closer to your dream job. 

Ready to apply the STAR method and write a resume that lands interviews? Get started with Teal’s AI Resume Builder for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the star criteria for a resume.

The STAR criteria for a resume refers to the Situation, Task, Action, and Result method. This framework helps job seekers structure their resume bullet points to showcase their experiences and achievements effectively. It highlights the context, responsibilities, actions taken, and the outcomes achieved.

How do you write STAR achievements?

To write STAR achievements, describe the situation you faced, the task you were assigned, the actions you took, and the results you achieved. This method allows you to present your accomplishments effectively. For example, you might explain how you developed a new sales strategy that increased sales by 40% and exceeded quarterly targets by 15%.

What is the STAR method achievement statement?

A STAR method achievement statement is a structured way to present a professional achievement by detailing the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This method clearly communicates the context, your role, the steps you took, and the quantifiable outcomes. It is effective for both resumes and interviews to provide a comprehensive view of your accomplishments.

What is the STAR format for writing?

The STAR format for writing involves structuring information into four parts: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This format is useful for writing resume bullet points, professional summaries, and responding to behavioral interview questions. It ensures that your achievements and experiences are presented clearly and concisely, highlighting the impact of your work.

Can you use the STAR method for every position on a resume?

Yes, you can use the STAR method for every position on a resume. You can reorder the elements of STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for each achievement to keep your resume from becoming formulaic. This flexibility ensures your resume remains engaging and clearly communicates your impact in various roles.

Kat Boogaard

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How to Create an Effective STAR Method Resume (With Examples)

11 min read · Updated on February 26, 2024

The best way to get your story across is to use the STAR method

You've likely heard about using the STAR method to answer behavioral interview questions . Those are the questions that begin with something like, “Tell me about a time when…” But did you know that you can also use the STAR method to qualify and quantify achievements in your resume? 

Since your resume is largely made up of single-sentence bullet points, how do you use the STAR method to tell a story? This article will show you how and will provide example bullet points to guide you along. 

What is the STAR Method?

The STAR method is the best, most concise way to tell a story in your resume. As you might imagine, STAR is an acronym. It stands for:

You've probably heard that your resume needs to present your history in a way that shows achievement. No longer is it good enough to say that you are “responsible for training staff,” for example. You must dive deeper by highlighting the things you achieved in each job role. Using the STAR method is a straightforward yet humble way to brag about those achievements on your resume. 

Let's face it, there are a lot of things people are responsible for doing that just do not get done. Moreover, employers understand that every job candidate has been tasked with certain responsibilities. They want to know how you used your skills to meet those responsibilities and accomplish results that provided real value for your employers.

Situation: Everything you accomplish in your career starts with a situation that needs to be handled. Discuss what was happening and what was being affected by the issue. 

Task: What goal did you have in mind as you worked to address that situation? Were you assigned specific tasks to overcome related challenges? 

Action: This is your time to talk about specific steps you took to solve the problem. Explaining the way that you tackled the problem helps recruiters to understand your approach and working style.

Result: The result is the coup de grace, or deathblow, to the problem that you, your team, or your company faced. This is the shining moment where you talk about your achievement. 

What is the point of using the STAR method?

Many people think that all a prospective employer needs to know is your career history. While it's important to detail the things that you've done in your career to get you to this point, that's not all that employers want to see. The job market is fiercely competitive! To stand out from the competition, you'll need to differentiate yourself from rival candidates - and the best way to do that is by highlighting your achievements. 

Using the STAR method can offer several benefits that will help to shine a spotlight on you, including:

Demonstrating that you understand how your qualifications can make an impact on operations

Presenting yourself as an achiever rather than a doer

Laying the groundwork for talking points that you can use during the interview

How to use the STAR method in your resume

You may have a few stories in your head now. They're probably lengthy stories, however, which may make you wonder how you're supposed to fit everything into a one- or two-page document. 

PRO TIP: Remember that your resume isn't supposed to be a narrative of everything you've done. It's supposed to be a summary of your career, showing what you can bring to the table at a new company.

The fact is that you're not going to be able to fit every detail of your STAR stories into your resume. Instead, you should include just enough information about the S ituation, T ask, A ction, and R esult to capture the reader's interest and make them want to learn more about you. If you can spark their curiosity about a career achievement, they'll be more likely to call you for an interview. Then, during the interview, you can expand on the story and give the rest of the details. 

In addition to using the STAR method resume technique in your work achievement bullet points, you can also use it in your resume profile. Simply use the STAR storytelling structure to describe any achievement that you include in that profile. That will help to ensure that your introduction paragraph tells a more compelling story about who you are as a person and a professional.

Related post: Make the Perfect First Impression with Your Resume

Tips to create a STAR method resume

The first thing to do is to pick a major keyword from the job description, remembering that your resume needs to focus on demonstrating your qualifications for that job. For example, if you're applying for a job as a Claims Adjuster, one of your main tasks could center around determining liability. 

This seems easy enough. All you need to do is write a bullet that says you understand how to assess damage to determine liability. Unfortunately, every other Claims Adjuster will be able to say the same thing - which will mean that your resume is no more compelling than theirs. And that just won't cut it in today's competitive labor market.

The good news is that there's a solution. Let's turn that statement into something that packs a little more punch. 

1. Situation

I worked on residential and commercial claims processes, which could be a significant cost to the business. 

I had to gather and analyze documentation and photos of the damage. I completed cost estimates, researched market rates for new construction, and authored proposals for underwriting and financial institutions to mitigate operational risk. 

I monitored claims volumes for severity and analyzed trends to root out unwarranted claims.

I saved more than $1.2M within 6 months by finding and eliminating more than 250 fraudulent claims. 

Of course, all of that won't fit on a resume, but we can use the STAR method to help to tell the story in a more concise manner. You can do that by writing a single bullet point that contains key elements of the story. That would look something like this:

Slashed claims costs by $1.2M+ in 6 months, after assessing damage, analyzing trends, and monitoring claim volumes to reveal over 250 fraudulent claims

That already looks far better than simply stating that you know how to determine liability. You could also use the bullet / sub-bullet method. This allows you to start the story off and then break it down into sections:

Led unprecedented effort to research and eliminate fraudulent claims:

Performed deep-dive analysis of damage photos and claims documentation

Compared cost estimates and market rates with claims severity and trends

Saved over $1.2M within 6 months and eliminated more than 250 fraudulent claims

Whether you choose the single bullet or bullet / sub-bullet option, you're telling a story that lends value to your career history. You now stand out from the crowd of job seekers and a hiring manager will have a clearer picture of what you have to offer to his or her team. 

Related post : 100 + Keywords, Verbs and Action Words for Your Resume

What makes the STAR method so great for resumes?

There are many obvious reasons why the STAR method is such an effective tool for any resume. For example:

The STAR method can help you to focus on what you did and the results you produced, rather than just reciting your job duties

STAR provides a simple and clear structure for telling your story, minimizing resume space

Bullet points that use the STAR method can be easily customized to align with any job you're seeking

Using this narrative technique enables you to draw attention to the benefits you provided for that employer, which is important since prospective employers are always interested in the value you can add to their organization

If you use real numbers in your STAR method resume achievements, you can quantify the results that you achieved to really highlight your value

Just like those behavioral interview questions, your resume is an open-ended story about your career. It allows you to provide as much or as little information as you deem necessary to convey your message. The STAR method allows you to deliver that message in an organized way. 

In revisiting the concept that your resume is a summary of your career, keep in mind that you may not need to develop every achievement using the STAR method. You can reserve STAR method resume bullet points for critical events that will make you stand out from the crowd. 

More STAR method resume examples

To further demonstrate how effective STAR method resume bullet points can be, we've compiled several other examples of this technique in action. They include examples for an entry-level resume, as well as several other job titles. We've also included an example of how you can use the STAR technique to cite an achievement in your resume profile.

1.     Entry level or recent graduate STAR method resume bullet point example

Situation : Group lab project in college

Task : Design an online marketing campaign for local business

Action : Led team in collaboration with company's Office Manager, building new site, social media presence, and customer engagement campaign

Result : Increased company's website and social media engagement by 180%, with 200% boost in customer total online and in-store visits

STAR method bullet point:

• Led university team project that revitalized local business partner's online marketing, expanding total on- and offline customer engagement by 200%

2.     Sales STAR method resume bullet point example

Situation : Company leaders set a 15% sales growth target

Task : Needed to expand customer base and sales conversions to meet goals

Action : Increased upsell efforts with high-value customers, while doubling cold call activities

Result : Boosted client acquisition by 20% and total sales by 19%

• Led sales team effort that exceeded company sales goals, increasing customer acquisition by 20% and boosting sales revenue by 19%

3.     Accounting STAR method resume bullet point example

Situation : Company costs needed to be reduced

Task : Identify waste, redundancies, and project cost overruns to reduce expenses

Action : Conducted month-long internal audit of all departments

Result : Identified more than $15k in monthly waste and cost overruns, reducing annual expenses by $180,000

• Conducted internal financial audit that reduced annual expenses by $180,000 through elimination of waste, project cost overruns, and redundancies

4.     IT Manager STAR method resume bullet point example

Situation : Company network was creating inefficiencies and increasing employee errors

Task : Identify and set up a new network system

Action : Researched potential replacement systems, purchased chosen solution, and implemented new network

Result : New network system reduced troubleshooting time by 61% and reduced employee errors by more than 80%

• Selected and installed a new network system that resulted in 80% improvement in employee accuracy while reducing IT troubleshooting time by 61%

5.     STAR method resume example for resume profile

Situation : Client needed a new mobile application to replace faulty program

Task : Create a new mobile app in eight days, eliminating previous app's programming errors

Action : Led 3-person design team in development project that required careful analysis of previous app, redesign of app interface, and repurposing of brand graphics

Result : Redesigned mobile app within assigned deadline, earning 10% early bonus from client and 100% satisfaction rating

STAR method resume profile text:

Redesigned client's faulty mobile app on expedited schedule, delivering new application that met all expectations and with client expressing 100% satisfaction.

Related post: 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

Give your resume impact

By using the STAR method resume approach, you can help your achievement bullet points deliver an even more compelling narrative to employers. Instead of leaving them to wonder how much value you might be able to deliver for their company, you can demonstrate that value in a clear way, providing them with a real reason to schedule an interview with you.

If you need help, that's not a problem. TopResume has a talented team of professional resume writers ready to take on the task of making you look like a career achiever. Why not submit your resume for a free review today?

This article was originally written by Marsha Hebert and has been updated by Ken Chase.

Recommended reading:

How to Write a Resume for an Internal Position

How to Say You Trained Someone on Your Resume

How to Effectively Use Resume Action Words

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

The STAR method is a common tactic for displaying your qualifications during job interviews, but it’s more versatile than that: a STAR method resume showcases your experience and knowledge to convey your value to employers. Describing your professional achievements in detail gives them deep context – discussing the Situation, Task, Action, and Result (STAR) helps recruiters understand why you’re the best one for the role. This guide shows you the benefits of a STAR resume and how to build one.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. ”

Expert Tip:

A STAR-format resume is only the beginning and you can take it a step further. Use the STAR model when you write your cover letter to add more depth to your achievements and apply STAR practices during your job interview. Detailing your accomplishments throughout the entire hiring process makes you a standout candidate.

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:

• 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
• 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.

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