How to Use the STAR Method to Ace QLD Government Interviews (2025 Guide)

Written By Curtis Nicholson

If you're applying for Queensland Government roles (especially AO2–AO4), you’ve probably heard:

“Use the STAR Method.”

But most applicants still give answers that are good, not excellent — which is the exact difference between getting ranked and getting the job.

This guide explains how to use STAR the way QGov panels actually want.

If you want a ready-to-use STAR template, you can download my Free STAR Method Cheat Sheet here.

⭐ What Is the STAR Method?

S — Situation: What was happening?
T — Task: What were you responsible for?
A — Action: What you did.
R — Result: What improved or changed?

Panels prefer STAR because it shows structured thinking, clarity, and impact.

🔍 Why QGov Panels Love STAR

QLD Government behavioural questions assess:

  • Problem solving

  • Stakeholder communication

  • Following processes

  • Delivering outcomes

  • Managing competing priorities

STAR helps you hit every capability cleanly, without rambling.

❗ The #1 Mistake Applicants Make

They skip the Result.

Even a small R is better than none:

  • reduced delays

  • improved accuracy

  • increased efficiency

  • prevented an issue

  • resolved conflict

  • maintained compliance

Make your R a clear takeaway for the panel.

📝 Example STAR Answer (AO3–AO4 Level)

Question: “Tell us about a time you managed competing priorities.”

Situation:
When I worked in a high-volume admin team, I regularly had urgent requests come in alongside daily processing tasks.

Task:
I needed to complete my routine tasks while ensuring urgent issues were managed within timeframes.

Action:
I reviewed incoming work, categorised items by urgency, clarified expectations with my supervisor, completed the most time-critical task first, and proactively updated stakeholders. I then reorganised my routine workload to ensure everything was completed accurately.

Result:
All urgent tasks were completed within required timeframes, stakeholders were informed, and my routine work maintained 100% accuracy. My supervisor later used this approach as an example of effective workload management.

⚡ How to Quickly Build Your Own STAR Examples

Step 1 — Choose 4 scenarios:

  • Problem solving

  • Stakeholder communication

  • Process improvement

  • Managing priorities

Step 2 — Write 4–6 lines per STAR section

Step 3 — Match examples to QGov capabilities

Step 4 — Practise out loud

Panels score clarity — not speed.

🧠 Quick Prompts to Brainstorm STAR Examples

  • “A time I solved a tricky issue…”

  • “A time I improved a process…”

  • “A time I dealt with a difficult stakeholder…”

  • “A time something went wrong and I fixed it…”

  • “A time I worked under pressure…”

🎯 Final Tip

Don’t overthink it.

Panels want simple, structured, impact-focused examples.

STAR is the cleanest way to deliver them.

For deeper examples and templates, check out the QLD Admin Recruitment Pack.

📥 Want More Support?

You can access my free STAR Method Cheat Sheet, plus templates, examples, and coaching inside the QLD Admin Officer Recruitment Pack (AO2–AO4).

If you want help preparing your examples, reach out — it’s what QLD Career Lab specialises in.

Learn more at QLD Career Lab — where I help Queenslanders land stable, secure government roles.

Curtis Nicholson