STAR Method: (Situation – Task – Action – Result)

Overview

The STAR method is a structured workflow used to clearly explain professional experience by breaking an answer into four logical parts: Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

STAR Workflow

1. Situation (Context) - Analysis

   • Describe the environment or background
   • Explain the business or technical problem
   • Provide relevant constraints such as scale, deadlines, or compliance

   Key question: What was happening?

2. Task (Responsibility) - Design

   • Define your role in the situation
   • Clarify what you were accountable for
   • State the goal or success criteria

   Key question: What was I responsible for?

3. Action (Execution) - Implementation

   • Explain the specific actions you took
   • Describe the tools, technologies, or methods used
   • Highlight technical decisions and trade-offs
   • Show ownership, problem-solving, and leadership

   Key question: What did I do to solve the problem?

4. Result (Outcome) - Testing

   • Present measurable results whenever possible
   • Show business or technical impact
   • Explain long-term value created

   Key question: What was the outcome?

Strategies to Scale Database

System Design - Dianna Yau

Snowflake System Design