The Secret to Powerful Interview Storytelling: Why STAR technique is not enough

We’ve all heard of the STAR technique: Situation, Task, Action, Result - as the holy grail of interview storytelling. It’s a great starting point, but if your answers still feel flat or forgettable, there’s a reason: STAR alone isn’t enough.

Most candidates focus so much on structure that they forget two critical elements of powerful storytelling:
👉 Relevance - why your story matters for this job.
👉 Impact - why the result actually matters for the business.

Let’s break down how to turn your stories from generic to genuinely persuasive.

1. Be Relevant: Tell the Right Story for the Right Audience

A great story isn’t just about what you achieved - it’s about whether that story matters to your interviewer.

Before you answer, ask yourself: “What skill are they testing?”

For Example:

• For FP&A or Controller roles → analytical rigor, accuracy, ownership.

• For Commercial roles → influence, cross-functional collaboration, and value creation.

• For Leadership roles → prioritization, strategy, and decision-making.

2. Be Structured: Keep It Simple and Focused

Structure makes your message clear and memorable. You don’t need a long backstory - in fact, that often dilutes your impact.

Use a concise flow: Context → Action → Result.

Set up the situation in two lines max, then focus on your actions and why they mattered.

Example:
Instead of “I helped redesign our budgeting process,” try:

“I standardized the budgeting model across five markets, which helped leadership compare performance and make investment decisions faster.”

3. Be Impactful: Show the “So What”

Most candidates end their STAR story with a number. “I saved €1M”, “I reduced costs by 15%”
That’s good - but it’s incomplete.

Impact isn’t just what you achieved - it’s why it mattered.
Show how that result influenced the business, the team, or the customer.

🧠 Example:
❌ “Saved €4.5M in OPEX.”
✅ “Freed up €4.5M, which was reinvested in market expansion, driving growth in two key regions.”

That’s the difference between a story that sounds impressive and one that sounds relevant.

💡 Pro tip: For interview Prep start with relevance - this allows you to clarify why this story matters and you will think intentionally why you chose this story in the first place. During an interview follows Structure → Impact → Relevance to set the context and loop back to Relevance to highlight what the interviewer cares about.

Ready to take your stories beyond STAR?

Don’t just tell a story - tell the right story. Think about your audience, what skills they value most, and what impact truly matters in their world.
Use my Storytelling Framework Template to structure your examples with Relevance, Structure, and Impact - and turn good stories into unforgettable ones.