Writing STAR responses can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to sell yourself to a panel of strangers. But most people fall into the same avoidable traps. Here are three of the most common STAR mistakes (and what to do instead).
You might think it sounds better to say “we did this” or “the team achieved that,” but public sector panels are scoring your actions — not the group’s.
Use "I" statements throughout your STAR response. Even in team-based situations, highlight your personal contribution.
✅ Good: “I suggested a new system to reduce errors…” ❌ Bad: “We worked together to reduce errors…”
The Result is the most overlooked part of STAR — and often the most important. Panels want to see outcomes, not just effort.
Always finish with a measurable or meaningful result. Ask yourself: What changed because of what I did?
✅ Good: “As a result, the backlog was cleared a day early and the process became 20% faster.” ❌ Bad: “It went well and we moved on to the next task.”
STAR answers are not a time to waffle or stay high-level. You need to show real, specific, grounded actions — especially at higher grades.
Use numbers, names, dates, and specific tasks where possible. The more concrete your answer, the easier it is to score.
✅ Good: “I completed the report by Friday and presented it to the senior manager on Monday.” ❌ Bad: “I helped with the report and gave it to someone in management.”
A proper STAR response should be a full page of text or close to it — not a short paragraph. Each section (S, T, A, R) should have some depth.
Don’t stress over structure, wording, or whether you’ve hit the mark. ApplySmart.ie offers a complete STAR writing service for €100 flat.
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Examples shown in this blog are shortened for readability. Real STAR answers should be longer, structured, and tailored to your role, grade, and job description. We handle all of that for you.