After setting the stage with a clear ‘Situation’, the next critical step in your STAR response is to articulate your ‘Task’. This component defines your specific responsibility or objective within the described scenario. It transitions from the general context to your personal role in addressing the challenge or opportunity.

This article will delve into what the ‘Task’ element entails, why it’s a crucial part of your answer, and how to clearly define your objective to effectively guide your interviewer through your experience.

What is the ‘Task’ in STAR?

The ‘Task’ refers to your individual responsibility or the objective you were working towards in the situation you just described. It clarifies what specifically needed to be done by you. This is not just the problem itself, but *your* role in solving it or the goal *you* were assigned or took on.

Why Defining Your ‘Task’ is Crucial

• Highlights Responsibility: It demonstrates your ownership and accountability within the scenario.
• Clarifies Focus: It narrows the scope from a broad situation to your specific objective, making your subsequent actions more understandable.
• Shows Initiative: Even if assigned, how you interpret and articulate the task can reveal your strategic thinking. For insights into ensuring your task aligns with the question, see Ensuring Your Task Aligns with the Question.

How to Clearly State Your Task

• Be Specific: Instead of “I had to fix a problem,” say “My task was to identify the root cause of the client’s dissatisfaction and propose a viable solution within 24 hours.”
• Use “I”: Emphasize your personal involvement. “I was responsible for…” or “My objective was to…”
• Connect to the Situation: Ensure your task logically follows from the context you’ve already established.
• Distinguish from Goal: While related, a task is often a specific action or set of actions, whereas a goal is the desired outcome. Understanding the nuances here is key. Explore Task vs. Goal: Clarifying Your Objective for more detail.

Example ‘Task’

Building on the previous ‘Situation’ example:

• Situation: “In my last role as a Project Manager, during a critical quarter, a key client expressed strong dissatisfaction with a recent deliverable, threatening to terminate their contract due to perceived quality issues.”
• Task: “My immediate task was to conduct an urgent investigation to pinpoint the exact quality discrepancies and then collaborate with the technical team to develop and present a revised solution that would restore client confidence and retain the account.”

This clearly defines the role and objective within the challenging situation. For further guidance on stating your task effectively, see How to Clearly State Your Task.

Clearly defining your ‘Task’ is the bridge between the context and your contribution. It allows the interviewer to understand the scope of your involvement and sets the stage for the specific actions you took. For a comprehensive overview of all STAR elements, return to our pillar page: Deconstructing the STAR Method: Each Component Explained.