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NSW Public Service Commission interviews

Australia (New South Wales) · the STAR technique

Tell a short, specific story

“you need to be concise and to the point – you do not want to ramble.”

NSW Public Service CommissionUsing the STAR method transcript

NSW Public Service Commission · Undated, checked 11 November 2026

Do not ramble

Keep the situation short and spend your time on what you did.

Example

“Explain specific things you did.”

NSW Public Service CommissionUsing the STAR method transcript

NSW Public Service Commission · Undated, checked 11 November 2026

Explain specific actions

List the actions you took, one by one.

Example

“Don’t say “I worked hard” – this is too general.”

NSW Public Service CommissionUsing the STAR method transcript

NSW Public Service Commission · Undated, checked 11 November 2026

“I worked hard” is too general

Replace general effort with the specific steps you took.

Example

Mistakes, with the lesson

“If you made a mistake you can talk about that, but it is important to discuss the important lessons you learnt from that.”

NSW Public Service CommissionUsing the STAR method transcript

NSW Public Service Commission · Undated, checked 11 November 2026

Say what you learnt

Tell the mistake, then the lesson and what you changed.

Example

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