STAR Answer: Describe a Time You Faced a Difficult Deadline
The short answer
For a deadline question, show how you planned, not that you worked all night. Name the deadline and what was at stake, say how you split the work and what you dropped or asked for help with, and give the result. End with what you now do earlier.
Pick a question, think of one real story, then fill in the four parts.
One or two sentences. Do not spend your answer here.
Example: In my final year, our team of four had two weeks to build a library app for a college contest.
Say what you were responsible for, not what the team did.
Example: I was responsible for the database and for making sure the app loaded quickly.
This is the longest part. Use “I”, and say what you did and why.
Example: I redesigned the tables, added an index on the search column, and wrote a script that tested the app with 5,000 records.
Numbers make results believable: time saved, marks, users, percent.
Example: Search time fell from six seconds to under one, and we won second place out of 40 teams.
Your answer
Words
0
Time to say it
0 s
Good length
1 to 2 minutes
To make it stronger
- Add the Situation, Task, Action, Result part to complete the answer.
Do not learn it by heart: remember the four parts and speak naturally. Your writing stays in your browser.
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How to: STAR Answer: Describe a Time You Faced a Difficult Deadline
- 1Choose a real deadline, such as a project submission or an exam week.
- 2Write the situation and the stakes in two lines.
- 3Describe how you planned, what you did first and what you let go.
- 4End with the result and one lesson, then check the timing.
At a glance
- Question
- Describe a time you faced a difficult deadline.
- Show
- Planning and priorities, not long hours
- End with
- The result and one lesson
Frequently asked questions
Is it bad to say I missed the deadline?
Not if you are honest and show what you learned. Better still, pick a case in which you delivered, even if partly, and explain the trade-offs.
How do I show that I stayed calm?
Describe the steps you took, such as listing the tasks and checking in with the team. Calm shows in a clear plan.
More quick answers
- STAR Answer: Tell Me About a Time You Worked in a Team
- STAR Answer: Tell Me About a Mistake You Made
- STAR Answer: Tell Me About a Time You Took the Lead
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