New storytelling tool helps students in job interviews

Released: September 23, 2021 | Last Updated: November 10, 2021

Communications Office  |  News release Community

“CamSTAR,” developed by Camosun’s Applied Learning, Co-op Education and Career Services department, is an interactive, online learning tool that teaches students how to use structured storytelling to weave together their skills, behaviours, and competencies in a way that resonates with potential employers. “STAR” stands for “situation, task, action, and result” that students use as a framework when answering behavioural interview questions.

“We know that Camosun students gain the required skills to enter the workforce, but we also know they can find it challenging to tease out and frame pertinent information when it comes time to sell themselves to employers,” says Claudia Sperling, Director of Applied Learning, Co-op Education and Career Services. “The job market is fierce, and the rapidly advancing competitive skills economy requires that students not only have the credentials employers are looking for but that they can articulate their competencies - such as the capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems - in a meaningful way.”

“What I like about CamSTAR is that it’s a well-laid out road map to professional development,” says Liam O’Brien, a Post-degree Diploma Marketing student. “It helps you set goals to develop new skills and it helps you identify your current skills and articulate them to employers.”

"Interviews can be super stressful, and CamSTAR helps you have the knowledge that relates to a specific skill or something the interviewer is asking,” says, Bachelor of Business Administration student  Ayla Yazganoglu. “It helps you feel more comfortable and confident.”

After completing CamSTAR, students will have an ongoing log of curated stories on how they developed and demonstrated professional skills such as leadership, problem-solving, or communications. These story artifacts can then be used for interviews, resumes, or digital portfolios.

“CamSTAR helps you prepare for those really hard behaviour-based questions like ‘tell me about a time you showed leadership,’” says University Transfer student Sofia Devlin.  “Even if you don’t necessarily have a sense about how to go about developing your STAR stories it offers helpful examples.”

Along with positive responses from students, Camosun faculty are also finding CamSTAR valuable.

I've seen growth in my students who use CamSTAR,” says School of Access Instructor Diane Gilliland. “Being able to articulate their stories succinctly - to see their skills and strengths mirrored back to them in their stories - builds confidence.”

“The CamSTAR framework allowed my students to feel they were well-prepared for interviews,” adds Marketing and Management Instructor Marina Jaffey.  “They learned to present themselves in a way that would make them more competitive in a very tough job market."

Camosun’s Career Services will be offering a series of webinars and one-on-one support to orient students to the online resource in October and November.

CamSTAR will also become one of the integrating elements within select programs and Camosun’s Career Development course, providing students an advantage heading into interviews for work terms, employment or further education.

Hear what Camosun students say about CamSTAR

Learn more: https://camstar.opened.ca/

Get started: Quick Start Guide