Behavioral Interviews: How to Write STAR Stories that Land

Kira D.

Ex-Disney Recruiter | Interview + Career Coach | OPT Savvy | Get that job!

Hi, I'm Kira, an ex-Disney recruiter with 12+ years experience coaching and collaborating with professionals at all levels of their career - from experienced executives in non-profits and real estate, to MBAs pivoting from arts to finance, to international students in STEM MS programs, and undergrad students working towards their first professional entertainment internships (USC Marshall, UW Foster, NC State, Pepperdine University). Though I am very comfortable with clients at all stages of life - in this season I have focussed my services on expanding oportunties for mid-life professionals looking for their 2nd or 3rd act pivot or shift. A lot of that is due to the first 10 years of my career in entertainment, before I found my way into coaching. I have had countless conversations with friends and colleagues over the last decade all with the same thing in common. We busted our butts to climb to the tops of ladders we defined when we were 25, and by 45 (or 35 or 55) that role we worked so hard to get wasn't a fit any more. Not for the people who we'd become along the way. These are some of the most challenging and stressful career changes for people and I just happen to LOVE working through these hard questions and guiding people through this process. Prior to Higher-ed, I worked for 10 years in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles in corporate media and feature animation production (DreamWorks Animation), as a C Level Executive Assistant, Casting Assistant, and in HR/Recruiting (Disney, Lucasfilm/ILM). I've navigated several significant career pivots in my life and have a unique ability to draw out a person's story and help them wrap words around what matters to them in a compelling and authentic way. I have a lot of empathy and compassion for people navigating this space - as I have personal experience with how challenging it can be! My clients and students describe me as: a "sanity check," a (kind) straight-shooter, a networking wizard, exceptionally empathetic and encouraging, insightful, the best resume note-giver they have ever encountered, and a killer interview coach! My main goal in any conversation is to help YOU get clear about your next step - and to identify what you need to do in order to reach your short and long term career (and life!) goals. I'm typically a good fit and have a lot of experience working with people who: - Are making a significant career pivot (to a different job function, industry or both). I'm an especially great fit for midlife professionals. - Are interested in careers in the entertainment space (film, TV, streaming, etc.) OR who are wanting to transition out of entertainment into a more "traditional" corporate role. - Are MBAs recruiting for internships or full-time for all role types (Corporate Finance, Marketing/Brand, non-tech PM, PMM, Leadership Programs, Supply Chain/Ops, Business Intelligence, Sales, Startups) outside of IB and Management Consulting. I have experience working with clients and students in IB and Consulting - but there are a lot of folks on the platform who have more hands on experience here. I will say - I do a mean behavioral interview - and have had folks with a bent towards IB and Consulting remark that they have benefitted from my approach to the behavioral portion of the interview process, while working with other coaches on the technical/case portion. - Are international students struggling with networking best practices in the US and understanding the basics of H1B and STEM OPT. I have worked with programs where 70-90% of the students were from outside the US. That said, I am not an immigration professional and cannot provide legal advice. I look forward to hearing more about you!