STAR Stories – A Custom eLearning Case Study on Interview Skills

Project overview

The third course in our trilogy with PRIMA OSEO Vaud is STAR Stories – Competencies à la Carte, a learner-friendly 30-minute STAR method eLearning course that helps job seekers master the STAR interview technique—Situation, Task, Action, Result—so they can transform vague recollections into structured, interview-ready stories.

Learners step into a welcoming kitchen environment where the STAR method becomes a recipe. Animated whiteboard videos explain what the STAR method is, why it matters, and how it can be used in interviews, CVs, or networking. Learners gather “ingredients,” follow a simple recipe, and leave with a personal menu of polished examples.

The challenge

Job seekers often know their experiences but struggle to present them clearly when asked for examples. They tend to ramble, get too technical, or remain vague. Coaches needed a digital tool that would reinforce workshop lessons while staying light, warm, and repeatable. Learners wanted something they could revisit independently, with practical steps to build structured STAR answers that stand up in real conversations.

Our approach

We approached this project with the same design philosophy that guided the earlier courses in the trilogy: learner-centered, immersive, and practical. Our process followed best practices in instructional design. We began by analyzing the learner’s pain points with coaches and recent job seekers: where their examples broke down, where nerves interfered, and how STAR could bring structure.

From there, we created a course outline shaped like a menu: an entrée to set objectives, ingredients to identify competencies, recipe steps to practice STAR, and a final service where learners plate their answers. A mood board established the tone—bright illustrations, natural textures, and playful movement.

The storyboard mapped every screen, interaction, and piece of narration, ensuring clarity before production. A prototype allowed early testing of pacing, visuals, and interactivity. Feedback shaped refinements to timing, wording, and flow before we moved to full production.

Whiteboard animations were used to explain the STAR method and its value, keeping abstract ideas clear and memorable. Illustrator provided a fresh visual identity, and subtle gifs introduced gentle motion for warmth and dynamism. Interactions were extended with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: hover reveals for tips, interactive exercises to order STAR steps correctly, and branching scenarios to apply the method in interviews or CV writing. Classic scenario activities tested comprehension, while coded exercises encouraged active learning.

The course was assembled in Rise 360 as part of our custom eLearning design process, tested with a small learner group, refined with their feedback, and finally packaged as SCORM and HTML versions for LMS deployment.

The solution in action

Learners are welcomed into the chef’s kitchen, where objectives are set in a light and playful way. Whiteboard explainer videos introduce the STAR method and show where it can be applied. Learners then explore four competency families—social, personal, methodological, and technical—through interactive ingredient cards.

Once ingredients are gathered, the recipe begins. Learners practise rewriting vague responses into structured STAR answers, dragging and dropping elements into place. Branching scenarios simulate real-world contexts like interviews, networking events, and follow-ups, so learners can test their answers and adjust them for different audiences.

A final quiz consolidates learning and provides a sense of accomplishment. By the end, learners have several solid STAR stories they can immediately adapt and use.

The craft you feel

The course blends custom eLearning design with approachable visuals. We reworked available illustration templates in Illustrator, adapting and refining them to create a unique, learner-friendly style. Subtle GIFs add rhythm, while custom-coded HTML, CSS, and JavaScript interactions keep the experience engaging and smooth.

The design is desktop-first but mobile-friendly, ensuring learners can access their STAR interview training anywhere. This reflects our approach to custom course design: combining accessible design, interactivity, and visual storytelling to deliver training that feels personal, professional, and effective.

Results and impact

Learners finished the course with three to five STAR stories ready for interviews, CVs, and networking. Coaches gained a reusable workshop companion that consistently produced structured, ready-to-speak answers across groups.

Together with the CV case study and the Pitch case study, this course completed a trilogy that supports job seekers across the entire career journey: writing an effective CV, delivering a confident pitch, and telling structured stories that demonstrate competence.