STAR Interviewing Response Technique for Success in Behavioral Job Interviews

STAR Interviewing Response Technique for Success in Behavioral Job Interviews Behavioral questions are one of the most common types of interview questions you’ll encounter. No matter what the industry is, you’re bound to have a few of those thrown at you when you enter a job interview.So, how do you handle them and what are they really about? In this guide, you’ll encounter a strategy that’s the most effective in terms of answering a behavioral question: the STAR technique.We’ll go over:What STAR stands for?What are behavioral questions?How can STAR help with behavioral questions?What are the steps to crafting a STAR response to a behavioral question?Finally, we’ll look at a few examples to help you get started.SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULTLet’s start by examining the STAR concept. It consists of four different elements, each of which can be considered a single step in your answer. It gives structure to your answer and helps you move from one important element to another, providing a thorough answer to the question at hand.The four elements of the STAR concept are:SITUATIONThe first component examines the context of your answer. You answer the question of “What were the circumstances of the thing?” and lay the foundation for the answer. You use this component as the basis, explaining in detail what kind of situation you’re about to describe.TASKYour second component in the STAR technique involves the responsibility you had in that environment. You try answering the question “What was the thing you had to do?” and outline the desired outcome. The component is not looking at what you did but rather what was expected in this situation.ACTIONYou then move on to describe the things you did to start solving the situation. You answer the question “What were the steps you took?” by showing in detail what your actions were in order to solve the task ahead of you. The component is focused on your specific actions and reasoning for those actions â€" it’s about the actual things that happened and not what should have happened.RESULTFinally, the last component of the STAR technique is the outcome aspect of it all. You seek to explain an answer to the question “What happened as a result of your actions?” and what your accomplishment or lessons learned were. The focus is on the details of the outcome and an understanding of how your actions in the previous component led to this specific outcome.By following these four components, you create a coherent, concise and detailed answer for any behavioral question you may face.THE COMMON BEHAVIOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONSWhen you have a group of people working towards a common mission, such as in the workplace, the employers want to know how employees will react to different circumstances. Being a good employee is not just about being able to technically perform in the role (i.e. to have the right skills) but to also be able to handle the situations that arise with the role (i.e. to have the right characteristics).Here’s a list of some of the most comm on behavioral questions:Talk about a time when you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yours.Tell me about a situation you wish you’d handled differently with a colleague?Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a client’s expectation. What happened and how did you attempt to rectify the situation?How do you prioritise?Tell me about a time you’ve been under a lot of pressure. What happened and how did you handle the situation?Tell me about a time when you failed/succeeded? How did you deal with the situation?Tell me about a time when you set a goal for yourself? What was is and how did you make sure to achieve it?How do you handle managing responsibilities?Give me an example of a time you’ve persuaded someone.Tell me about a time when you were faced with a conflict. What did you do?How do you motivate yourself?What is your biggest achievement?Behavioral questions are asked to reveal three core things:How you handle specific si tuationsHow you thinkHow you compare with the other candidatesThis allows the interviewer to understand more about you as a candidate. Behavioral questions move deeper into the personality and talent you’d bring to the workplace and beyond just your technical ability to perform in the role.When you’re asked behavioral questions, the interviewer is essentially trying to find out three things about your behavior.First, they want to know how you’ve behaved in previous real-world situations. This is important because behavioral questions are not about imaginary situations â€" the interviewer is not looking to know how you would behave in a certain situation but how you have behaved.For example, a common behavioral question is to ask:Tell me about a mistake that you’ve made. How did you handle it?They don’t ask:What would you do if you ever made a mistake?The second point to remember is that the questions are looking to understand the value you’ve added to this actual situati on. The interviewer wants to know what you did and how your direct actions influenced the outcome. It’s not about what the organization did, the team did or anyone else present did â€" your actions and behaviors are what matter here.For instance, another common behavioral question is to ask:Give me an example of a difficult problem you’ve solved. How did you do it?Again, they are asking about your actions and the behaviors and actions you took to overcome the situation.Finally, the third point the interviewer is focusing on is how you define and analyze different workplace situations. This allows them to compare you to other candidates and to analyze your fit to the work environment. What this essentially means is to check how you define things like ‘failure’, ‘mistake’, and ‘success’.For example, when the interviewer asks a common behavioral question like:Can you tell me about a challenging situation you overcame at work?They aren’t just looking for you to talk ab out the actual steps and actions you took. The interviewer is also interested in seeing what kind of situation you define to be a challenge.Different people can consider very different workplace scenarios as ‘challenge’. For example, someone might talk about how the fax machine broke down while others might go on about the time a big client refused to pay.The point is not that there is necessarily a right or wrong way to define things. But it’s more about understanding your fit for the ‘pressure’ the work environment would provide.Overall, there isn’t really a right or a wrong answer to behavioral questions. Since the answer also has to be about an actual behavior you’ve shown and deal with a real-life situation, you can’t really ever find example answers that you can use.However, what you can do is use strategies that help to answer the question in the most effective way and this is why the STAR method is such a powerful thing.HOW CAN THE STAR TECHNIQUE HELP?There i s a concept and saying in psychology that says, “the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior”. This idea is behind behavioral questions and the reason STAR works so well in answering those questions.STAR looks at what you’ve done in the past in specific situations and therefore, gives the employer a window into your possible future actions. The employer can consider these together with your skills and make a balanced judgment on how well you’d be able to perform in that role.If you remember from the previous section, the interviewer is looking for three core things:How you have behaved in an actual situationHow you’ve added value to solving or dealing with that situationHow you define different common workplace situationsNow, with the STAR method, you are answering those points directly.Remember that STAR will make you:Define the SITUATION by giving the interviewer context for when you engaged in a specific behavior they are asking about. Here you are showing th e interviewer how you define the specific workplace situations they are asking about. For example, if they ask, “Tell me about a challenge you’ve overcome?” then you will not only outline the real-life situation you dealt with, but you will also show the way you define something as ‘a challenge’.Then you move on to talk about the TASK. These are the responsibilities you had in that situation. You show what your role and value was from the onset â€" you not only show what was expected of you but also discuss what you thought were expected of you. Again, you dig deeper into how you define these situations and you show how you understand your role in them.You will next highlight the ACTION. This is to show your behavior deeper and to talk about the steps you took in that specific situation to overcome it or to solve it. This needs to be detailed and concise, showing the interviewer exactly how you behaved and acted in the situation. You want to highlight each action you took and explain the reasoning behind it. Again, this is to help the interviewer to see how your past behavior would manifest in the future, in this particular position.Now, the final part is to mention the RESULTS. These are the outcomes that took place due to your behavior and actions. You show the interviewer the value you brought in reality and what the tangible results of your actions were. In addition, you want to show your understanding of what lead to those results and your ability to learn from the situation. You need to highlight your understanding of what actions lead to what outcomes and how these can help in any specific work situation.See how powerful the STAR method is? You just used it to answer all the things the interviewer wants to see when they ask behavioral questions. You show then in action how you’ve been and acted in the past to help them analyze your ability to perform in the specific role in the future.You make it easier for them to compare you with others †" they get real examples of behavior that help them evaluate the skills and the fit.3 STEPS TO PREPARE FOR BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS WITH STARSo, how can you start using STAR to your advantage? You now have a great grasp of:The concept of STARThe reasons behavioral questions are askedThe concrete ways STAR helps to answer those questionsNow it’s time to start practicing your answers. Preparing and thinking about what answers would be good will help you nail the interview â€" you’ll have the confidence to talk about your skills and more importantly, you know just the kind of skills you need to be talking about.As we’ll discuss soon, the behavioral questions the interviewer ask will always be linked with the specifics of the role and the company. The interviewer knows the kind of skills they want the candidate to have, the challenges they’ll be faced with and so on.Now it’s the candidate’s job to show that they do have those skills, they do know how to overcome those specific c hallenges and so on.So, how do you go about ensuring your behavioral question follows the STAR strategy and highlights the right qualifications and skills for the job?Here are three simple steps to take to prepare for behavioral questions with STAR.1. Make a list of your skills and your experiencesYou should start by creating a list of your skills and experiences. These should be essential for performing well and succeeding in the role you are applying for.What this means is not just listing skills and qualifications you have â€" as you will have many of them! The point is to focus on those core skills that you need in this particular role.In order to figure out what those are, you need to look at the job listing. You should read it, underlining any skill and experience the employer mentions. Then write them down in the below chart:THE SKILLS THE EMPLOYER IS LOOKING FOR:You can list as many and as few as needed. The key is to find those core skills and characteristics that would hel p you in the role and the specific work environment.You can then move on to focusing on the skills you have. The dream is to be able to manifest those exact skills. So you could simply underline the ones you know you have in green.But consider also other skills you have that the employer hasn’t mentioned but which you know would help. These could be closely related to the skills the employer mentions and transferable skills you have.MY BEST SKILLS TO HELP PERFORM AND TO SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE:2. Pick an example of a time you showcased that skill or experienceNow, you have the skills listed. You know what the employer is looking for and the skills your answers should highlight. It is time to show those skills in action.The next step is about matching each of those skills with a real-life example. You want to find the SITUATION in STAR. You want to pick something you’ve done, dealt with, accomplished and so on â€" to give the context to your skill and characteristics.At this point, you don’t have to consider STAR just yet. You simply want to have a rough idea of an example that highlights a skill. Indeed, it’s a good idea to have two examples for a single skill to ensure you can showcase single skill in different ways â€" depending on the question, you can pick the more suited answer then.Of course, it will be even better if you can find an example of a situation that’s similar to something you might deal with in your new role. For example, if the job involves a lot of customer service, then try to come up with examples that highlight your skills and experience of actual customer service situations.So use the below chart to list the skills and characteristics you have and then match them with suitable real-life examples.THE SKILLSTHE EXAMPLE3. Write down the STAR functionsFinally, it’s time to bring out the STAR template and go through each of your examples, giving them the STAR treatment. What you can do is use the below template, filling in the impor tant points as you go along.SKILL AND EXAMPLE SITUATION:SITUATIONWho? What? Where? When? How?TASKWhat were the deadlines? What were the costs? What did it involve? What was required?ACTIONWhat did you do? What steps did you take? How did you take them?RESULTWhat happened? Why did it happen?You can use the questions as guidance when writing your answer.At this point, you can write is as close to an oral answer you might give. You can even sample some of the most common behavioral questions with your answers. The key is to learn to highlight your skill, use real examples as your answers, and master the STAR strategy.Of course, you don’t want to learn the answers by heart and simply read them off like a script when at the interview. However, it still helps to practice the strategy and to think about the examples beforehand â€" it helps you give a good answer confidently.A FEW EXAMPLE BEHAVIOR JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND STAR RESPONSESTo bring it all home, it’s a good idea to examin e a few examples. Here are three core behavioral questions that are almost unanimously asked in job interviews. Below you can also find an example answer to the question, highlighting the STAR strategy.The Question: Tell me about a time when you showed leadership. What did you do?The STAR answer:In my previous job, we had multiple requests for customer follow-ups after we held a conference (SITUATION). Due to one of our team members being sick, we started having a large backlog and customers complained that we’re taking too long to get back to them (TASK). I realized some of the customers had said they’d be OK if we follow-up on the weekends, so I asked one of the team members to contact the list first and to setup interviews for weekend, if possible. I then worked on the weekend to clear the backlog (ACTION). We ended up clearing the list and acquired 8 new customers, with $100,000 in new sales (RESULT).The Question: Have you ever made a mistake? How did you handle it?The STAR answer:Once I misquoted a fee for the club I was working in which resulted in the customer paying the wrong fee (SITUATION). I realized my mistake and wanted to rectify the situation (TASK). I told the manager and they appreciated my honesty. We talked that we should waive the fee for the first three months for the new member and give him the option to cancel. I then contacted the person and went over the situation with them (ACTION). The person accepted my apology and decided to still stay with the club. I felt bad about the mistake but my manager’s calm and understanding approach helped me deal with the situation and I learnt to double check the things I now do (RESULT).The Question: Give an example of a goal you’ve reached and how you achieved it.The STAR answer:When I first started working at ZYX, I wanted to make the most sales of the month, which was a light-hearted competition our management had set (SITUATION). It wasn’t an official objective, but I felt like it would challenge me to quickly learn the ropes and perform well at my job (TASK). I focused on customer service and communication, as I felt it gave me the best chance of boosting sales. I talked with customers, better realizing their pain points and therefore, finding ways we could help them (ACTION). I ended up winning the competition within six months of starting â€" the fastest anyone had done it. I beat the next person by $100,000 and I felt proud of my achievement. Not just with beating the competition but also about taking the time to better serve the customers (RESULT).WITH STAR YOU CAN BE THE STAR OF THE JOB INTERVIEWBehavioral questions are an essential part of the job interview. They are used to look at you more closely and to analyze your fit in the organization â€" they show the interview who you are and what you’ve done in order to make certain predictions about your performance in the role.And when it comes to answering these essential questions, the STAR method is one of the best to use. It highlights just the right elements of your past performance and gives your answers the right kind of structure and level of detail.So, go over the tips and strategies in this guide and nail your next job interview!

STAR Interviewing Response Technique for Success in Behavioral Job Interviews

STAR Interviewing Response Technique for Success in Behavioral Job Interviews Behavioral questions are one of the most common types of interview questions you’ll encounter. No matter what the industry is, you’re bound to have a few of those thrown at you when you enter a job interview.So, how do you handle them and what are they really about? In this guide, you’ll encounter a strategy that’s the most effective in terms of answering a behavioral question: the STAR technique.We’ll go over:What STAR stands for?What are behavioral questions?How can STAR help with behavioral questions?What are the steps to crafting a STAR response to a behavioral question?Finally, we’ll look at a few examples to help you get started.SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULTLet’s start by examining the STAR concept. It consists of four different elements, each of which can be considered a single step in your answer. It gives structure to your answer and helps you move from one important element to another, providing a thorough answer to the question at hand.The four elements of the STAR concept are:SITUATIONThe first component examines the context of your answer. You answer the question of “What were the circumstances of the thing?” and lay the foundation for the answer. You use this component as the basis, explaining in detail what kind of situation you’re about to describe.TASKYour second component in the STAR technique involves the responsibility you had in that environment. You try answering the question “What was the thing you had to do?” and outline the desired outcome. The component is not looking at what you did but rather what was expected in this situation.ACTIONYou then move on to describe the things you did to start solving the situation. You answer the question “What were the steps you took?” by showing in detail what your actions were in order to solve the task ahead of you. The component is focused on your specific actions and reasoning for those actions â€" it’s about the actual things that happened and not what should have happened.RESULTFinally, the last component of the STAR technique is the outcome aspect of it all. You seek to explain an answer to the question “What happened as a result of your actions?” and what your accomplishment or lessons learned were. The focus is on the details of the outcome and an understanding of how your actions in the previous component led to this specific outcome.By following these four components, you create a coherent, concise and detailed answer for any behavioral question you may face.THE COMMON BEHAVIOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONSWhen you have a group of people working towards a common mission, such as in the workplace, the employers want to know how employees will react to different circumstances. Being a good employee is not just about being able to technically perform in the role (i.e. to have the right skills) but to also be able to handle the situations that arise with the role (i.e. to have the right characteristics).Here’s a list of some of the most comm on behavioral questions:Talk about a time when you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yours.Tell me about a situation you wish you’d handled differently with a colleague?Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a client’s expectation. What happened and how did you attempt to rectify the situation?How do you prioritise?Tell me about a time you’ve been under a lot of pressure. What happened and how did you handle the situation?Tell me about a time when you failed/succeeded? How did you deal with the situation?Tell me about a time when you set a goal for yourself? What was is and how did you make sure to achieve it?How do you handle managing responsibilities?Give me an example of a time you’ve persuaded someone.Tell me about a time when you were faced with a conflict. What did you do?How do you motivate yourself?What is your biggest achievement?Behavioral questions are asked to reveal three core things:How you handle specific si tuationsHow you thinkHow you compare with the other candidatesThis allows the interviewer to understand more about you as a candidate. Behavioral questions move deeper into the personality and talent you’d bring to the workplace and beyond just your technical ability to perform in the role.When you’re asked behavioral questions, the interviewer is essentially trying to find out three things about your behavior.First, they want to know how you’ve behaved in previous real-world situations. This is important because behavioral questions are not about imaginary situations â€" the interviewer is not looking to know how you would behave in a certain situation but how you have behaved.For example, a common behavioral question is to ask:Tell me about a mistake that you’ve made. How did you handle it?They don’t ask:What would you do if you ever made a mistake?The second point to remember is that the questions are looking to understand the value you’ve added to this actual situati on. The interviewer wants to know what you did and how your direct actions influenced the outcome. It’s not about what the organization did, the team did or anyone else present did â€" your actions and behaviors are what matter here.For instance, another common behavioral question is to ask:Give me an example of a difficult problem you’ve solved. How did you do it?Again, they are asking about your actions and the behaviors and actions you took to overcome the situation.Finally, the third point the interviewer is focusing on is how you define and analyze different workplace situations. This allows them to compare you to other candidates and to analyze your fit to the work environment. What this essentially means is to check how you define things like ‘failure’, ‘mistake’, and ‘success’.For example, when the interviewer asks a common behavioral question like:Can you tell me about a challenging situation you overcame at work?They aren’t just looking for you to talk ab out the actual steps and actions you took. The interviewer is also interested in seeing what kind of situation you define to be a challenge.Different people can consider very different workplace scenarios as ‘challenge’. For example, someone might talk about how the fax machine broke down while others might go on about the time a big client refused to pay.The point is not that there is necessarily a right or wrong way to define things. But it’s more about understanding your fit for the ‘pressure’ the work environment would provide.Overall, there isn’t really a right or a wrong answer to behavioral questions. Since the answer also has to be about an actual behavior you’ve shown and deal with a real-life situation, you can’t really ever find example answers that you can use.However, what you can do is use strategies that help to answer the question in the most effective way and this is why the STAR method is such a powerful thing.HOW CAN THE STAR TECHNIQUE HELP?There i s a concept and saying in psychology that says, “the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior”. This idea is behind behavioral questions and the reason STAR works so well in answering those questions.STAR looks at what you’ve done in the past in specific situations and therefore, gives the employer a window into your possible future actions. The employer can consider these together with your skills and make a balanced judgment on how well you’d be able to perform in that role.If you remember from the previous section, the interviewer is looking for three core things:How you have behaved in an actual situationHow you’ve added value to solving or dealing with that situationHow you define different common workplace situationsNow, with the STAR method, you are answering those points directly.Remember that STAR will make you:Define the SITUATION by giving the interviewer context for when you engaged in a specific behavior they are asking about. Here you are showing th e interviewer how you define the specific workplace situations they are asking about. For example, if they ask, “Tell me about a challenge you’ve overcome?” then you will not only outline the real-life situation you dealt with, but you will also show the way you define something as ‘a challenge’.Then you move on to talk about the TASK. These are the responsibilities you had in that situation. You show what your role and value was from the onset â€" you not only show what was expected of you but also discuss what you thought were expected of you. Again, you dig deeper into how you define these situations and you show how you understand your role in them.You will next highlight the ACTION. This is to show your behavior deeper and to talk about the steps you took in that specific situation to overcome it or to solve it. This needs to be detailed and concise, showing the interviewer exactly how you behaved and acted in the situation. You want to highlight each action you took and explain the reasoning behind it. Again, this is to help the interviewer to see how your past behavior would manifest in the future, in this particular position.Now, the final part is to mention the RESULTS. These are the outcomes that took place due to your behavior and actions. You show the interviewer the value you brought in reality and what the tangible results of your actions were. In addition, you want to show your understanding of what lead to those results and your ability to learn from the situation. You need to highlight your understanding of what actions lead to what outcomes and how these can help in any specific work situation.See how powerful the STAR method is? You just used it to answer all the things the interviewer wants to see when they ask behavioral questions. You show then in action how you’ve been and acted in the past to help them analyze your ability to perform in the specific role in the future.You make it easier for them to compare you with others †" they get real examples of behavior that help them evaluate the skills and the fit.3 STEPS TO PREPARE FOR BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS WITH STARSo, how can you start using STAR to your advantage? You now have a great grasp of:The concept of STARThe reasons behavioral questions are askedThe concrete ways STAR helps to answer those questionsNow it’s time to start practicing your answers. Preparing and thinking about what answers would be good will help you nail the interview â€" you’ll have the confidence to talk about your skills and more importantly, you know just the kind of skills you need to be talking about.As we’ll discuss soon, the behavioral questions the interviewer ask will always be linked with the specifics of the role and the company. The interviewer knows the kind of skills they want the candidate to have, the challenges they’ll be faced with and so on.Now it’s the candidate’s job to show that they do have those skills, they do know how to overcome those specific c hallenges and so on.So, how do you go about ensuring your behavioral question follows the STAR strategy and highlights the right qualifications and skills for the job?Here are three simple steps to take to prepare for behavioral questions with STAR.1. Make a list of your skills and your experiencesYou should start by creating a list of your skills and experiences. These should be essential for performing well and succeeding in the role you are applying for.What this means is not just listing skills and qualifications you have â€" as you will have many of them! The point is to focus on those core skills that you need in this particular role.In order to figure out what those are, you need to look at the job listing. You should read it, underlining any skill and experience the employer mentions. Then write them down in the below chart:THE SKILLS THE EMPLOYER IS LOOKING FOR:You can list as many and as few as needed. The key is to find those core skills and characteristics that would hel p you in the role and the specific work environment.You can then move on to focusing on the skills you have. The dream is to be able to manifest those exact skills. So you could simply underline the ones you know you have in green.But consider also other skills you have that the employer hasn’t mentioned but which you know would help. These could be closely related to the skills the employer mentions and transferable skills you have.MY BEST SKILLS TO HELP PERFORM AND TO SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE:2. Pick an example of a time you showcased that skill or experienceNow, you have the skills listed. You know what the employer is looking for and the skills your answers should highlight. It is time to show those skills in action.The next step is about matching each of those skills with a real-life example. You want to find the SITUATION in STAR. You want to pick something you’ve done, dealt with, accomplished and so on â€" to give the context to your skill and characteristics.At this point, you don’t have to consider STAR just yet. You simply want to have a rough idea of an example that highlights a skill. Indeed, it’s a good idea to have two examples for a single skill to ensure you can showcase single skill in different ways â€" depending on the question, you can pick the more suited answer then.Of course, it will be even better if you can find an example of a situation that’s similar to something you might deal with in your new role. For example, if the job involves a lot of customer service, then try to come up with examples that highlight your skills and experience of actual customer service situations.So use the below chart to list the skills and characteristics you have and then match them with suitable real-life examples.THE SKILLSTHE EXAMPLE3. Write down the STAR functionsFinally, it’s time to bring out the STAR template and go through each of your examples, giving them the STAR treatment. What you can do is use the below template, filling in the impor tant points as you go along.SKILL AND EXAMPLE SITUATION:SITUATIONWho? What? Where? When? How?TASKWhat were the deadlines? What were the costs? What did it involve? What was required?ACTIONWhat did you do? What steps did you take? How did you take them?RESULTWhat happened? Why did it happen?You can use the questions as guidance when writing your answer.At this point, you can write is as close to an oral answer you might give. You can even sample some of the most common behavioral questions with your answers. The key is to learn to highlight your skill, use real examples as your answers, and master the STAR strategy.Of course, you don’t want to learn the answers by heart and simply read them off like a script when at the interview. However, it still helps to practice the strategy and to think about the examples beforehand â€" it helps you give a good answer confidently.A FEW EXAMPLE BEHAVIOR JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND STAR RESPONSESTo bring it all home, it’s a good idea to examin e a few examples. Here are three core behavioral questions that are almost unanimously asked in job interviews. Below you can also find an example answer to the question, highlighting the STAR strategy.The Question: Tell me about a time when you showed leadership. What did you do?The STAR answer:In my previous job, we had multiple requests for customer follow-ups after we held a conference (SITUATION). Due to one of our team members being sick, we started having a large backlog and customers complained that we’re taking too long to get back to them (TASK). I realized some of the customers had said they’d be OK if we follow-up on the weekends, so I asked one of the team members to contact the list first and to setup interviews for weekend, if possible. I then worked on the weekend to clear the backlog (ACTION). We ended up clearing the list and acquired 8 new customers, with $100,000 in new sales (RESULT).The Question: Have you ever made a mistake? How did you handle it?The STAR answer:Once I misquoted a fee for the club I was working in which resulted in the customer paying the wrong fee (SITUATION). I realized my mistake and wanted to rectify the situation (TASK). I told the manager and they appreciated my honesty. We talked that we should waive the fee for the first three months for the new member and give him the option to cancel. I then contacted the person and went over the situation with them (ACTION). The person accepted my apology and decided to still stay with the club. I felt bad about the mistake but my manager’s calm and understanding approach helped me deal with the situation and I learnt to double check the things I now do (RESULT).The Question: Give an example of a goal you’ve reached and how you achieved it.The STAR answer:When I first started working at ZYX, I wanted to make the most sales of the month, which was a light-hearted competition our management had set (SITUATION). It wasn’t an official objective, but I felt like it would challenge me to quickly learn the ropes and perform well at my job (TASK). I focused on customer service and communication, as I felt it gave me the best chance of boosting sales. I talked with customers, better realizing their pain points and therefore, finding ways we could help them (ACTION). I ended up winning the competition within six months of starting â€" the fastest anyone had done it. I beat the next person by $100,000 and I felt proud of my achievement. Not just with beating the competition but also about taking the time to better serve the customers (RESULT).WITH STAR YOU CAN BE THE STAR OF THE JOB INTERVIEWBehavioral questions are an essential part of the job interview. They are used to look at you more closely and to analyze your fit in the organization â€" they show the interview who you are and what you’ve done in order to make certain predictions about your performance in the role.And when it comes to answering these essential questions, the STAR method is one of the best to use. It highlights just the right elements of your past performance and gives your answers the right kind of structure and level of detail.So, go over the tips and strategies in this guide and nail your next job interview!

Socrates s Philosophy On Moral Life - 1960 Words

Socrates makes a profound impact in our minds through his wisdom, his power of critical thinking, moral strength and intelligence. In the end it is Plato who immortalizes Socrates in the popular imagination as a man of profound knowledge. Socrates’ effectiveness as a philosopher depended as much on the strength and interest of his personality as on the power of his mind. Socrates’ philosophy was based on discovering the truth, understanding moral life and talking about the elements that make up a good life. In my judgment, one of the most important things about Socrates quest was, indeed, the persistent habit and practice of being critical and thoughtful, not being truly blind to one s own groundless convictions and assumptions. Contemplation and critical self awareness as a way of worthy life is what Socrates stands for. So, therefore, he adopted questioning people about their knowledge as the foremost maxim for his life, and that is why he ultimately believed that th e unexamined life is not worth living. Real life, according to Socrates, is not something that is just to be lived, lived by adapting blindly and head strong primal instincts, popular convictions, or time long honored customs. The good life is a life that questions and thinks about things, it is a life of observation, contemplation, self examination, and open minded wondering. The good life is a kind of life that should be devoid of all types of injustice and corruption. Socrates ultimately believes that,Show MoreRelatedPlato, An Ancient Greek Philosopher1458 Words   |  6 Pagesfree thinker and lived in a free city, Athens. He was taught by multiple teachers including Socrates who was frequently mentioned in his writings as the central character. Plato’s novel, The Republic, influenced the idea of government and shows his views on the world. Throughout his personal life, writings, and dialogues, Plato shows his value of knowledge and how each of his writings impacted th e morals of people in the society. Plato was born in 427 BCE in Athens which is one of the most powerfulRead MorePlato s The Apology Of Socrates874 Words   |  4 PagesIn Plato s â€Å"The Apology of Socrates†, Socrates states, â€Å"the unexamined life is not worth living† and he would rather be put to death them stop his practice of philosophy (The Apology). In this writing, Socrates is charged with not accepting the gods recognized by the state, devising new gods, and corrupting the youth of Athens. However, the word apology in the title is not our modern English interpretation of the word. The name of the speech stems from the Greek word apologia, which translatesRead MoreEssay on The Nature of Socratic Philosophy516 Words   |  3 PagesSocratic Philosophy The original word for philosophy steams from the Greek word philosopha,meaning love of wisdom. Although Socrates himself never claimed to have any answers to the questions he raised, his views and methods of philosophy are the cornerstone of what philosophy is today. The nature of philosophy, as viewed by Socrates, is centred around the wellness of the soul, virtue being defined as knowledge and the pursuit of truth through the questioning of beliefs. Socrates heavilyRead MoreSocrates : The Suicide Of Socrates1405 Words   |  6 PagesSocrates was born in 470 BCE in Athens, Greece. His father was Sophroniscus, a sculptor and stone mason from Athens and his mother was a midwife by the name of Phaenarete (30 Interesting Socrates Facts 2014). Socrates original profession was masonry and sculpting, before becoming a philosopher. On a day in 399 BC, Socrates ( roughly 71 years at the time) went to trial.Now why would anyone want to send an old man to court? Three answer is that Socrates was accused of refusing to recognize theRead MorePlatos Philosophy in Apology1375 Words   |  6 PagesPHL202H5 Plato s Philosophy in Apology Plato was known to be one of Socrates students, and knew him for over 40 years. Although Plato s version of Apology is popularly believed to be (the most accurate) historical recount of what happened in 399 B.C on the day of Socrates trial, historians cannot be sure the validity of everything he wrote. It can be argued that it is actually a philosophical work, remarking on the teachings of Socrates and his beliefs, which he stood by even until hisRead MoreStudent Teacher1669 Words   |  7 Pagesstudents by shaping their rational and moral virtues and hence, play an important role in molding the society as a whole. The education system of ancient India and Greece shared some common characteristics. In both cultures, teachers and their disciples conglomerated at specific places earmarked for educational purposes. This is where students gained both spiritual and material education from their teachers. All ancient societies functioned according to a set of moral codes and social hie rarchy and teachersRead MoreBook Report On The Book Le Gai Savoir 1421 Words   |  6 Pageschemistry class. I had a friend who spent all his time, in science classes, reading books about philosophy. His nonconformity caught my attention. I started to be interested by the big mustache of the author on the cover page of his book Le Gai Savoir, because I knew, of course, that all authors with big mustache – such as Victor Hugo and Albert Einstein – wrote about great things! So I started to read Nietzsche s works. Then, one day, my dad caught me reading Le Gai Savoir and he told me that this philosopherRead MoreWhat Good Is Good?1716 Words   |  7 Pageswould be someone that does no wrong and lives an honest life. So my question is what really is good? If there is good does there also have to be bad and evil? Are bad and evil the same thing or do they have different meanings as well? Each philosopher, Socrates, Plato and Augustine, had their own idea of what good mean t to them and even though they had similar thoughts on what good was they had different ideas of where it came from. Socrates was known to be one of the greatest philosophers of theRead MoreStrengths And Weaknesses Of Socrates1663 Words   |  7 Pages Socrates is known in today’s world as one of the greatest philosophers in history. Born in 469 BC just outside of Athens, Socrates was properly brought up and thoroughly educated, he developed both physical and mental strengths. Socrates spent time with the philosopher Archelaus, where he studied astronomy, mathematics, and was introduced to philosophy. Archelaus taught with a scientific approach. Socrates turned from this approach and created his own. He decided instead of trying to understandRead MoreSocrates s View Of Justice1676 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"But when Socrates was busying himself with ethical questions to the complete neglect of nature as a whole, and was seeking in them for the universal and directing the mind for the first time to definitions, Plato, accepting his teaching, came to the conclusion that it applied to something other than the sensible world: the common definition, he reasoned, could not apply to any of the sensible, since they were always ch anging,† (Guthrie). Socrates was constantly wrapped up in thought about how the

Literary Analysis Of Alice Walker s The Color Purple

Sisterhood and Feminism: A Literary Analysis of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple Behind every beautiful thing, there s some kind of pain. The color purple represents royalty and nobility, which can be use to describe the personality of Celie and Nettie and their value of life. Purple is created by combining a strong warm with a strong cool color. The one color contain two completely opposite colors which represent price of royalty and nobility. The Color Purple using epistolary style to describe black woman Celie and her suffering life. The book has fully expressed the idea of feminism and the ideological changes of black women trammeled by unequal idea. Giving an examination of black women s state of life under the racial and sexual oppression. The purpose of this book is not to show the inequality between black people and white people, but to discuss the relationship between black man and black women. Alice Walker shows the ideal relationship between black people by means of describing the sisterhood between Celia and Nettie. The novel is mainly focused on the growth and development of the sisterhood between Celie and Nettie. In Objectification theory (1997), Frederickson and Roberts postulates that : Many women are sexually objectified and treated as an object to be valued for its use by. So occurs when a woman s body or body parts are singled out and separated from her as aperson and she are viewed primarily as a physical objectShow MoreRelatedThe Color Purple By Alice Walker1540 Words   |  7 Pages Alice Walker is an award winning   author, most famously recognized for her novel   The Color Purple ;aside from being a novelist Walker is also a poet,essayist and activist .Her writing explores various social aspects as it concerns women and also celebrates political as well as social revolution. Walker has gained the reputation of being a prominent spokesperson and a symbolic figure for black feminism. Proper analyzation   of Walker s work comes from the   knowledge on her early life, educationalRead MoreReader-Response Criticism: Langston Hughes’ Dream Boogie1222 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature† by R. Wayne Clugton gives us a brief overview on Literary Criticism. Literary Criticism is defined as â€Å"†¦an informed response a person makes to literature after openly (imaginatively) experiencing it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Clugton, R. W., 2010). This, in Laymen’s terms, means that one would make their own analysis or describe a literary work after they have fully read it and came to their own conclusion. After Clugton explains what Literary Criticism is, he went a step further to explain to the readerRead MoreThe Color Purple By Alice Walker1445 Words   |  6 Pages Oppression and Strength In Alice walker’s â€Å"The Color Purple† she uses foil characters such as Celie and Shug to express the polar opposites that are inevitably found when abuse occurs. Celie represents submission and low self value. Shug on the other hand represents Independence and intolerance. Both characteristics coincide bringing forth friendship and change. In the book â€Å"The Color Purple† the writer Alice Walker illustrates a story of bravery, struggle and oppressionRead MoreAlice Malsenior6001 Words   |  25 PagesAlice Walker: Peeling an Essence As an African- American novelist, short–story writer, essayist, poet, critic, and editor, Alice Walker’s plethora of literary works examines many aspects of African American life as well as historical issues that are further developed by Walker’s unique point of view. Writers like Alice Walker make it possible to bring words and emotions to voices and events that are often silenced. Far from the traditional image of the artist, she has sought what amounts to aRead MoreBeloved: Critique with New Historicism1749 Words   |  7 Pageshistory unfolds. Critically this novel is recognized as one of the greatest works on the subject of slaverys impact on the slaves, the owners, the past, and Americas future. In this analysis of Beloved, the characteristics of new historicism will be used to evaluate this literary piece. New Historicism is a literary critique theory founded primarily by Stephen Greenblatt in the early 1980s. What began as a critique by Greenblatt of Shakespearean works became an improved theory of criticism. TheRead More Censorship in the Classroom Essay2774 Words   |  12 Pagesliterature and the language arts are affected by censorship. Finally, we will preview how censorship can be taught in the classroom, to prevent some of tomorrows censorship cases. I never knew a girl who was ruined by a book. * James Walker (Quotations, 1997, 2). When I was in elementary school, I read every Judy Blume book I could get my hands on. I cried through three readings of Katherine Patersons Bridge to Terribithia and scared myself with every Stephen King novel I could

How to Write a Nursing Essay Introduction on How My Values Align with the H Ideas

How to Write a Nursing Essay Introduction on How My Values Align with the H Ideas Up in Arms About How to Write a Nursing Essay Introduction on How My Values Align with the H? Long study hours in nursing school Nursing school is remarkably challenging and demands an enormous amount of study time. Nursing theory is the terminology that's provided to the knowledge body that's used to support nursing practices. Nursing is a tremendously hard job that's extremely rewarding sometimes. People who want to go into nursing must look at the many pros and con that are connected with nursing. With the aging population issue being currently among the most significant for the children that are searching for an acceptable nursing home for their parents or relatives, it's becoming an important question in their opinion. In the present healthcare system, there's still a systemic bias which favors non-Indigenous folks. Therefore, the residents aren't provided with the service they require and their needs aren't taken care of. The aging population class is thought of as the big consumer of the resources supplied by healthcare. Another discouraging fact is that how much time it can take for a new behaviour to turn into automatic will be dependent on the individual and their circumstances. At present, a number of the communities might not have facilities offered for the separate situations occurred because of illness that might be possibly carried by the individual and the urgent attention may not be paid in due course only for the reasons of understaffed homes. So, besides affecting yourself you also influence your relationships with family members and friends. Anyone who can handle the cons given below, and not listed, is a person who's going to earn a tremendous nurse. Another consideration is, obviously, the fact of your circumstances. In addition, don't self-censor believing your values must be worthy in some manner. You may not have taken the chance to explore your own personal values or it might be some time since you considered them. The academic purpose ought to be present. Your readers should comprehend the major flow. You must extract the principal thoughts of the author and make an article based on his suggestions and goals he was attempting to reach. This post is the consequence of that time away. It's possible to even quote some sections of the interview for improved expression of your own suggestions and thoughts. It is possible to discover quite a few resources that will help you on your self-awareness journey. In case the length isn't specified, utilize no more than two pages. You might already have an excellent fit between values and career, or there may be a mismatch. Just follow it and your primary direction. New Questions About How to Write a Nursing Essay Introduction on How My Values Align with the H The essay ought to be presented professionally, utilizing the suitable format and a sound structure. Lastly, it should be referenced in the right manner. Such essay would not be possible to read due to its faulty logic. Your essay shouldn't be a free-flowing analysis. We give a platform at which you can directly get in touch with your writer this can cut back communication barrier. If you are going to order from our affordable essay writing service, there is going to be a personal consultant who will assist you in composing the paper in addition to the sound structure that's composed of 3 primary structural elements. It's an academic job, and your writing should fit. To begin with, the introduction has to be discussed, this is the way you will plan to answer a few of the questions in the paper. Writing your paper The nursing essay paper extends to you with the occasion to show you know how about the topic issue. While you're learning how to compose a nursing essay, it is imperative that you plan carefully. Planning your paper As you learn to compose a nursing essay, it's important to do a little bit of planning. Finally, your nursing essay has to be correctly referenced.

Ethics in Child and Youth Development free essay sample

More so, one can expect to see a case study of an unethical practice that occurred at an orphanage in Zimbabwe. Just before the conclusion there is going to be a section of a reflection on how far the care of children came over the centuries and how it has affected the writer. Gharabaghl (2008:185) points out that the centrality of the concept of relationship within Child and Youth Care practice, it is clear that values are an important element of that practice. So much so that it is rather very difficult to imagine Child and Youth Care practice unfolding in the absence of any role or value. This then shows that in order for the organization to be a successful one people have to be able to follow a certain way of carrying out their different tasks. Hence ethical practice is important. It of paramount importance to take note that, personal values are shaped by our past, present and future thus people have different values. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics in Child and Youth Development or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Therefore, in order to engage with children and youth one should be able to not allow ones’ values to provide a framework for ones’ thoughts of action in an unfettered manner or each agrees to mitigate or transcend specific values in order to limit the range of acceptable interventions and interactions. This is because if there is acceptance of the unfettered presence and impact of values in work, the risk of exposing or impacting children with harmful or negative interventions is great. A very good example is that many individuals view corporal punishment as deeply embedded not only as an acceptable practice but also as a core component of the value system related to raising and disciplining children. As a profession however, child and youth care practice does not accept the value system of endorsing corporal punishment. Furthermore, Banks (1999:56) postulate that, ethical values are important because ethics can serve as a bridge between differences within ones’ personal values and value systems of the profession and on the other hand the rights and well being of children and youth as determined by a broad social, legal and cultural consensus about the rules and methods of professional engagement with children and youth. Hence the presence of certain values gives room for professionalism thus when the practitioners are dealing with decision making it will not be biased because no personal values would have been used. Additionally, Sercombe (1998:35) mentions the following as unethical practices in the field of child and youth. These are selling of drugs to young people, having sexual relationships with them, sharing pornographic videos, embezzling agency funds and turning up to work drunk These are just some of the many unethical things that can happen in this field. Every action that one takes whether good or bad always has consequence. There might delay but they always come. In this case if one who was entrusted with children does something that is against the organizations’ values they have to pay the consequences. For instance if one decides to turn up to work drunk those in authority after giving the person warnings have to fire that person. This is so because the practitioner in question might be bad influence to the children. And at the end of the day the reputation of the organization will be in jeopardy. Another consequence of unethical practice that can be faced by a practitioner in the field of child and youth care work might be imprisonment depending on the unethical practice. In the case of one whom rapes children in his care, stiffer penalties like life imprisonment should be given. This is so because if such people are kept around chances are that they might continue with their behaviors or others practitioners might repeat the same error because they will be confident that no punishment would be given to them. It is also important for one to note that if unethical practices occur it might affect the whole organization in the sense that they may lack funding from their sponsors which will result in the suffering of the children. In the following paragraph is gong to be an example of an unethical practice that was done by a practitioner in the field and the consequences that he faced. A man in Zimbabwe, who used to be a practitioner in the field of child and youth care work, had the tendency of sexually abusing young girls at the orphanage that he worked. When his actions became known by the authorities investigations were made and he was found guilty of raping about ten young girls. He got the sentence of life imprisonment. This is a really sad thing to happen to someone who had vowed to work with children because being in the field is a clear indication that one loves children and that one has personal strong ethical beliefs. The development of the field of child and youth care as a profession is in my opinion the best thing that has happened to children because now the orphaned and the homeless have people who are specialized in taking care of them. This move of making child and youth care work to be a profession has made me realize that taking care of children and youth is of great value and should be taken seriously. Professionalization will always have its risks. Ethical problems, lack of clarity, conflict of interest, misinterpretation and lack of discipline are there but it is important to uphold the ethics and values of the profession. This is so because it will help the organization to reach its goals which is to ensure that every child in need is given attention and that the children’s’ needs are met. Practitioners who do not abide by the code of ethics of the profession should be given stiffer penalties. All in all ethical practice is very important in the field of child and youth care work.

Inequality and American Democracy

Introduction The Americans are globally famous for their relentless support for democratic governance. Jacobs et al asserts that the ideals of democratically responsive governance are highly cherished by the American people (3). Ironically, the situation is markedly different within the American government even as they actively support democracy in other countries. With the growing inequality issues in the country, the ideals of democratic governance have been highly compromised.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Inequality and American Democracy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The major disparities existing are mostly noticeable within the public domain (Jacobs et al. 3). Primarily, the issue is about income differences, opportunities for wealth creation and equal citizenship (Jacobs et al. 3). These gaps are growing rapidly in the United States compared to any other country in the world. Yet the US still conside rs herself the world’s greatest advocates of democracy. The American government is making little or no progress in the efforts to realize the democratic ideals set forth by the founding fathers of the nation. Equal rights The American society is the most culturally diverse in the world and this comes with a number of challenges as well. There were steps made to achieve equality in the 1950s and 1960s at the height of racism. Racial segregation and exclusion became illegal and socially unacceptable hence moving a step towards equality (Jacobs et al. 4). This allowed the white and black community to access education in the same schools and get access to health services in the same health facilities. This was a good gesture towards democratic governance. It is also worth noting that major gender based barriers started to break down during the same time and women were empowered to pursue academic, political, and economic opportunities just as men did (Jacobs et al. 4). Other marg inalized groups like the Latin Americans also got access to equal rights on an equal footing with the rest of the Americans. Notably, the previous barriers that promoted inequalities such as race, gender, ethnicity to mention but a few do not exist today. Nonetheless, new barriers that are fostering inequality in the American society have emerged and they are rapidly spreading within the government and the country at large posing a threat to the realization of democracy. The greatest of these barriers is the gaps in income and wealth between the Americans (Jacobs et al. 4). The gap between the rich and the poor is greatly increasing owing to disparities in income especially in the private and the civil sectors. This gap is increasingly creating a major segregation in the job market as well as in schools and colleges. Apparently, the rich and the wealthy are better positioned to cease opportunities that are out of reach for the middle and lower income classes. Consequently, the rich are in a position to get richer while limiting access to resources by the poor man. That is why the saying that the rich will continue to get rich while the poor man becomes poorer is very true.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some element of racist treatments is also present in school among students. In America today, one has to work very hard in order to maintain his or her current economic position (Jacobs et al. 5). One would expect that through hard work, there would be an upward mobility in the economic ladder but that is not normally the case in the US. Inequality in contributions on national matters Voicing the needs of the American people has never been easy and only a selected few can do this. The opportunity to exercise one’s right in the US does not come easily as there are factors that influence the ear of the government. These factors include a high income, occup ational or career success, and high levels of academic achievements (Jacobs et al. 4). Members who fit in these criteria are more likely to participate in political, social, and economic decision-making process than the ordinary citizen is. Government officials are more likely to listen to the needs of such elite citizens and deliver on their demands more promptly. Unfortunately, this is the bitter truth and the reality of the American government amidst its call for democratic governance around the world. Voting turnout has also declined since the beginning of the 21st century when the income gap began to grow rapidly. Statistics show that the majority who vote are also the elite while the low-income earners decline to exercise their democratic right to cast their votes. How does the decline of voter turnout relate to inequality? A number of decisive factors discourage or make the voting process a struggle for the electorate. The economic inequality is a major factor that discourage s the less economically privileged eligible voters from voting. There are also some laws in some states that forbid the minority from voting and a good example is the law forbidding prisoners and former prisoners from voting (Verba, Lehman, and Brady 1). In addition, the current methods of campaigns are keen on raising funds and persuading the already existing voters to vote. A more different approach is necessary to woo the non-voting yet eligible voters to get out and exercise their rights. Through campaign contributions, the rich and wealthy folks have a leeway to express and voice their demands as the platform gives them an advantage over the poor folks. Today, one can only gain justice and political influence through money and affluence thus leaving the poor man out of the standard bar. The least contributors in the national campaigns are the poor ordinary citizens while the few political donors are in charge in the political arena due to their financial influence. In order to exercise the rights of citizenship, one requires resources and skills. These requirements are only accessible to the wealthy hence the inequality. People with higher education and great careers such as doctors and lawyers among other professional have more confidence to speak compared to an ordinary citizen working as subordinate staff. Naturally, the nature of American politics gives no voice to the poor while the rich and affluent get enough attention at the expense of the poor man.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Inequality and American Democracy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Jacobs et al argues that three quarters of the well-off citizens are in one way or another associated with an organization that has great influence on the political arena (10). They also noted in their research that half of the wealthiest people in America are in contact with public officials. This gives the rich double access to publ ic resources compared to the middle and low-income earners in the US (Freeman). Government responses Government officials are highly influenced by the privileged citizens. The response of the government today in America no longer represents the will of the majority. A selected few wealthy men and women determine the future of the vast majority which is not a principle of democracy. Money has become the essential for government attention. Ironically, the already wealthy and advantaged citizens who are able to take care of themselves are the most catered for by the government. Democratic rule should ensure equality and fairness with the majority influencing the political stands. Nonetheless, in America, it is a reversed role since the minorities hold the realms of power while the majorities ride under the mercies of the few wealthy citizens. Through money, the wealthy establish relationships with government officials creating a connection that enables them to access national resources that are out of the ordinary peoples reach. This gives them a further advantage despite the fact that they already have an advantage over the poor with their wealth and money. This disparity is among the issues that are widening the gap between the rich and the poor. The gap grows wider because the more one earns, the more they gain access to resources and consequently the further the resources get away from the poor man’s reach. The effect is cyclic in that one direction influences the other. The affluent also influence government policies as well and normally, policies will always consider the needs and demands of the wealthy business communities and organized groups (Frankenberg, Orfield, and Lee). The government is always bias when responding to national issues normally bending to the side that favors the rich (Skrentny). The government is moving towards a more tragic direction by allowing a few affluent individuals to take the country hostage. The lack of spread opportu nities and the gap between the rich and the poor is a disastrous condition in any economy. What this does is that the ordinary citizen will get discouraged and be reluctant to participate in national activities. This may include voting and working, which contributes to the national financial muscles, to mention but a few. Conclusion In the United States of America, democracy is only known theoretically and not as a practical state of affair. This paper has established the facts about government inequality and bias treatment of its citizens. The striking income disparity in the country is not a good example of a democratic nation since it is in contradiction with the idea of democracy. In the above research, it is clear that democracy is not as easy to achieve as it sounds and the quality of political leaders as well as the political will to pursue democratic governance highly counts.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The financial gap between the American citizens is creating a division not only affecting social interaction but also economic and political well-being. The voter turnout for instance has been on the decline since the beginning of the 21st century just when the gap begun to build up. This clearly means that income disparities greatly influence the political structure of a country. Democracy is a good leadership model that allows for equal social, economic, and political opportunities for all citizens without favoritism. The government under democratic principles must always work towards engaging the majority rule and open access of power and influence to the majority as opposed to a select few. That is the real essence of democratic governance. Works Cited Frankenberg, Erica, Chumgmei Lee, and Gary Orfield. A Multiracial Society with Segregated Schools: Are We Losing the Dream? Cambridge, MA: Harvard Civil Rights Project, 2002. Print. Freeman, Richard. Working under Different Rules. A National Bureau of Economic Research Project Report, New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation, 1994. Print. Jacobs, Lawrence, and Robert Shapiro. Politicians Don’t Pander Political Manipulation and the Loss of Democratic Responsiveness, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. Print. Jacobs, Lawrence et al. American Democracy in an Age of Rising Inequality.  Task Force on Inequality and American Democracy American Political Science Association. 5 Sep. 2012. Web. Skrentny, John. The Minority Rights Revolution, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2002. Print. Verba, Sidney, Kay Lehman, and Henry Brady. Voice and Equality: Civic Voluntarism in American Politics, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1995. Print. This essay on Inequality and American Democracy was written and submitted by user Joslyn Carver to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.