Targeted Selection® Interview Tips for Job Candidates

DTE Energy utilizes Development Dimensions International’s (DDI’s) Targeted Selection® process for interviewing job candidates. Targeted Selection® is a behavioral based interview process, recognizing that past behaviors are a great predictor of future behavior. The objective of the Targeted Selection® process is to obtain behavioral information from candidates (i.e., past behaviors) in order to accurately assess a candidate’s skill level relative to the skill level needed for the job. In addition, Targeted Selection® also helps promotes fairness to candidates, and ensures hiring departments have involvement in selecting competencies and interview questions.

Providing STARs

Candidates will be asked to provide responses to questions utilizing the STAR format. For each interview question a candidate will be asked to provide an example of how (s)he demonstrated a competency (i.e., knowledge, skill or ability) by explaining the Situation/Task, describing the Actions (s)he took, and the Results of one’s actions.

Note that interviewers will be asking each candidate about his or her specific actions, not the actions of a team, or group of individuals, the candidate may have worked with in completing a task, project, etc.

Interview Questions

An interview team’s goal is to obtain 3 complete STARs for each competency. While every candidate for a given job posting must be assessed on the same set of competencies (e.g., Customer Focus, Planning and Organizing, Technical Knowledge), an interview team may not necessarily ask each candidate the same set of questions*.

The goal of the interviewer(s) is to obtain enough behavioral information on a candidate to make an accurate assessment. Sometimes a candidate is unable to answer a specific question. Interviewers may then ask a different question to assess a candidate’s skill level.

Interviewers will also ask follow-up questions in order to get the necessary details about a candidate’s behavior, which provides more information in evaluating one’s competency levels.

Interview Preparation

A simple way to prepare for an interview is to have a friend, colleague, etc. ask you questions related to the qualifications listed on a job posting. You should practice providing a response using the STAR format. Also, have your friend or colleague ask follow-up questions so that you become familiar with answering additional questions and providing more information.

*Exception: Candidates for jobs represented by Local #223 – OPT and Service Consumption Tech jobs represented by Local #223 - Gas Division will be asked the

DTE Energy is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, citizenship, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other status protected by law.