How to Identify Problem-Solving Skills

Almost every JD ever written usually mentions ‘problem solving’ as one of the key required skills in one form or another. As a recruiter, you know problem-solving skills are essential for any job, but how do you know if a candidate has them? This article will give you some of the best strategies on how to do just that.

What Do Problem-Solving Skills Mean to Recruiters?

Problem-solving skills are the abilities that help you find solutions to various challenges and situations. As a recruiter, you are looking for candidates who can demonstrate these skills in their resumes, interviews, and work performance. Problem-solving skills show that candidates can:

• Analyze a situation and identify the root cause of a problem.
• Find effective and feasible solutions to a problem.
• Implement solutions and evaluate their results.
• Learn from feedback and improve their performance.
• Adapt to changing circumstances and cope with uncertainty.
• Collaborate with others and communicate their ideas clearly.

Problem-solving skills also reflect candidates’ creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills, which are essential for any role. As a recruiter, you want to hire candidates who can solve problems, overcome challenges, and achieve goals, as they are more likely to contribute to the success of the organization.

How To Identify Problem-Solving Skills in a Resume

To identify problem-solving skills in a resume, you need to pay attention to both the content and the format of the resume. The content of the resume should include examples and achievements that demonstrate the candidate’s problem-solving skills. For example, you can look for:

• The situation or challenge that candidates faced.
• The action or solution that candidates took or proposed.
• The result or outcome that candidates achieved or expected.

At the same time, looking for the following indications can show the impact and value of candidates’ problem-solving skills.

• Numbers or percentages that show improvement, increase, decrease, or change.
• Awards or recognition that show achievement, excellence, or innovation.
• Projects or live products that showcase the candidate’s solutions in action.

Pro-tip: Reading and analyzing resumes while searching for these skills and examples manually can be time-consuming and prone to errors. That’s why a tool like Manatal’s Applicant Tracking System is invaluable in saving time spent reading through resumes. Manatal uses Artificial Intelligence to scan resumes and match them with your job requirements. It can also highlight the problem-solving skills and other important skills of each candidate, making it easier for you to compare and evaluate them.

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Examples of Problem-solving Skills

There are many types of problem-solving skills, depending on the nature and complexity of the problem. Some examples of problem-solving skills that you should know are:

• Research skills: This is the ability to gather and analyze information from various sources. This skill can help candidates find relevant and reliable data, facts, and evidence to support their problem-solving process. For example, a resume might include statements like “conducted extensive market research and analysis to identify customer needs and preferences” or “used online tools such as Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic to find academic articles and books on the topic.”
• Analytical skills: The ability to break down a problem into smaller parts and identify the key factors. This skill can help candidates understand the nature and complexity of a problem, the causes and effects, and the pros and cons of different solutions. A resume that shows analytical skills can include statements like “analyzed the financial statements and performance indicators of the company and its competitors” or “used tools such as SWOT analysis or PESTLE analysis to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors of the project.”
• Decision-making skills: Another skill will be the ability to choose the best option among multiple alternatives. For example, a resume might include statements like “decided on the optimal pricing strategy for the new product launch based on market research and cost analysis” or “utilize tools such as decision matrix or decision tree to compare and rank different options according to their advantages and disadvantages.”
• Creative thinking skills: Being able to generate new and original ideas or solutions is a viable skill that should be included in the resume of candidates looking to fill up a position that requires problem-solving. It analyzes ways candidates have used innovative and unconventional ways to solve problems, especially when conventional methods fail or are not available. Statements like “created a new logo design for the company using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator” or “used tools such as brainstorming or mind mapping to stimulate imagination and explore different possibilities” can be good examples.
• Logical thinking skills: This refers to the ability of candidates to apply reasoning and logic to solve problems. For instance, a resume could show statements like “solved complex mathematical problems using algebra, calculus, and statistics” or “leveraged tools such as sudoku or riddles to practice logical thinking skills.”
• Troubleshooting skills: Candidates' ability to find and fix errors or defects in a system or process is also an important skill to watch out for. It shows the ability to solve problems that affect the functionality, performance, or quality of a product or service. Statements like “troubleshot and resolved technical issues with the software application using debugging and testing tools” or “identified and corrected the errors or bugs in the program code using Java” could be good examples.

Problem-Solving Skill Tests

Problem-solving skill tests are a way to measure how well a candidate can analyze, understand, and solve various types of problems. These skill tests can be used for different purposes, such as hiring, learning and development, or research.

There are different types of problem-solving skill tests, depending on the nature and complexity of the problems. Some examples of problem-solving skill tests are:

• Numerical reasoning tests: These tests measure the ability to work with numbers, data, graphs, and charts. They require mathematical knowledge, logical thinking, and accuracy. For example, you might ask candidates to calculate the percentage change in sales, interpret a pie chart, or solve an equation.
• Verbal reasoning tests: The verbal test measures candidates' ability to understand and interpret written information. They require language skills, comprehension, and inference. Asking candidates to read a passage, answer questions based on it, or complete a sentence can be an example of this test.
• Abstract reasoning tests: With this test, you can measure the ability to find patterns and relationships among shapes and symbols. They require you to test spatial awareness, creativity, and flexibility. Candidates might be asked to identify the next shape in a sequence, find the odd one out, or match similar figures.
• Situational judgment tests: These tests measure the ability to respond appropriately to realistic scenarios. They require common sense, ethical awareness, and decision-making. For instance, you might ask candidates to choose the best course of action in a workplace situation, evaluate the pros and cons of different options, or rank the importance of different factors.

Problem-solving skill tests can be administered online or offline, individually or in groups, with or without time limits. They can have different formats, such as multiple-choice questions, short answers, essays, or simulations.

Conclusion

Problem-solving skills are essential, especially for any professional to succeed in a working environment. Therefore it is a skill that should be critically examined by recruiters, HR Managers, and employers when filling a role. By recognizing the importance of adaptability, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in addressing challenges, recruiters can not only select candidates who excel at problem-solving but also contribute to the overall success and innovation of their organizations.