Problem-solving skills help identify the cause of a problem and how to resolve it.
What are problem-solving skills?
Problem-solving skills assist in solving issues quickly and effectively. They are one of the key skills that employers look for in job applicants, as employees with these skills are typically self-reliant. Problem-solving skills require quickly identifying the underlying issue and implementing a solution.
Problem-solving is considered a soft skill (a personal strength) rather than a hard skill learned through education or training. You can improve your problem-solving skills by recognizing common issues in your industry and learning from more experienced employees.
How do problem-solving skills work?
Problem-solving begins with identifying the issue. For example, a teacher may need to determine how to improve students’ performance on a writing proficiency test. To do this, the teacher will review the writing tests for areas of improvement. They may observe that students can construct simple sentences but struggle with writing paragraphs and organizing those paragraphs into an essay.
To address the problem, the teacher will work with the students on how and when to write compound sentences, how to write paragraphs, and methods for organizing the essay.
Steps in Problem Solving
There are five steps commonly used in problem solving:
1. Analyze Contributing Factors
To solve the problem, you need to understand why it is happening. This requires gathering and evaluating data, isolating potential contributing circumstances, and determining what needs to be addressed to reach a solution.
2. Create Interventions
Once the cause is identified, synthesize possible solutions. Sometimes this involves teamwork, as two (or more) minds are often better than one. A single strategy is rarely the obvious way to solve a complex problem; creating a range of alternatives helps cover your bases and reduces the risk of failure if the first strategy you implement does not work.
3. Evaluate Solutions
Depending on the nature of the problem and your chain of command, the best solutions may be evaluated by specific teams or team leaders or referred to decision-makers in the company. Decision-makers should assess the potential costs, resources required, and possible obstacles to successfully implementing the solution.
4. Implement the Plan
Once a decision on the course of action is made, it should be executed with standards in place to quickly and accurately identify whether it is working. Implementing the plan also involves informing personnel of changes to standard operating procedures.
5. Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Solution
Once the solution is implemented, the best problem solver will have systems to evaluate whether it is working and how long it is taking. This way, they know as early as possible whether the problem has been solved or if they need to adjust their response to the problem mid-course.
Here is an example illustrating problem-solving skills in a job cover letter:
“When I was first hired as a legal assistant, I inherited a collection of 25 medical files that needed summarizing, each file consisting of hundreds of pages. At the same time, I had to assist in preparing for three major cases, and there just wasn’t enough time in the day. After explaining the issue to my supervisor, I was approved to come in Saturday mornings to focus on those overdue files. I was able to clear the overdue files within a month.”
Here’s another example of how to demonstrate problem-solving skills in a job cover letter:
“When I joined the Great Graphics team as the Art Director, the designers had lost their enthusiasm due to the previous manager who tried to control every step of the design process. I utilized weekly discussion sessions to gather creative input and ensured that each designer was given complete freedom to do their best work. I also introduced monthly team competitions that helped build morale, spark new ideas, and improve collaboration.”
Highlighting
Light on Problem-Solving Skills
Since this skill is important to most employers, place it front and center in your resume, cover letter, and interviews. If you’re unsure about what to include, look at your previous roles – whether in academia, work, or volunteering – for examples of challenges you faced and problems you solved. Highlight relevant examples in your cover letter and use bullet points in your resume to show how you resolved an issue.
During interviews, be prepared to describe situations you encountered in prior roles, the processes you followed to address problems, the skills you applied, and the results of your actions. Potential employers are looking to hear a coherent narrative of the methods you used in applying your problem-solving skills.
Interviewers may present hypothetical problems for you to solve. Base your answers on the five steps and refer back to similar issues you’ve resolved, if possible. Here are some tips for answering interview questions related to problem-solving, along with examples of the best answers.
Key Takeaways
Problem-solving skills help identify the cause of a problem and how to resolve it. It is one of the key skills that employers look for in job applicants. Problem-solving begins with identifying the issue, proposing solutions, implementing those solutions, and assessing their effectiveness. Since this skill is important to most employers, place it front and center in your resume, cover letter, and interviews.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/problem-solving-skills-with-examples-2063764
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