Learn more about problem-solving skills, how they work, and why they are critical to demonstrate on a resume and in an interview.
What are problem-solving skills?
Problem-solving is considered a soft skill that typically learned and improved through experience rather than through education or training.
It is much like critical thinking and employers and hiring managers are particularly interested in how adept you are in these areas. People with these skills tend to be more self-reliant and good at quickly identifying an underlying issue and determining a good solution.
5 Steps to Problem Solving
- Define the problem.
- Gather information.
- Generate possible solutions.
- Evaluate ideas and then choose one.
- Evaluate.
Highlighting Problem-Solving Skills on a Resume
Since this is a skill that’s important to most employers, you should highlight examples on your resume, cover letter, and in interviews.
To figure out what you should include as relevant examples, think about your current and previous roles. This may employment, academic work, or volunteer settings.
Start by making a list and describe situations you’ve encountered in a way that shows you’ve used problem-solving skills.
Problem-Solving Skills: The Wrap Up
- Problem-solving skills help you determine why an issue is happening and how to resolve that issue.
- It’s one of the key skills that employers seek in job applicants.
- Problem-solving starts with identifying the issue, coming up with solutions, implementing those solutions, and evaluating their effectiveness.
- Since this is a skill that’s important to most employers, put them front and center on your resume, cover letter, and in interviews.
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