During an interview, employers are likely to ask you questions that test your critical thinking skills. This way, they can assess whether you have the ability to effectively evaluate information and make smart decisions. When answering such questions, you want to provide responses that show you're an innovative and thoughtful candidate.
Top 10 Critical Thinking Questions To Ask in a Job Interview
1.You spot a mistake in a high-profile report made by your manager but it has already been sent out to stakeholders. How do you handle the situation?
2.You discover a cheaper, quicker, or less resource-intensive solution to a problem. You try to explain it to your manager but they don't seem to understand. What do you do?
3.You're currently in a team of specialists who all have very different ideas for the direction of a project. Deadlines are fast approaching. How do you find a way forward?
4.A colleague proposes an uncomfortable solution to a problem faced by the organization. How would you handle the situation?
5.Describe a work-based situation when you were presented with an idea you hadn't considered before. What did you do?
6.Describe a time when you had to make an immediate decision regarding a critical problem.
7.Can you describe a time when you anticipated a problem in advance and took steps to stop it from becoming an issue?
8.How do you handle disagreements with peers and coworkers?
9.Describe a time when you had to make a decision but you didn't have all the information to hand. What did you do?
10.Describe a time when you needed to convince the team, managers, or senior leaders in your organization to try an alternative means to solve a problem.
Why Is Critical Thinking Important In A Workplace?
Critical thinking is important because it helps individuals and teams more effectively diagnose problems and identify possible solutions that aren’t entirely obvious at first. In addition, critical thinking can help resolve conflicts in the workplace. When individuals consider a range of possible approaches to solving a problem rather than relying on bias or snap judgments, they are more likely to arrive at a better solution.
Benefits of Critical Thinking at Workplace
The benefits of employees' critical thinking at the workplace include:
- Finding more than one solution to a problem.
- Effective communication between teams and individual employees.
- Developing unique perspectives on situations and challenges at work.
- Building a well-qualified team with low turnover.
- Having a solution plan for each potential challenge.
- Streamlined, efficient work processes.
A smart recruiter or HR professional will make this part of the recruitment process. It’s pretty easy to gauge how someone is inclined to solve a problem. Ask them how they would deal with a specific situation, and give them the opportunity to use their critical thinking skills, versus deferring to an emotional, or prescribed reaction. Employing people who can think and act reasonably will pay enormous dividends down the road.
