Soft Skill: Problem-Solving Skills

Problem-solving skills can be defined as the ability to analyse a difficult situation and come up with an intelligent solution to resolve it. This requires more than just technical proficiency  ̶  you’ll need creativity, critical thinking, adaptability, and the ability to collaborate with others. 

Graduates with strong problem-solving abilities are sought after for every job because there will always be challenges, slip-ups, or roadblocks to getting things done at work. Employees with strong problem-solving skills are also key to helping an organisation stay agile and adapt to changing market trends and conditions.

The best problem solvers can also actively anticipate potential future problems or challenges, and will act in advance to mitigate them or minimise their effects. In short, the true test of problem-solving skills is stopping problems before they even happen in the first place! 
 

The Components of Problem-Solving Skills

1. Identifying the Problem: The first step in solving any problem is to clearly understand what the problem is. This involves active listening, gathering relevant information, and asking the right questions to uncover the root cause.
2. Analysing and Defining: Break the problem down into its components and analyse the issues at the heart of it. This involves examining the details, understanding the relationships between various factors, and defining the boundaries of the problem.
3. Generating Solutions: Brainstorm a range of potential solutions, considering both conventional and unconventional approaches. Don't shy away from thinking outside the box; sometimes the most innovative solutions arise from seemingly unrelated ideas.
4. Evaluating Options: Not all solutions are equal. Evaluate the pros and cons of each option, considering factors such as feasibility, trade-offs, and potential impact. This stage requires both critical thinking and an understanding of the bigger picture surrounding the problem.
5. Implement the Solution: Once you've chosen the most viable solution, it's time to put it into action. Effective implementation involves planning, coordination, and clear communication with others to get things done.
6. Reflecting and Learning: After the solution has been implemented, take the time to reflect on the process. What worked well? What could be improved? Learning from each problem-solving experience enriches your skillset for future challenges.

How to Develop Problem-Solving Skills

Working through the problem-solving process is easier said than done, however. There’s a fair amount of busywork you’ll have to do beforehand before you can offer meaningful solutions. Here are some tips on how you can gather all the pieces of the puzzle. 
 

• Cultivate a Curious Mindset 

Always seek to understand how things work or why things are done the way they are. Ask questions, challenge assumptions, and look for underlying causes. 

For example, during an internship, why were you instructed to go through your tasks in a certain way? How does your work as an intern contribute to the business’s goals? Is there a way you could get things done more efficiently?  

• Develop Critical Thinking

Sharpen your ability to analyse situations objectively. Consider all sides of an issue, evaluate evidence, and draw logical conclusions. 

Reading widely, knowing how to ask the right questions to the right people, or engaging in debates and discussions with others are some ways you can enhance your critical thinking abilities.

• Embrace Creativity

Creativity isn't confined to the arts; it's a key part of problem-solving. Engage in activities that can stimulate your creativity, such as brainstorming with others, mind mapping, or exploring seemingly unrelated fields and seeing what ideas you can take away from those.

This is where you’ll have to get out of your comfort zone. Be on the lookout for new experiences or events that can challenge your way of thinking or that require you to face unfamiliar situations. This could be anything from case study competitions, launching a new event for your student club, or traveling on a shoestring budget.

• Practice Collaborating with Others

Many challenges in the real world require collaborative solutions. Learn to work in teams to solve problems, as differing viewpoints often lead to more comprehensive and innovative solutions.

For instance, make it a point to get actively involved in group discussions in your coursework, join student club committees or the student council, or take part in events that require you to solve problems in teams. 

• Learn from Failure

Embracing failure if or when it happens is also an integral part of building problem-solving skills. When faced with setbacks, don't get discouraged. Instead, analyse what went wrong, extract any lessons you can, and apply those insights to future endeavours.
 

How to Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills to Employers

Problem-solving skills aren’t something that can be conveyed in a CV or cover letter alone. So recruiters will usually attempt to test your abilities at different stages of the screening process.

Here are some tips on what to expect and how you can best demonstrate your problem-solving skills to potential employers.

• Competency-based questions during interviews

Though some employers may ask you to give examples of times you solved problems in their application forms, you are more likely to be asked such questions during job interviews. Here are some example questions:

1. “Tell us about a time where you used your technical skills and knowledge to solve a problem.”
2. “How would you deal with conflict in the workplace?”
3. “Give us an example of a time where you encountered a problem you were unfamiliar with. What did you do?”
4. “Tell us about a time where you solved a problem as a team.”
5. “What would you do if there was an unexpected delay on a project you are working on?”
6. “How do you judge whether to resolve a problem on your own or to ask for help from others?”
7. “How would you handle a client/customer who came to you with a complaint or negative feedback?”

What recruiters are testing are whether or not you can think on your feet and talk through your problem-solving process in a logical manner. A good way to handle these questions is to work through the six problem-solving steps mentioned above, taking time to briefly explain your thought process at each stage. 

• Online aptitude tests or exercises

You may be asked to complete online tests or game-based exercises during the application stage or at an assessment centre. These may include: 

1. Situational reasoning tests: You are asked to give a potential solution to a problem. In some cases, you may also be asked to justify your answer.
2. Inductive reasoning tests: You will be given a problem or equation and tasked with breaking it down into its component parts.
3. Pattern recognition tests: You will be given multiple scenarios and asked to identify underlying patterns across those.

You can practice such tests and exercises to get the hang of how they work. The best way is to drop by your university careers services and see if they offer practice tests for you to work on. Alternatively, you can find and take various free practice tests online, though they may not be as comprehensive as the real thing. 

• Case Studies at Assessment Centres  

You will be given a brief with a business problem or role-playing exercise on it and asked to make recommendations to solve it. This could be done individually or in a group. You’ll usually have to summarise your solution either through a presentation or in a written statement.

These exercises can come in any number of forms. An architecture firm may ask you to sketch a design based on a hypothetical client brief, for instance. Or a bank may ask you to work in teams to launch a new financial product or an expansion into a different market.

Once again, work your way through the six problem-solving steps as you tackle the case study. Remember that sometimes employers are less concerned about you getting the “right” answer than they are about you being able to demonstrate and justify your process to them. Trust your best judgement and do what makes the most sense given the broader context of the problem. 

One thing to note is that with group case studies, getting everything completed on time is part of the problem you need to solve. Break the problem into smaller tasks, assign the tasks to different team members, and communicate frequently with each other on their progress. Making effective use of collaborators and managing your time wisely is a key aspect of demonstrating problem-solving skills too!