Problem-Solving Skills: Definitions and Examples | Indeed.com

What are problem-solving skills? · Active listening · Analysis · Research · Creativity · Communication · Dependability · Decision making · Team-building. 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Resumes&CoverLettersProblem-SolvingSkills:DefinitionsandExamplesNovember23,2020ShareFacebookEmailLinkedInTwitterWhenemployerstalkaboutproblem-solvingskills,theyareoftenreferringtotheabilitytohandledifficultorunexpectedsituationsintheworkplaceaswellascomplexbusinesschallenges.Organizationsrelyonpeoplewhocanassessbothkindsofsituationsandcalmlyidentifysolutions.Problem-solvingskillsaretraitsthatenableyoutodothat.Whileproblem-solvingskillsarevaluedbyemployers,theyarealsohighlyusefulinotherareasoflifelikerelationshipbuildingandday-to-daydecisionmaking.Whatareproblem-solvingskills?Problem-solvingskillshelpyoudeterminethesourceofaproblemandfindaneffectivesolution.Althoughproblemsolvingisoftenidentifiedasitsownseparateskill,thereareotherrelatedskillsthatcontributetothisability.Somekeyproblem-solvingskillsinclude:ActivelisteningAnalysisResearchCreativityCommunicationDependabilityDecisionmakingTeam-buildingProblem-solvingskillsareimportantineverycareerateverylevel.Asaresult,effectiveproblemsolvingmayalsorequireindustryorjob-specifictechnicalskills.Forexample,aregisterednursewillneedactivelisteningandcommunicationskillswheninteractingwithpatientsbutwillalsoneedeffectivetechnicalknowledgerelatedtodiseasesandmedications.Inmanycases,anursewillneedtoknowwhentoconsultadoctorregardingapatient’smedicalneedsaspartofthesolution.Related:3Problem-SolvingActivitiesforTeamBuildingProblem-solvingskillsexamplesTosolveaproblemeffectively,youwilllikelyuseafewdifferentskills.Hereareafewexamplesofskillsyoumayusewhensolvingaproblem:ResearchResearchingisanessentialskillrelatedtoproblemsolving.Asaproblemsolver,youneedtobeabletoidentifythecauseoftheissueandunderstanditfully.Youcanbegintogathermoreinformationaboutaproblembybrainstormingwithotherteammembers,consultingmoreexperiencedcolleaguesoracquiringknowledgethroughonlineresearchorcourses.AnalysisThefirststeptosolvinganyproblemtoanalyzethesituation.Youranalyticalskillswillhelpyouunderstandproblemsandeffectivelydevelopsolutions.Youwillalsoneedanalyticalskillsduringresearchtohelpdistinguishbetweeneffectiveandineffectivesolutions.Decision-makingUltimately,youwillneedtomakeadecisionabouthowtosolveproblemsthatarise.Attimes—andwithindustryexperience)—youmaybeabletomakeadecisionquickly.Solidresearchandanalyticalskillscanhelpthosewhohavelessexperienceintheirfield.Theremayalsobetimeswhenitisappropriatetotakesometimetocraftasolutionorescalatetheissuetosomeonemorecapableofsolvingit.CommunicationWhenidentifyingpossiblesolutions,youwillneedtoknowhowtocommunicatetheproblemtoothers.Youwillalsoneedtoknowwhatcommunicationchannelsarethemostappropriatewhenseekingassistance.Onceyoufindasolution,communicatingitclearlywillhelpreduceanyconfusionandmakeimplementingasolutioneasier.DependabilityDependabilityisoneofthemostimportantskillsforproblem-solvers.Solvingproblemsinatimelymannerisessential.Employershighlyvalueindividualstheycantrusttobothidentifyandthenimplementsolutionsasfastandeffectivelyaspossible.Related:10WaystoImproveYourCreativeProblem-SolvingSkillsHowtoimproveyourproblem-solvingskillsThereareseveralmethodsyoucanusetoimproveyourproblem-solvingskills.Whetheryouaresearchingforajoborcurrentlyworking,improvingyourproblem-solvingskillsandassociatedabilitieswillhelpmakeyouastrongcandidateandemployee.AcquiremoretechnicalknowledgeinyourfieldDependingonyourindustry,itmaybeeasiertosolveproblemsifyouhavestrongworkingtechnicalknowledge.Youcanmoretechnicalknowledgethroughadditionalcoursework,trainingorpractice.SeekoutopportunitiestoproblemsolveByputtingyourselfintonewsituations,youaremorelikelytobeexposedtoopportunitiestoproblemsolve.Youmayfindthereareopportunitiestovolunteerfornewprojectsinyourcurrentrole,onanotherteamoroutsidetheworkplaceforanotherorganization.DopracticeproblemsPracticeandrole-playcanbeusefultoolswhenlearningtodevelopyourproblem-solvingskills.Youcanfindprofessionalpracticebooksforyourindustryandproblem-solvingscenariosonline.Practicehowyoumightsolvethoseproblemsanddetermineifyourpotentialsolutionsareviable.Forexample,incustomerserviceyoumightfindascenariolike,“Howwouldyouhandleanangrycustomer?”or“Howdoyourespondwhenacustomerasksforarefund?”Practicinghowyoumighthandletheseorotherscenarioscommoninyourindustrycanhelpyoucalluponsolutionsquicklywhentheyariseonthejob.ObservehowothersproblemsolveYoumayhavecolleagueswhoareskilledproblemsolvers.Observinghowthosecolleaguessolveproblemscanhelpyouimproveyourownskills.Ifpossible,askoneofyourmoreexperiencedcolleaguesifyoucanobservetheirtechniques.Askingrelevantquestionscanbehelpfulinapplyingtheminyourowncareer.Related:Problem-SolvingGamesforProblem-BasedLearningatWorkHowtohighlightproblem-solvingskillsShowcasingyourproblem-solvingskillsonyourresumeandcoverlettercanhelpemployersquicklyunderstandhowyoumightbeofvaluetotheirteam.Youmightconsideronlyshowcasingproblem-solvingskillsonyourresumeifitisparticularlyrelevantinthepositionyou’reapplyingfor.Customerservice,engineeringandmanagementpositions,forexample,wouldbegoodcandidatesforincludingproblem-solvingabilities.Problem-solvingskillsforresumeOnyourresume,youcanhighlightyourproblem-solvingskillsinseverallocations:inthe“skills”section,the“achievements”section,andbygivingspecificexamplesofproblemsolvinginyour“experience”section.Intheskillssection,youmaywanttolistkeyproblem-solvingskillsthatyoupossess,insteadofsimplywritingdownthemoregenericterm“problem-solving.”Forexample,youcouldlistspecifictechnicalskillsyoupossessthatwouldhelpyousolveproblemsorsoftskillsassociatedwithproblemsolving,suchasyourresearchabilitiesordecision-makingtalents.Remember,storiesarepowerful.Keepspecificexamplesinmindoftimesyousolvedaproblem.Thisisusefulonyourresumebutwillalsohelpyouanswerinterviewquestionslike,“Tellmeaboutatimeyouovercameanobstacle.”Related:EffectiveProblemSolvingStepsintheWorkplaceProblem-solvingskillsforcoverletterYourcoverletterisalsoanexcellentopportunitytoelaborateonyourproblem-solvingskills.Here,youcangiveabriefexampleofatimeyousolvedaproblemsuccessfully.Alternatively,youmightidentifyachallengethatthispotentialemployerisseekingtosolveandexplainhowyouwouldaddressit.Related:7PowerfulWaystoStartaCoverLetterForexample,ifajobpostingmentionsthatthecompanyislookingforsomeonetohelpimprovetheirsocialmediapresence,youcanidentifykeywaysyoumightaidinincreasingawarenessofthebrandthroughvarioussocialmediaplatforms.Yourproblem-solvingskillswillbeabenefittoyouineverystepofyourcareer.Fromresumetoapplication,interviewtojobduties,theabilitytosolveproblemseffectivelyastheyarisewillmakeyouavaluableassetonthejobandahighlysoughtaftercandidate.ReadMore5TemplatesforCollegeResumesHowtoWriteaCommunicationsCoverLetter(TemplateandExampleIncluded)StudentCareerGuide:HowToWriteaUniversityResume(WithTemplateandExample)RelatedViewMore arrowrightHowToWriteaResumeSummaryPlus5StrongExamples[Video+Transcript]Inthiscareeradvicevideo,learnhowtowritearesumesummarythatimmediatelycapturesarecruiter’sattentionincludingsteps,tipsandexamples. HowToWriteaCoverLetter:Top3Tips,Format&Examples[Video+Transcript]Inthiscareeradvicevideo,learnwhatanemployerwantstoseeinacoverletter,theidealcoverletterformatandstrategiestoboostyourcoverletter'simpactandquality.