What are problem-solving skills? (Examples included!)

Examples of problem-solving techniques · Research: Problem-solving is not complete without extensive research. · Analysis: Analysis of the situation is a must. AboutusWhyusInstructorsReviewsCostFAQContactBlogRegisterforWebinarOurJune2021cohortsarefillingupquickly.JoinourfreewebinartoUplevelyourcareerRegisterforWebinarHome›CareerAdvice›Whatareproblem-solvingskills?(Examplesincluded!)Whatareproblem-solvingskills?(Examplesincluded!)Lifeinthe21stcenturyisallaboutefficiencyanddevelopment.Theunendingquenchofdiscoveringtheunknown,materializingonedreamafteranother,hashelpedpushthelimitsthroughthesky.Buthaveyoueverthoughtwhatthekeytoalloftheseastronomicalsuccessesis?Itisthezealtosolveaproblemwiththeresourcesavailabletogeneratethebestpossibleresults. Here'swhatthisarticlewillcover:Whatareproblem-solvingskills?Howdoproblem-solvingskillshelporactasyourpillarsofsuccess?Howdoemployersassessyourproblem-solvingskills?Stepstoexecuteproblem-solvingskillsSkillstohoneforanaptsolution-finderExamplesofproblem-solvingtechniquesDosandDon'tsininterviewsHowtoimproveyourproblem-solvingskills?Howtohighlightproblem-solvingskills?Problem-solvingishunting;itisasavagepleasure,andweareborntoit."–ThomasHarris.Thetruthis, problem-solvingskills areacquirableforsomepeoplewhileothersadapttoitlikefishinthewater.WorkinginIT,webdevelopment,coding,machinelearning,andthelikesdemandtheabilitytomakedecisionsatamoment'snotice.So,doyouwanttobackoffwhenthetimecomesortakeitupasachallenge? Brushupyour problem-solvingskills orbetter,enhancethem,andmakethemyourfortebyreadingthisarticle.Notechnical interviewpreparationguide iscompletewithouttipstoimprovesuchproblem-solvingskills.Alsoread:WhydoFAANGcompaniestestforproblem-solvingskillsintheirinterviews.Whatareproblem-solvingskills?Larryandhisteamsuddenlyfaceamajorcrisis.NotasingledeveloperinhisteamwhoisgoodwithStringiscomingtotheoffice,butthereisanurgentclientrequirement.Larryaskshisteamifanybodyisconfidentenoughtopullitthrough,andsurprisingly,heseesonesolitaryhandofJiminthemix.Butitisa4-menjob,atleast.Realizingthatthereisnowayoutotherthanworkingwithanotherteam(s),hewastesnotime.Hesendsoutemailstootherteamsaskingforatleasttwomoredevelopers,countinghimselfandJim.4morefellowcoderscametotherescueanddeliveredtheprojectbeforethedeadline! Problem-solvingskillsenableyoutoobservethesituationanddeterminethecontributingfactorsoftheissue.Identifyingtherootcauseandtheabilitytotakenecessarystepswithavailableresourcesareintegralinfinessingyourproblem-solvingability.All technicalinterviewpreparationcourses,therefore,coverthiscrucialaspect. Employersseekproblem-solvingskillsintheiremployees.Andwhynot? Whowouldn'twanttohaveanefficientemployeelikeLarry?Theknackofnotbackingdownfromachallengeistheperfectcatalystforbusinessexpansion.Howdoproblem-solvingskillshelporactasyourpillarsofsuccess?Problem-solvingskillshelpyouattaininsightintothesourceoftheproblemandfiguringoutanidealsolution.However,severalskillsandtheircorrectimplementationareessential,whicharelistedbelow.Patientlistener:Toidentifyaproblem,youmustfirstbeallearstogaininformationaboutthesituation. Eyefordetail:Onceyoustartlisteningminutely,younowneedtoidentifythedata'sdiscrepanciesandhaveanintuitiveeyefordetail.Thoroughresearch:Backgroundresearchanddataverificationisbreadandbutterforefficientproblem-solvers. Innovativeapproach:Itisnotjustaboutgettingitdone.It'sabouttakingachallengingapproachinamissiontomaximizeresults. Communicationskills: Flawlesscommunicationskillsarenecessarytonegateanymisunderstandingandensureconveyingthemessagewithclarity.Youcanindeedconsiderthisasagreattimesaver! Composure:Yourabilitytoremaincalmeveninademandingsituationwillalwaysearnyoudividendsinthepathtosuccess.Itisnotaqualitythatyoucanimbibeeasily,butrigorouspracticecandothetrickforyou. Decision-makingability:Havingaknackformakingtherightdecisionsunderpressureisahighlysought-afterattributebyemployerswhenhiringpeople.Takingquickdecisionsindirestraitsisthereasonwhythecompanyispayingyouthebigbucks.  Teamplayer:Understandingthestrengthsandweaknessesofyourteamisinstrumentalinmaintainingteamspirit.Highertheteamspirit,thebettertheperformance! Howdoemployersassessyourproblem-solvingskills?Employerstodayprioritizehiringpeoplewithsoftskillslikeproblem-solvingabilitiestomaximizebusinessoutputevenwhenthegoinggetstough.Your problem-solvingability isjudgedbasedon:Ifyouhaveaccomplishedanyremarkablefeatinataxingsituation.Thisgivesaninsightintotheupperbenchmarkofyourperformance. Presentinghypotheticalproblemsfortheintervieweetosolveisanothercommonlyusedtricktoascertainyourproductivitymetricsand creativeproblem-solvingtechniques intoughconditions.Someorganizationsmayevenlineupsomechallengingtestsandexercisestohaveafirsthandlookattheexecutionandeffectivenessofyour technicalskills intheapproachtoproblem-solving.Stepstoexecuteproblem-solvingskills "Wecannotsolveaproblemwiththesamelevelofthinkingthatcreatedthem."–AlbertEinsteinAnalyzecontributingfactorsJameswasgettinganerrorcodeduringtheexecutionofspecificUIupdates.Hestartedanalyzingthecodeandrecheckingtherepositoryforanypossiblemistake.Tohisdelight,hishunchturnedouttobeaccurate.Heimmediatelymadethenecessarychanges,andtheupdatesweresuccessfullyexecuted. Analysisofcontributingfactorsanditsrepercussionsintheebbandflowofthetaskisapreliminaryattributeofanableproblem-solver.Toacquireperfectionin analysisandproblem-solvingskills,youmustensureathorough:GatheringofdataDiligentstudyofthecollecteddataScrutinytofilterrelevantdataHistoricalanalysisGenerateinterventionsWorkingatasoftwaredevelopmentfirm,Donaldisperturbedbythelackofadvancementinthedeeplearningproject.Lackofideaandinnovationisleadingtonowhere.Hedecidedthatenoughisenough.Heaskedforagroupsessiontobrainstorminthehopeofgeneratingsomeleads.Thesessionwasahugesuccess,andDonaldwasfinallyabletocatchabreather. Itisnotanunknownfactthat'we'isalwaysmoreproductivethan'I'underanycircumstance. Utilizingtheversatilityofyouravailableresourceswiththehelpofvarioussessionscanworkmiracles.Suchsessionscanbefor:CreativethinkingBrainstormingPlanningaprojectForecastingfuturetrends PredictionofpossibleoutcomesDesigningyourprojectwithoriginality,etc.EvaluatesolutionsThisismoreupthealleyformanagersandteamleads.Tobecomeadeptatevaluatingsolutions,onemustgainprolongedexperienceincorporatedecision-making.Theevaluationprocessneedstoconsiderpotentialcosts,availableresources,andpossiblehurdlesofprojectcompletion.RememberDonald? Yes,heisateamlead,andtherefore,hehadtheauthoritytoinitiateabrainstormingsessionwithmultipleteamstobringinnewideas. Thesecrettoevaluatingsolutions?AnalysisDiscussionCorroboration TeamworkIdentifyingchangeintrendsMediationPrioritizationImplementaplanChoosingtherightcourseofactionisthepreliminarysteptosolvetheproblems.Thesuccessoftheexecutionisstreamlinedwiththehelpofqualitybenchmarkstoindicateitseffectiveness."Aproblemisachanceforyoutodothebest!"–DukeEllington.Knowingtherightpeopletodoitforyouisessentialforsuccessfulimplementation.Itisalsocrucialthatyouareaccustomedtoyourorganization'soperatingproceduresbeforeyouformulatethebestpossiblestrategy. Skillsyouneedare:ProjectmanagementImplementationofprojectstrategyCollaborationTimemanagementDevelopingappropriatequalitybenchmarkAssessthesolution'seffectivenessAnidealwaytodetectwhetherasolutioniseffectiveornotistocheckiftheproblemstillexistsafterapplyingthesolution.Benchmarksneedtobesetasperorganizationalstandardstohelpthemassessthesituationandifanyfurtherchangesarerequiredintheinterim. Skillstohoneforanaptsolution-finderDataanalysisSurveysFeedbackCommunicationClosefollow-upsTroubleshootingExamplesofproblem-solvingtechniques"Aproblemwellstatedisaproblemhalfsolved."–JohnDeweyResearch: Problem-solvingisnotcompletewithoutextensiveresearch.Itisotherwiseimpossibletoidentifytheproblemwithoutgatheringenoughdataontheerrorsandtheiranalysis.Consultingwithyourteamgivesyouanedgetofindthesolutionquicker.Analysis: Analysisofthesituationisamust.Analyticalskillsfurtherassistyouinidentifyingthediscrepanciesandthepossibleactionswhichcanresolvetheissue. Decision-making: Theabilitytomakedecisionsinhoursofneeddefinesyourmettle.Theonusisonyoutobeproactiveandchoosetherightcourseofaction. Communication: Areyougreatatconversations?Ifso,communicationskillscanhelpyougarnermuch-requiredassistancefortheproject.Communicationoftheissuesandhowyouwanttheprojectdonearecriticalfortheproblem-solvingprocess'ssmoothflow. Dependability: Havingdependablemembersbooststhemoraleoftheteam.Ifyouareaproblem-solver,takingresponsibilityandtakingitonthechintosolvetheissuesneedstobeyourforte. TRIVIADosandDon'tsininterviewsSelectanexampleorsituationthatyoucanhandlewithoutanyissue.Donotstrayofftopicandstayontrack.Donotusejargoninyourinterview.So,chooseyourexampleandwordswisely. Donotchoosearedundantissue.Howtoimproveyourproblem-solvingskills?Samhascometoaninterviewforateam-leadprofile.Therecruiterasksasituation-basedprobleminregardstomachinelearningsoftware.Thoughtricky,Samknewtheexactwayaroundfortheproblemandanswereditpreciselytothepoint.TherecruiterisdelightedandhiresSamfortheposition. Thirstforknowledge:Aninsatiablethirstforknowledgeisthesecretdoortosuccessin problem-solvingskills.IfSamwasunawareofthetweaksneededtosolvetheproblem,doyouthinkthemanagerwouldhavebeenimpressed?No,managersatcompanieslikeGoogleandFacebookarelookingforpeoplewhocanactindependentlywiththeiravailableresources.Thequestionis,areyoutheproblemsolverwhocanbeacatchtoanycompany?Anintuitionforchallenge:Youneedtobeintuitiveandhaveasharpnoseforchallenges.Themoreyoutakeupdifficultsituationsandhandlethemwithpanacheandease,themoreyoucanhoneyourproblem-solvingskills.Practiceandmorepractice: Practicemakesamanperfect –truerwordshaveneverbeensaid. Effectiveproblemsolving isachievednotbyslackingoffbutbyacquaintingyourselfwithvarioussituationsandapplyingyourskillstoresolvethem.Remember,experiencecanneverbesubstituted,andyouhavetotakethelongroutetosuccess! Keenandobservanteyes:Doyouhaveaneyefordetail,andareyouquicktopointoutdiscrepanciesindataanalysis?Ifyes,youarealreadyonesteptowardsbecomingavaluedproblemsolverinyourcompany.Also,ifyouareapersonwhoobservescloselywhatisbeingdoneandwhyothersdoit,ithelpsdevelopyourdecision-makingskillsinfuture.Don'tforgettomentionthisinyourresume. Howtohighlightproblem-solvingskills?Example1TomhasbeenapplyingfranticallyforajobsincehemovedtoArizonabutseemedunabletofindjusttherightone.Whenheseeshisattemptsarefutile,hedecidestoaddsomeofhispreviouscompany'sachievements,thinkingitmighthelp.Oh,boy,didithelp!Tomwritesaboutwhenhewasaskedtohandleateamof12single-handedlywhilehismanagersuddenlywentonasabbatical.Tomhadnopriorexperienceofleadingateambutappearedtocomeoutofthisfixwithflyingcolors. Example2Meganiscurrentlylookingforastepupinhercareer.Shecarefullydraftsacoverletterthatentailsherachievementswithclarity.Thecoverletterexplainedhercontributionsinrevivingteamspiritintheofficeafterherpredecessor,withhispoorman-management,hadsuccessfullybuiltawallofdistrustamongtheemployees.  Problem-solvingskillsforresume:Youcanconveyyourachievementsorevenyourhobbiestothepersonsittinginfrontofyou,ornot,dependingonhis/hernature.Butyoucannotaffordtomissthechancetoshowcaseyourbestachievement.ItisinyourbestinteresttobuildyourCVaroundtheachievementstogiveitmaximumtractionandattention.Mentiontheproblemyoufacedandjotdownthecourseofactionyoutooktonullifythesituation.Nobodycanstopyouifthisisdoneright! Problem-solvingskillsforcoverletter:Useitasanopportunitytoletthecompanydelveintoyoursuccessstorysofarandthefactorsleadingtoit.Ifyouhavedoneyourresearchontheorganizationyou'reapplyingfor,itwillnothurtyourchancesofidentifyingsomechallengesofthecompanyandsuggestingsomesolutions.Itgoesdownalongwayifyouindeedjoinforces!Ifyouareadequatelyseasonedwithproblem-solvingskillswithdedicationandpractice,you'realreadyalmostthere.Proper interviewpreparationtips canfurtherhelpyouinthisregard.‍RecommendedPostsTheCompleteGuidetoWritingaMailingAddressHowtoWritetheBestCareerObjectiveinYourResume:WithExamplesandTipsProductiveWaystoCopewithFailureAllPostsReadytoEnroll?GetyourenrollmentprocessstartedbyregisteringforaPre-enrollmentWebinarwithoneofourFounders.RegisterforourWebinarPrivacyPolicyTerms&Conditions©Copyright2021.AllRightsReserved.Registerforourwebinar