What is problem-solving?

Everyone solves problems daily, from fixing a broken kettle to finding your usual route to work being diverted. Any job you get will also involve you finding solutions to problems. You need to be able to do the following:

Evaluate information or a situation Analyse why things are going wrong Think of different ways to fix the problem
Choose the most cost-effective, most time-effective solution

Why do employers want people with problem-solving skills?

The harder the problem, the better the problem solver is needed. Almost all jobs require you to solve problems daily. Employers need people who are able to think analytically and make the right decisions for the company.

Good problem solvers are those that think of the solution that works best for the company, not necessarily the individual or even their department. If you are able to analyze and solve a problem successfully, you should be able to stop it from recurring in the future.

How can you demonstrate problem-solving skills?

You can show successful problem-solving skills in a number of ways. Try learning the IDEAL model of problem-solving.

Whatever issue you are faced with, there are five steps you need to take before you decide on a way forward:

Identify the problem, Define the problem, Examine the options, Act on a plan,
Look at the consequence

Alternatively, talk about a time when you were faced with a problem that took you out of your comfort zone and made look for a new way to solve an issue.

Any job you take will also bring problems to be faced. Solving problems means being both creative and analytical. As such, many problems are solved using a team of people to utilize the skills of the group. Good problem solvers are also normally good team workers and have excellent communication skills too. personality is something that people tend to think a lot about. When we meet new people, whether through work, school, or social events, it is often their personality on which we immediately focus. Whether they are nice, helpful, outgoing, or shy are just a few of the things that we assess as we evaluate the people around us.