Keep up the good work!

Specifically, employers had a bias towards applied skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork and collaborating, leadership and diversity. The number ONE skill employees are expected to need over the next five years is Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, which I believe best lines up with your Analysis and Synthesis.

Wanting to be a person who thinks about thinking, I thought about these two critical areas as individual components. Critical Thinking is an internal process that involves gathering and analyzing a variety of data and recollections. Problem solving provides an opportunity to apply our critical thinking. Problem solving is about sifting through the data, prioritizing the data and selecting which data can best be brought together to resolve an issue for the longest period of time.

In my mind, “problem solving” is easier to comprehend than “Critical Thinking.” I hope I am not the only one who has a difficulty grasping the entirety of critical thinking. As I try to problem solve toward a proper definition of critical thinking, I pull from my knowledge of competencies in Chapter 6 of InterviewRX. Competencies are formally defined as the key measurable work habits and personal skills needed for superior performance.

Which of 26 job competencies will best capture “Critical Thinking?” I selected two primary competencies and one supporting competency. The primary competencies include:

1) Conceptual Thinking: Ability to see patterns no obvious to others; Notices inconsistencies most people overlook; Reviews complex data and identifies relationships from disparate sources; Able to convey ideas through original analogies and metaphors. This aligns with your Pattern Recognition and Abstract Sequencing

2) Analytical Thinking: See implication or consequences; Analyzes situations systematically; Anticipates obstacles and ways to get around them, thinks ahead; Analyzes what is needed to accomplish a goal. This aligns with your. This aligns best with your Analysis and Synthesis.

A third competency is Strategic Thinking, which is particularly relevant the higher you are in the organization.

3) Strategic Thinking: Competitive industry analysis, Understanding Strengths/Weaknesses, as compared to competitors; Understands market/industry trends; Able to leverage organization’s competitive advantage to meet customer needs. This seems to touch on may of your categories, but maybe Concrete Sequencing and Classification & Categorization are the best fit.

In an effort to assist people in job transition, I first ask questions about their expertise in one or more of these three ways of thinking. How have you used these to solve problems? Thinking about your past challenges, what obstacles you have overcome, what data did you relied on, and what steps did you take to solve the problem at hand. Step two is to help them frame their answers using a simple three layer approach: Situation-Action-Results. I suggest outlining (not memorizing) several compelling career stories to share in the interview. The critical component is to be specific on the results. Mentioning you reduced turnover in your department from 58% to 32% peaks a hiring manager’s interest. Saying that you had to hire less people last year might be interrupted your department is shrinking because of your ineffective leadership style, not because you increased morale and reduced turnover.

While career stories can be developed around any business area (e.g. Creativity & Innovation, Ethics & Social Responsibility, Teamwork & Collaboration), I encourage candidates to outline stories based on a thorough analysis of the job description and company reserach. After all, sharing relevant information in the interview will make the greatest impact and provide the greatest chance for an offer.

Robert, thank you for your insights and your developmental ideas. Your suggestions for improvement are concrete ways of erasing deficits and moving forward. Your article is a resource I will be recommending often.

Mitch Byers, Author of InterviewRX