How can recruiters use problem solving skills to understand candidates?

In recruitment, my role is to identify and assess candidates who possess not only the technical skills required for a job but also the essential problem-solving skills that are often critical in today's dynamic work environment. These skills enable individuals to navigate challenges and make informed decisions, making them invaluable assets to any organisation. As a recruiter, I aim to understand and evaluate these problem-solving abilities to match the right talent with the right opportunities.

Ask lots of questions. Have enough humility to ask the hiring manager or candidate to explain something to you to better help them achieve their goal. Here are a few questions or phrases I use to help me learn more and clarify to ensure understanding and alignment: Tell me more. Can you help me understand what you mean by _____? I’m not familiar with _____. Can you help me understand so I can better help (find the right candidate/represent you to hiring manager)? Who are people who currently work for you that you wish you could copy? Let’s look at their profile together and help me understand why they are a good fit. What are some questions I should ask candidates to ensure they are qualified?

One key way to better understand the problem is by understanding the challenges facing the industry you're recruiting for. Ask hiring teams for relevant white papers or recent regulatory changes that have had an impact to their work. In some instances, you may find it challenging to find candidates with experience in one method of working, but another candidates may be able to cite their experience in change-management through regulatory changes, indicating they know the resources to get a job done, even if it's a novel approach in the industry.

One great example of problem-solving a candidate can reference in a job interview is a time they worked through a limited budget. Finding creative solutions to money problems is always a desired characteristic, even outside accounting. It shows a candidate knows how to make use of what they have. Specific examples of resourcefulness will also go a long way in an interview

This is an especially difficult time as new projects often need new and costly pieces of equipment. But the lack of funds resulted in you digging up and finding a collaborative partner for an organization that helped complete the work with minimum investments. A situation like this will make the current recruiter aware of your management skills and dedication to saving money, allowing the organization to prosper.

Recruiters can gauge problem-solving skills through behavioral questions, such as asking candidates to describe a challenging situation they've faced at work and how they navigated it. Assessing a candidate's thought process, creativity, and adaptability in solving problems is crucial. Additionally, discussing hypothetical challenges related to the job role can reveal candidates' problem-solving approaches and their capacity to handle real-world issues in the workplace.