What interview questions are best for assessing problem-solving skills?

The best interview questions for accessing problem-solving skills are those that put the candidate to think creatively and critically. I will be asking the candidate to share his/her past experience in any situation when he/she had to solve a difficult problem at work, plus how one prioritizes tasks while working on multiple projects and how one handles unexpected challenges. Last but not least, how do you deal with failures is a must in my list.

Behavioral interview questions, which ask a candidate to describe how they have behaved in a real work situation, work well when designing interview plans that will interview candidates who have direct experience working in similar situations to the ones you are trying to solve. Behavioral interview questions work very well when the role you are hiring for solves for a common challenge that is seen within other organizations like reducing churn in a high growth environment. The best behavioral interview questions align closely to the key challenges this role will face as well as the primary outcomes this role will be expected to achieve.

If you want a candidate to really get candid and personal, then consider asking behavioral questions. These types of questions will help candidates provide real-life examples of how they've addressed challenges in the past. By focusing on concrete situations, actions taken, and outcomes achieved, these questions reveal a candidate's ability to apply problem-solving skills in practical contexts.

Ensure that you have an understanding of what the candidate's role was specifically in the scenario they're giving you. 'We' statements can be vague and leave questions around how much they were able to solve of their own volition- guiding candidates to use 'I' statements can be helpful. Any metrics or KPI's they may have that supports their action's will solidify confidence in the candidates ability to deliver improvements and shows a deep understanding of the scenario.

Lors d'une entrevue, les meilleures questions pour évaluer les compétences en résolution de problèmes sont celles qui se concentrent sur des situations comportementales. Par exemple, "Parlez-moi d'un problème complexe que vous avez rencontré et comment vous l'avez résolu" permet de voir l’analyse de solutions créatives. "Comment gérez-vous les conflits au sein d'une équipe?" Démontre la capacité à trouver des compromis et à collaborer efficacement. "Décrivez une situation où vous avez d? prendre une décision rapide en situation d'urgence" mesure la réactivité et la prise de décision du candidat. "Comment planifiez-vous vos projets pour atteindre des objectifs spécifiques?" évalue sa capacité à suivre un processus organisé.

Situational interview questions, also called hypothetical situation questions, are a great tool for assessing aptitudes and transferable skills. These types of interview questions work well when designing interview strategies that will interview candidates who may not have direct experience solving the exact types of problems this role will face. Situational interview questions can help you assess if the candidate being interviewed possess the right soft skills and transferrable skills to see high performing success in the role you are hiring even without direct experience.

Perhaps a candidate doesn't have a lot of practical experience, or maybe you really just want to test their ability to think on their feet. Situational questions are great for these situations since they present hypothetical scenarios. Responses to situational questions can help interviewers assess their analytical skills, decision-making processes, and adaptability.

I like to have candidates walk me through a role-playing scenario. I have them serve in a facilitator role. I am an audience member being led to a solution to a problem or obstacle. I invite them to ask me questions and probe for important information. This helps me see how well they think on their feet and how well they communicate in tough situations.