Problem-solving skills: definition and examples

Problem-solving skills are essential in all types of workplaces and your life. In this article, we’ll define problem-solving skills and provide examples. We’ll also share tips on how to improve these skills and show them in the job application process.

This guide covers:

• What are problem-solving skills?
• Examples of problem-solving skills
• How to improve these skills
• How to include them on your CV
• How to show these skills in a cover letter
• Problem-solving interview questions and example answers

The definition of problem-solving is the abilities, qualities and attributes that help you identify, analyse and solve problems. Examples of problem-solving skills include an analytical mindset, research know-how and project management.

Problem-solving skills are closely related to communication skills. To interrogate a problem and explain your solution to others, you need to communicate effectively.

In the workplace, you’ll use problem-solving skills to tackle challenges and come up with solutions. Sometimes, you’ll have to solve problems related to unforeseen issues (like a temporary stock shortage). Other times, you’ll need to think creatively to address a wider concern (like a competitor taking over your market share).

Having great problem-solving skills means you’re able to assess complex problems and adapt appropriately. It’s a skill that will come in handy during your personal and professional life. It will also make you an asset to your team – at any stage of your career, across all sectors and whatever your role.

Problem-solving skills are split into various areas.

Here are five sub-skills of problem-solving:

Research skills are crucial when problem-solving.

You need access to the correct information to solve a problem. With strong research skills, you’re well-placed to find, draw out, organise and assess available information on a certain subject or situation. When you do your research, you’ll find out what’s going on and get to the root of what’s causing the problem. That information will help you come up with a more informed solution.

Research skills include:

• Time management
• Data collection
• Critical thinking
• Detail orientation

If you’ve got great analytical skills, you’ll be able to unpick a situation by using the data available to you. That’ll help you crack the case.

Analytical skills are a combination of abilities like:

• Data analysis
• Critical thinking
• Visualisation

Whenever you choose to do something in your daily life, whether professional, academic or personal, you’re using your decision-making skills.

To make the best decision in each scenario, you need to combine skills like:

• Teamwork
• Organisation
• Logical reasoning
• Intuition
• Conflict resolution
• Emotional intelligence

Whenever you’re in charge of something, you’ll need project management skills. These skills will ensure you get your project done efficiently within the agreed timeframe and budget.

You don’t have to be running an entire project to use this skill set. It’ll come in handy when owning a single task – and when taking the lead in solving a particular problem.

Project management skills include:

• Leadership
• Communication
• Negotiation
• Time management

Assessment skills give you the ability to recognise how well something or someone has done. They’ll help you review the work a colleague has completed. You’ll also use assessment skills to reflect on events, meetings, strategy sessions and more to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

To understand the full picture, you’ll use skills like:

• Data analysis
• Communication
• Observation
• Interpretation skills

Not confident in your problem-solving skills? Don’t worry. The good news is that it’s possible to improve them – and we’re here to give you the tips you need to do just that.

Even if you’ve already got strong problem-solving skills, it’s worth seeing if there are any areas you can improve.

Follow these simple actions to improve your problem-solving skills:

Like so many skills, the more you practise then the better you’ll get. Volunteer to help when a new issue comes up at work or home or ask your friends, family or coursemates if there’s anything you can help them with. The best way to get better at problem-solving is by solving some problems, so get out there and try to figure out those real-life puzzles.

A shift in mindset will help you solve problems. If a problem comes up, you want to limit how much you worry about the issue. Instead, focus on the reasonable steps to take to find a solution. Put the emphasis on finding an answer, rather than dwelling on the problem.

If you know someone who’s good at solving problems, watch them! See what their process is and how they go about dealing with an issue. Feel free to ask them how they came to a solution. They’ll be happy to share some tips (and be flattered that you’ve noticed their problem-solving skills).

Some problem-solving comes from having a strong understanding of the issue that you’re facing. You can’t fix a car if you don’t know your mechanics. So, if you’re struggling to get a piece of software to do what you need it to, learn more about it. You could watch videos, ask others for tips or join an online forum. Once you know your stuff, it’ll be easier to find a workaround.

Two brains (or more) can be better than one. You don’t have to solve every problem alone. If you’re struggling on a uni project, try brainstorming with coursemates and have each group member think about how to resolve the issue. This way, you can bounce ideas off each other and find a sensible solution collectively. It’s a great way to boost your communication and creative thinking skills too.

Don’t over-complicate the issue. If you’re struggling to find the solution to a problem, break it down into a series of smaller issues. You’ll be able to find answers more easily when the problem isn’t so overwhelming.

Learn from experience. If you’ve recently solved a problem at work or uni, ask the people you worked with for feedback. Consider asking them structured questions which will help you learn and improve for next time. Don't know where to start here? Read our tips on how ask for feedback.

Once you’ve brushed up on your problem-solving skills, you want to show them off to potential employers. Your CV is the perfect place to highlight all your skills and show why you’d be a fantastic employee.

Since problem-solving is a widely sought-after skill, including it on your CV is a fantastic way to tell recruiters you’ve got the skills they’re looking for.

We recommend having a specific section dedicated to your skills. In this section, you list your skills (eg. problem-solving, teamwork and analytical skills). However, it’s easy for anyone to say they’ve got a skill – it doesn’t mean they have it. So, use your employment history to provide evidence of your abilities.

When you’re outlining any work experience or your academic achievements, add references to your skills. So, your job at the campus coffee shop isn’t just about making coffee, it’s about using your customer service skills to encourage revisits, using maths skills to operate the till and manage your float, multi-tasking under pressure and so much more. Don’t sell yourself short and always spell out evidence of your abilities – including your problem-solving skills.

Need some help making sure your CV is ready for applications? Read our guide on how to write a CV.

Just like putting your problem-solving skills on your CV, including them in your cover letter is another way to get noticed by employers. The cover letter is your opportunity to expand on your CV, so use it to include practical examples that show the problem-solving skills you claim to have.

Here are examples of how to do this:

“In my role as a customer service advisor, I showed problem-solving skills which I would use in this position. One of my tasks was making sure the shop was tidy and that there were no safety hazards for customers or staff. I recognised that customers were repeatedly removing large items from shelves and placing them on the floor nearby, which then blocked a fire door and became a safety hazard. After identifying the issue, I reviewed the aisle and located a position away from the fire door which had smaller items. With the permission of my manager, I swapped over the items, preventing the hazard from reoccurring.”

“When I was social secretary for the History Society at my university, I organised the annual ball for our members. The first venue I booked closed down just a week before the ball was supposed to take place. Instead of cancelling the event, I used my problem-solving skills to calmly assess the situation and find a solution. I started by researching local venues which would accommodate us. I found two viable options and negotiated a price reduction. As a result, we secured a bigger venue for less money and opened the event to last-minute guests. If I were to get this role, I’d use similar skills to ensure all client events run smoothly.”

For more tips, read our guide on how to write a good cover letter.

Since problem-solving is a key skill, employers will likely ask you questions about it during an interview. In most cases, they’re trying to understand how you’ve dealt with a situation in the past, so they get an idea of how you’d solve a problem as their employee. Sometimes, they’ll give you a hypothetical problem and ask you to solve it (similar to a case study interview).

Here are a few common interview questions about problem-solving and examples of how to respond:

“In general, I start by recognising all the factors influencing the problem. If possible, I’ll then consult with someone else to make sure I’m not neglecting any factors.

Once I’ve got to grips with the problem, I come up with several solutions. I’ll then assess each solution and select the one that best solves the issue with minimal disruption and maximum positive impact.

An example of this was when I was part of a university society working to get sponsorship for our events. One local company approached us and suggested sponsoring us, but some people were concerned that the company didn’t match the ethos of the society. After considering it myself and speaking with other committee members, I arranged a Q&A session between the sponsor and society members where I used my conflict resolution skills. After talking things through, we went ahead with sponsorship because we collectively agreed that the company didn’t undermine the society. The money did a lot of good in the community. If we hadn’t had the Q&A session I organised, the sponsorship wouldn’t have gone ahead, and we’d have lost vital funding.”

“When working in retail, I had to deal with unhappy customers so I've got lots of experience here. One time, a customer complained that they’d seen an item online but couldn’t find it in-store. I explained that we don’t offer the entire range of items from the website, but the customer was unhappy having travelled to get here. Instead of escalating the issue to my manager, I worked with the customer to find the item they wanted, order it for home delivery and secure them a small discount which they were eligible for but weren’t aware of.”

“While studying, I had to complete a group project. My group consisted of four members including myself. We all agreed to collaborate and set ourselves the task of collecting data on an individual topic. We would then come together to combine it into a presentation. However, one member became unwell and couldn’t complete their part. As I had more free time than my teammates, I volunteered to take on their work. I asked them to send me all the information they’d collected so far. Using that as a basis, I researched deeper into the topic and combined it with other information I’d found during my original research. Although this wasn’t how we’d planned to do the project, we had a very successful presentation and scored highly in it.”

“During my time working in retail, my manager left the store to deal with a delivery while my colleague and I stayed to serve customers. When my manager was unavailable, one of the tills stopped working. Instead of running out to get my manager to deal with the issue, I told my colleague to continue serving customers with the working till. I apologised to the queue and advised people of the self-service tills available. I then focused on troubleshooting the issue, first with my own understanding of the system and then by calling our IT support team to explain what I’d discovered. With my evidence, they figured out what the problem was, accessed the till remotely and resolved the fault. It was all fixed before our manager was back in the building.”

Want some more tips on what to say (and not say) in interviews? Check out our interview advice for students and graduates.

Employers are keen to hire grads with problem-solving skills. The ability to identify problems and find solutions is highly sought-after.

Problem-solving involves several different skill sets including analytical skills, research skills, decision-making skills, project management skills and assessment skills. To impress potential employers, you want to show them that you’ve nailed these skills.

You should include your problem-solving skills on your CV and in your cover letter. It’s likely that you’ll also talk about them in an interview. You should be able to confidently tell an interviewer about a time you’ve dealt with a problem (either on your own or with a group).

There are lots of ways to improve your problem-solving skills, so remember that you’ll get better in time. Even if you don’t feel confident in this area right now, you’ll get much better with practice – trust us! Like all the soft skills employers look for, the more you use these skills then the more natural they’ll become for you. So, get solving those problems and you’ll go far. Good luck!