critical thinking interview questions

critical thinking interview questions

The Importance of Critical Thinking in Interviews

1. The Definition of Critical Thinking

In conclusion, critical thinking is the process of using cognitive skills to assess the findings of a decision and determine whether an action should be taken. It provides a sound framework for making important judgments and is highly valued in various fields.

In many ways, critical thinking is similar to making an argument. Both involve presenting a point of view and attempting to convince an audience. However, critical thinking goes beyond persuasion. It involves subjecting one’s own point of view to objective reasoning and evaluation to determine its validity. This is the foundation of critical thinking – making informed decisions and taking action based on the assessment of evidence and reasoning.

Problem solving is often closely associated with critical thinking. Many academic disciplines use problem solving as a way to assess students’ understanding of the subject matter. By engaging in critical thinking and applying their skills to solve complex problems in a logical manner, students can arrive at well-reasoned solutions. This applies to all subjects, whether it’s a mathematician solving a problem or an artist interpreting an idea and deciding on the best approach to express it in their work.

One of the key aspects of critical thinking is the ability to assess claims and arguments. A critical thinker carefully examines the evidence and reasoning behind a claim, and evaluates its validity through logical analysis, interpretation, inference, and evaluation of the available resources. The goal is to determine whether the argument is logically sound and supported by evidence. In other words, critical thinking involves thinking critically about an issue and making informed judgments based on logical reasoning.

Critical thinking has consistently been defined by philosophers as a purposeful self-regulatory judgment that utilizes the cognitive skills and techniques of analysis, interpretation, inference, evaluation, and reasoning in order to assess the validity of a particular belief or action (McPeck, 1981). With more than 50 years of research, critical thinking has become a widely recognized and valued skill in education and professional settings.

2. Why Critical Thinking Skills Are Essential in Interviews

Another reason is employers think the individual possesses the ability to “think on their feet.” Quick, critical thinking is necessary for company alterations, potential obstacles, and making important decisions. Critical thinking promotes such thinking, and is very important in the fast-changing business environment. Employees rapidly have to deal with problems and make decisions, whether they are minor or major. It provides the tools of analysis, evaluating information, and making decisions at a reasonable pace. These tools can also be utilized when company decisions are questioned and in turn, strengthens the business. Employees who can carry out these tasks are a great asset to the company. Oftentimes, interviewers gauge the critical thinking ability of the individual by simply asking about a time when the interviewee had to resolve a difficult problem. As mentioned by the article “Employers Want Critical Thinkers, But Do They Know What It Means?” employees who can accomplish these goals are able to differentiate themselves from others who will advance more slowly. This article estimates it is a $2 billion problem when companies can work with their employees to enhance their critical thinking skills. This is because unlike a standard college education, the skills taught in professional programs may not directly relate to those required on the job. Therefore, candidates who are able to illustrate their critical thinking skills as well as effective decision making will certainly stand out from others.

3. Common Critical Thinking Interview Questions

After the first round of interviews at Bartleet Electronics Ltd, one of the candidates was quoted in the debrief as having said “I won’t say anything surprisingly honest here.” In an interview situation, it is both impractical and unfair to expect someone to, for free, provide ammunition to be used against them. There is a better approach. The types of questions asked can push the candidate for information, honesty, and a demonstration of their thought processes. Example: “What would you do with a business where profits were very low?” A poor, but relatively common answer to this would be “I would leave.” This fails to take into account that a potential manager of the business might be the only employee capable of turning it around. The candidate has essentially ruled himself out of management jobs. Anything but a comprehensive plan of the problems and solutions followed by a cautious decision is the wrong answer to this question.

4. How to Demonstrate Critical Thinking Skills in an Interview

The following strategies will help you effectively demonstrate your critical thinking skills: 1. Prepare – Know the details of the situation in which you will be asked to demonstrate the skill. By having a question in mind which you feel the need to be answered will also help. This will help tailor your examples to the situation, which is usually very impressive to an employer. 2. Listen and Ask Questions – During the interview, make sure to listen carefully to the question asked, fully answering the question before you. If you do not understand a question, ask the interviewer to clarify. This can save you from making a poor judgement call which may have been prevented by simply asking a follow-up question. 3. Paraphrase the question – Before answering a question, take a moment to repeat the question to yourself in your head and then in the context of the question, make sure your understanding of the question is correct. By putting the question in your own words, you are avoiding misunderstandings, and off-track answers. 4. Think Aloud – Always try to verbalize your thought process before coming to a final decision when answering a question. This will display your deductive reasoning ability and show the interviewer how you weigh one option against another. 5. Be Self-Aware – Reflect on your own reasoning skills and be prepared to discuss strengths and weaknesses. This is a great opportunity to take some of the spotlight off the interviewer and have them fully engaged by giving your own self-assessment and inference. 6. Probe Problems – Be prepared to describe the situation in which you had to solve a problem, and your step-by-step process to reaching a solution. Practice is going to from generalization to specific situations. This is important to show precise, inferential, and logical thinking skills to your interviewers. 7. Be Creative – Think of alternative solutions and be prepared to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each. This can be a very effective way to set you apart from other job candidates, but can also be quite difficult to execute in a short period of time, so be concise with this. 8. Take your time – Don’t rush a decision; it’s acceptable to take a moment to consider a response to an unexpected question. Finally, the most important thing to remember is that mastering the skill of critical thinking is a process, and continuous practice and experience is vital for improvement. An interview is not only an opportunity to display your skills to a potential employer but is also a learning experience in itself.

5. The Benefits of Hiring Candidates with Strong Critical Thinking Abilities

Several key studies have shown a correlation between a manager’s thought processes and the systems approach. One study concluded that most effective administrators use the right mix of intuition and analysis when solving problems. This is essentially a simplified version of the critical thinking process where analysis/intuition is the evaluation of the information and the coming to a decision is its application. An administrator who selects the best solution or effectively deals with a problem is really doing what is best for that point, often achieved through decision quality. This essentially means making the best decision, and it’s best known that the higher the general cognitive ability, job knowledge, and experience, the easier the decision.

Another strong point of critical thinkers is that they are more likely to avoid making decisions that would result in a loss. This is a vital skill required for managers and executives who constantly need to make important decisions. A person who is analytical will consider all options available before taking action. They will evaluate the consequences and then decide if the problem can be solved in a different way. A person who jumps to conclusions will often make decisions that are detrimental to a situation without realizing. This ability also ties in with the development for more efficient decisions. An efficient decision is one that does not waste time and achieves the desired solution.

In various studies, we have seen a large correlation between general cognitive ability and job performance. The strongest predictor of job performance is general cognitive ability, and this is not a coincidence. Critical thinking is an aspect of general cognitive ability, and this cannot be stressed enough. A candidate with a high level of critical thinking will be problem-solving, which is similar to troubleshooting an issue. They will look for the cause of the problem.

When hiring new people for the organization, the employer should focus on candidates with strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This is because these skills are essential for solving complex problems, developing strategies, and making better decisions. Hiring candidates with these abilities could provide the following benefits:

Benefits of hiring candidates with strong critical thinking abilities