As the name suggests, problem-solving interview questions aim to assess candidates’ problem-solving skills, including critical thinking, analytic reasoning, creativity, decision-making, and so on.
Given the complexity of the seemingly simple problem-solving interview questions, you should carefully craft your answer to emphasize the exact skills and experience required by the job you’ve applied for.
While that may seem challenging, if you know what the interviewer is aiming for, you’ll know exactly how to answer, so stay tuned. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind problem-solving interview questions and offer some problem-solving question examples with sample answers.
Key Takeaways
- Problem-solving interview questions assess candidates’ problem-solving skills, including resilience, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.
- When speaking about your problem-solving skills, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) to recount your professional experience.
- Some common problem-solving interview questions are: “Tell me about a time when you faced an unexpected challenge at work and how you handled it.” and “Walk me through your decision-making process.”
- Focus on how you solved a certain problem instead of on the problem itself.
- Don’t minimize the problem; rather, craft concise yet elaborate answers and practice your delivery.
Why Do Employers Ask Questions About Problem-Solving at Interviews?
Employers ask questions about problem-solving at interviews to evaluate job applicant’s problem-solving skills, hence the name. However, under the surface, things get a bit more complex.
Problem-solving interview questions are classic situational interview questions. They can take various forms and aim to assess a broad variety of capabilities, all of which fall under the umbrella term “problem-solving skills.”
Let’s list and elaborate on them below to see what makes you a great problem solver:
- Analytical skills. Being a good problem solver implies having the analytical skills necessary to assess a problem and devise a solution.
- Resilience. Having resilience means being able to face and address difficult job-related situations and bounce back from them.
- Communication skills. Clear and proactive communication between coworkers, as well as between an employer and an employee, prevents confusion and increases efficiency.
- Emotional intelligence. Recognizing and managing your own emotions and understanding the emotions of others are valuable soft skills. They allow you to address problems calmly and strategically to achieve better results.
- Creative thinking skills. Some work issues you come across may call for out-of-the-box thinking. Knowing how to approach them from different angles and offer inventive solutions makes you a good problem solver.
- Adaptability. Are you comfortable with both individual work and teamwork? Are you productive under deadlines? Can you overcome setbacks on the go? Answer these questions to determine how adaptable you are.
- Teamwork skills. A collaborative individual who enjoys sharing their ideas and appreciates their colleagues’ input has good teamwork skills. If you’ve applied for a C-suite position, your leadership skills and management style will also be assessed.
Common Problem-Solving Interview Questions + Sample Answers
In this section, we’ll review some common problem-solving interview questions and offer sample answers to them. They’ll help you prepare your answers in advance. Moreover, you’ll improve your creative thinking and learn how to answer some tricky problem-solving interview questions you may not have anticipated.
The rule of thumb is to use the STAR method when answering situational and behavioral interview questions such as these, which are designed to evaluate your problem-solving skills.
The STAR method suggests structuring your answers in four stages:
- Situation. Provide context. Answering problem-solving interview questions requires storytelling skills, and providing context for the story, which is your response, is the crucial first step.
- Task. Explain the work task you were responsible for in the situation you’re recounting at this stage. Outline the issue that arose.
- Action. Talk about the actions you took to address a problem or overcome a challenge, emphasizing your expertise and experience.
- Result. Conclude with the result you achieved or the lesson you’ve learned from the situation in question.
Without further ado, let’s list, explain, and answer some common and a few strange problem-solving interview questions.
#1. Tell me about a time when you faced an unexpected challenge at work and how you handled it.
This is a common “Tell me about a time you made a mistake” interview question. Answer it honestly but strategically—choose a minor mistake you were able to fix and speak about your problem-solving process, highlighting the results you achieved.
Sample answer: “While I was working as a junior copywriter, I misconstrued a client’s requirements for a project. As a result, I delivered a solution that didn’t meet them.
While I was disappointed, I made sure to address the misunderstanding directly with the client and use their feedback to correct the error within the given time frame. Ultimately, I delivered a compelling copy they were happy about.”
#2. Tell me about a time when you predicted a problem and how you went about preventing it.
This question essentially evaluates your adaptability and creative thinking skills. If you can predict a problem and prevent it, you showcase the ability to think strategically and in advance to avoid a potential issue.
Sample answer: “In my previous role, I noticed a lag in the production process that impacted the team’s efficiency. I realized that, if not addressed, the delay can have a negative effect on our sales. I discussed the issue with my manager and suggested some process improvements.
By applying these changes, we streamlined the workflow and managed to meet clients’ expectations in a timely manner.”
#3. Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem on your own without managerial help.
With this question, employers seek to assess candidates’ professional autonomy and expertise. Address a specific situation where you used your experience and knowledge to solve a problem single-handedly. This way, you’ll demonstrate your flexibility and resourcefulness.
Sample answer: “While I was working as an SEO content writer, I identified an incorrect link in one of our blog posts. Given my prior link-building experience, I managed to find a good linking opportunity and fix the error when updating the article.
As a result, the company’s reach and engagement increased, bringing new partnership opportunities and clients.”
#4. Walk me through your decision-making process.
This is one of the most common problem-solving interview questions for a product manager position and other managerial roles. It’s pretty straightforward—it aims to assess your decision-making skills. You can offer a general answer outlining your decision-making process. However, it’s better if you back it up with a practical example.
Sample answer: “As a content team manager, I developed a clear structure of my responsibilities. These include reevaluating our scopes and realigning our content strategies to meet them.
After identifying issues or favorable content engagement opportunities, I would brainstorm with my team to develop the best techniques for addressing or seizing them.”
#5. Tell me about a time when you had to get creative/unconventional to solve a problem.
This question clearly addresses your creative thinking skills and unique approaches to challenges. Make sure to emphasize them in your answer and focus on your learning and career-development techniques.
Sample answer: “In my previous role, I faced budget constraints in the development stage of a project. I explored open-source alternatives and managed to come up with a cost-effective solution and implement it to meet the company’s requirements.”
#6. Tell me about a time when you used data analysis to solve a complex problem.
This is one of the classic problem-solving interview questions for a data analyst position. It assesses your ability to weigh data-motivated insights to make informed decisions. Therefore, it also evaluates your decision-making skills in a technical context.
Answer this question concisely, explaining a concrete professional situation in which you used your technical skills to address a problem.
Sample answer: “During my work on a marketing campaign, I was responsible for analyzing the target audience response data to determine what the best-performing channels were. Based on my analysis, we reallocated resources and significantly increased ROI.”
#7. Describe a particular challenge you’ve faced in doing your job efficiently. How did you overcome it?
With this question, interviewers want you to recall a specific professional lesson you’ve learned. Thus, this is your chance to showcase your learning skills and unique approaches to work challenges. You should describe a specific work situation that called for your expertise and explain how you used your professional knowledge to resolve it.
Sample answer: “In a previous role, I faced unforeseen circumstances due to which my workload increased. To maintain efficiency and meet the deadlines, I reviewed all the tasks and determined their priority. Then, I reached out to my colleagues for support and redelegated some of the tasks that were less urgent.
Through our collaborative approach, we managed to maintain team productivity and finish the project on time.”
#8. Describe a time when you successfully used your crisis-management skills.
This question assesses several of your problem-solving skills, including time management and the ability to stay calm and productive under pressure. Recall a particular workplace situation that created unforeseen issues and then describe how you addressed them to prevent a crisis.
Sample answer: “While I was working as a customer service representative, we received a large number of complaints regarding a product’s quality in a short amount of time. I communicated with relevant departments to coordinate the product improvement process. After identifying the root cause, we developed an action plan.
We promptly communicated with the affected customers and resolved the issue in question to regain their satisfaction and prevent damage to the brand’s reputation.”
#9. Tell me about a time you used theoretical knowledge to solve a practical problem.
This is one of the most common problem-solving interview questions for a fresher. Interviewers ask it to evaluate candidates’ ability to put theory into practice.
That’s exactly what you should emphasize in your answer. Describe a concrete practical problem you’d never come across before and explain how you solved it using the knowledge you’ve gained through education or training.
Sample answer: “As an intern engineer, I once noticed an issue in technical production. Having read about it in college, I had an idea of how to address it by drawing on examples I’d previously researched. I discussed my idea with my supervisor and implemented it to resolve the lag in the production process.”
How Not to Answer Problem-Solving Interview Questions
Let’s see how not to answer problem-solving interview questions and list some useful tips on what to do instead. Practicing these can help you present yourself in a favorable light during your interview, with a special emphasis on your problem-solving skills.
- Don’t avoid the question. Not being able to recall a challenging work-related situation that tested your expertise and social skills can give off the impression of not taking responsibility. Instead of avoiding the question, offer an honest answer, highlighting the lessons you’ve learned from a certain professional situation.
- Focus on the solution instead of the problem. Don’t dwell on the problem or the mistake you’ve made so as not to come across as pessimistic. Rather, focus on the actions you took to address the issue and the results that followed.
- Don’t stress. A job interview is a stressful occasion, so it’s normal to feel nervous. However, excessive worry on such occasions can have severe consequences, according to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health. Additionally, acting stressed out at an interview can be an indicator of not handling difficulties well. Luckily, if you practice your answers, you’ll be able to deliver them with confidence.
- Refrain from giving superficial answers. Answering problem-solving interview questions is essentially storytelling. Thus, avoid vague, superficial answers. Instead, provide context and an outline of the situation you’re referencing and speak clearly and concisely.
- Don’t minimize the problem. Minimizing the problem you’re talking about can make a recruiter believe you don’t take professional accountability. Therefore, acknowledge the problem and show that you’ve learned from it and grown as a professional.
Final Thoughts
Problem-solving interview questions assess a wide range of skills, from analytical skills to adaptability, with all the nuances in between. This is why they can take various forms, but in their nature, they’re situational interview questions that require storytelling.
The rule of thumb for answering these questions is to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result). Simply put, provide context, explain the task and your responsibilities, emphasize the actions you took to solve a certain problem, and conclude with the results and lessons you’ve learned.
Most importantly, make sure to practice your answers before the interview to enhance your delivery.
