Assessing Critical Thinking & Analytical Skills

A person who thinks critically can ask appropriate questions, gather relevant information, efficiently and creatively sort through this information, reason logically from this information, and come to reliable and trustworthy conclusions. Critical thinkers gather information from all senses, verbal, written expression, reflection, observation, experience and reasoning

Here are some characteristics of a strong critical thinker, according to Raymond Nickerson, an authority on critical thinking:

• Uses evidence skillfully and impartially
• Organizes thoughts and articulates them concisely and coherently
• Distinguishes between logically valid and invalid inferences
• Understands the differences between reasoning and rationalizing
• Applies problem solving techniques in domains other than those in which learned

For Managers: If critical thinking is critical for your employees my recommendation is that you hire people who have demonstrated this competency in their past jobs. Critical thinking is teachable, however it is always better to hire employees who have the core competencies necessary for success in your organization. Asking the right questions will help you determine the strength of this core competency.

Here are some interview questions to assist you with identifying analytical skills for potential candidates:

• Describe a situation when you anticipated a problem. What, if anything, did you do about it?
• Give an example of when your diagnosis of a problem proved to be correct. What approach did you take to diagnose the problem? What was the outcome?
• Describe the most difficult work problem you’ve ever encountered. What made it difficult? What solution was implemented and how successful was it in solving the problem?
• What steps do you take toward developing a solution?
• What factors did you consider in evaluating solutions?

Make sure you know what you are looking for from potential candidates prior to asking these questions. Look for details and credibility when listening to responses. Ask follow-up questions to probe for additional information. Listen for inconsistencies to determine if you are getting a canned response or real experience.

For Job Seekers: Use the questions above to help you prepare for questions regarding Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills. If Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills are a strength for you, the questions above will assist you with your preparation. Write down the questions and your answers to them. Have a story to tell. Make sure you can clearly articulate the problem or issue, and what your role was in resolving the situation.

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Tags: Interview Chatter, Critical Thinking, Analytical Skills, Job Seekers, Managers, Core Competency, Evaluate Solutions, Interview, Problem-solvers, Credibility, Logic, Candidates

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