6 Problem-solving questions for Interview

Posted on May 27, 2022 at 11:30 AM

Interview questions about problem-solving are used to detect, test, and measure a candidate’s approach to challenging and unexpected situations. Hiring candidates with excellent problem-solving skills can be quite advantageous to your firm. Therefore you must thoroughly evaluate their problem-solving abilities.

 What are the criteria for problem-solving interview questions?

A candidate’s approach to dealing with complex and unexpected situations can be assessed through problem-solving interview questions that focus on problem-solving.

Hiring candidates with good problem-solving abilities can be pretty helpful to your business.

Problems are unavoidable in any business area and will somehow manifest themselves. When difficulties arise, people with good problem-solving skills will quickly devise appropriate solutions.

For which job positions should problem-solving questions be used?

Problem-solving interview questions are among the most frequent types of interview questions for various roles, particularly for .NET Developers, Business Analysts, Social Media Managers, and Operations Managers, among many others.

What Do They Mean When They Say “Problem-Solving”?

 

Most vocations necessitate problem-solving abilities. Some jobs, one may say, consist solely of problem-solving (engineering, customer service, tax attorney, to name a few).

“Problem-solving abilities” refer to your capacity to identify difficulties, barriers, and opportunities before developing and implementing practical solutions.”

There are numerous forms of problem-solving — and different sectors and types of businesses value certain parts of problem-solving. It is why some candidates falter when answering this question.

Here are a few competencies that can be classified as “problem-solving”:

You take the initiative and act without being asked. You look for ways to make a difference.

Creativity: You are a unique thinker who can think outside the box.

Resourcefulness: entails adapting to new/difficult situations and devising solutions to overcome challenges.

Analytical Thinking: You may examine an issue using logic and critical thinking.

Determined: You are tenacious and do not give up easily.

Result-driven: Your priority is to achieve the desired result – to solve the problem.

As always, it’s critical to read the job description thoroughly and grasp what kinds of challenges you’d be solving in the role. This research will assist you in selecting the examples from your past that are most likely to impress your interviewer. 

Why Do Interviewers Inquire About Problem Solving?

Hiring managers ask behavioral inquiries on problem-solving to better grasp your working style.

Are you a go-getter who is looking around for new ways to contribute? Are you someone who can be counted on to improve the team’s performance? Will you take the initiative to improve things, or will you wait for orders?

The interviewer is most likely looking for a problem-solving orientation in your personality. The hiring manager is also searching for track records of dealing with the types of obstacles with the job.

 A customer service representative, for example, should be able to cope with an angry customer. A project manager should be able to handle a change in deadline. An inefficient procedure should be able to be fixed by a senior-level operations person.

 Keep in mind that you will most likely be vying for the position with many qualified competitors. On paper, you probably all look pretty good.

But which of you is most likely to step up and shine, making the hiring manager seem good and her job easier? I would always hire a proven problem solution over someone with more education or experience. 

Here are some instances of technical problem-solving inquiries

Minimum-Maximum Sum

This well-known challenge, which asks the interviewee to calculate the greatest and least sum of an array of supplied numbers, is based on sorting, a fundamental but critical programming concept, and integer overflow. It assesses the candidate’s ability to observe, and the answer should inspire a logical, ad hoc solution.

Ball Container Organizing 

This issue assesses the candidate’s understanding of many programming principles such as 2D arrays, sorting, and iteration. Organizing colored balls in containers based on various criteria is a typical question posed in competitive tests and job interviews. It is an excellent approach to testing numerous aspects of a candidate’s problem-solving abilities.

What processes do you follow before deciding how to tackle a problem, and why do you do so?

This question assesses how they tackle problems before making a decision. A robust response demonstrates that the candidate is deliberate in their decision-making and follows a formal process of thought, as opposed to becoming overwhelmed and behaving rashly. Look for individuals who have a formalized procedure that makes sense and demonstrates that they don’t just seek help all the time.

Tell me when you realized a colleague had made a mistake. How did you handle it? What was the result?

This question puts their interpersonal skills to the test. The best employees are those who have excellent interpersonal skills and who assist others in succeeding. As a result, a good response should demonstrate that the candidate was polite and productive – someone who helps their colleagues address difficulties rather than merely highlighting them.

Anyone who says unsavory things about past coworkers should be regarded with caution – respect and friendliness are essential professional characteristics.

This quiz puts their problem-solving skills to the test. An impressive response will demonstrate awareness of problem-solving skills, which may differ from person to person.

You don’t want to hire someone continually begging for help, so knowing that a prospect has considered potential strategies can give you peace of mind. Problem-solving approaches can range from data-driven or analytic techniques to collaboration or delegation.

Describe the most difficult work-related difficulty you have encountered. How did you handle it?

This question assesses their ability to deal with complex issues. It reveals three aspects of a candidate:

1. What information they are willing to divulge about past employment.
2. What they regard to be a significant issue.
3. How they address problems.

You want an applicant to be suitable and complimentary while discussing their current (or previous) role. Of course, what constitutes a significant issue is subjective, but you should be skeptical of candidates who sound as if they would become overwhelmed by stress or exaggerate problems. 

Create a Palindrome

In a complex problem, the candidate’s understanding of concepts such as strings and dynamic programming is essential. This problem-solving scenario assesses the candidate’s ability to think on their feet and generate clean, efficient code.

How will you tackle a dissatisfied customer?

Unpleasant questions tend to bring out a candidate’s underlying problem-solving abilities. It would be preferable to discuss an instance in which they approached the consumer calmly or a similar story.

What metrics do you track regularly?

Such a question will assist the interviewer in determining how much control the candidate has over their life. There will almost certainly be one thing that you keep an eye on. Please make an effort to comprehend their strategy for metric prioritization.

Have you ever had to alter your original plan of action?

It will assist the interviewer in determining how the candidate handles stressful conditions. As candidate, they can discuss an unexpected situation that they encountered.

You can also expect responses on how they handled an unforeseen situation while participating in a planned event.

Describe a personal shortcoming that you had to overcome to improve your work performance. How did you manage to achieve it?

This question puts their self-awareness and dedication to the test. Self-awareness is essential for personal development and becoming a better employee. A good response demonstrates a candidate’s commitment to growth, whether by learning new abilities or perfecting existing ones. It is a tricky problem-solving interview question. Thus a successful response demonstrates their abilities.

Conclusion

You may create a quiz listing all of the problem-solving multiple-choice questions and solutions. Such exercises can help you prepare for an interview in which you will assess the interviewees’ problem-solving abilities. 

In brief, interviewers want individuals with the correct work attitude to succeed inside their organization and in that role. It is also why we can’t stress enough how important it is to be able to demonstrate your talents through strong example cases.

The proper preparation will assist you in reaching your goal. Your goal is to show that you are competent in handling the day-to-day responsibilities of the role and can advance. For example, if you can operate in and manage transitions in fast-paced situations such as financial markets. And can you deal with the complex problems you’ll face? Are you able to properly handle such changes? In this case, you must demonstrate adaptability and problem-solving abilities by providing examples of how you have done so in the past. We hope you found this post informative. Check out Relinns website for more information.