Problem Solving Interview Questions

Companies want to employ people that are creative and inventive in nature. Employees with sound problem solving skills are of far greater benefit to company than unproductive workers. To distinguish among these two groups applicants often get asked questions related to problem solving such as 'describe a problem you faced on the job and explain how you solved it' or ‘what steps have you taken to solve the problem you faced at workplace?’. Hiring manager wants to know that you have capability to identify problems and take appropriate courses of action. He wants to be sure that you can tackle challenges faced by the department and that of company clients.

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How to answer problem solving interview questions

When you attempt to answer these questions select as similar problem as possible to the challenge you are likely to face in prospective job. Nevertheless, don't talk too much about the challenge itself but rather focus the effort on how you analysed the situation, steps you have taken and the outcome you have achieved. Remember; quantify final results in figures whenever possible. If you are unsure how to do this then see job accomplishment guide to get an idea as what is required.

Below, you can see sample answer to the above mentioned questions nevertheless there are countless scenarios in which you can show off your competencies. We have used as an example problem related to transport and logistics nevertheless as advised above it is recommended to select similar problem you would face in a job you apply for.

Lastly, don't forget to structure your answer in S.T.A.R format that is, situation, task, action and result. If you are not familiar with this approach then see S.T.A.R approach to answer job interview questions.

 

Problem solving example answer

Situation

At my last job working in a logistics department I was overseeing delivery process of products from point of collection through to final delivery of goods to retail stores. Few months after our new distribution centre was opened it became evident that we were falling behind the schedule with deliveries to retailers.

Action

To address the issue, I sketched the flow chart to identify any possible bottlenecks involved in delivery process. I broke down the movement of each truck detailing every move in the itinerary in an easy to follow up diagrammatic flow. I took a systematic approach to gather relevant data and examined backlogged work, driver waiting times and productivity of staff to get to the bottom of the problem. I noticed that the loading at the client facility went smoothly but once the trucks arrived at the distribution centre the efficiency seemed to fall apart. I gathered warehouse staff and run debriefing session where it was suggested to re-plan and re-design routes to allow efficient packing and cross labelling. I investigated the idea further and after conducting thorough analysis it turned up that that route adjustments in distribution centre would result in time savings needed to increase on time delivery rate and went ahead to implement the project.

Result

Once the project was implemented not only client goods were delivered on time with no delays and penalties but also the efficiency of the cargo handling operations in distribution centre increased with average reduction in waiting times of 34 per cent resulting in savings of £234 per day.

 

Final thoughts…

Note the above answer is brief, concise and to the point. It briefly defines the problem, describes in detail the process of gathering the data and generating solution. Aim in your answer for the same touch upon how you transferred ideas into practical solutions, how you collaborated with co-workers or how you conducted risk management analysis. Conclude your answer by stating what was accomplished as a result of your actions and perhaps what strategies proved to be effective. As already advised, always quantify your achievements whenever possible in terms of facts and figures.

Problem Solving Interview Questions

Companies want to employ people that are creative and inventive in nature. Employees with sound problem solving skills are of far greater benefit to company than unproductive workers. To distinguish among these two groups applicants often get asked questions related to problem solving such as 'describe a problem you faced on the job and explain how you solved it' or ‘what steps have you taken to solve the problem you faced at workplace?’. Hiring manager wants to know that you have capability to identify problems and take appropriate courses of action. He wants to be sure that you can tackle challenges faced by the department and that of company clients.
How to answer problem solving questions in job interview
When you attempt to answer problem solving question select as similar problem as possible to the challenge you are likely to face in prospective job. Nevertheless, don't talk too much about the challenge itself but rather focus the effort on how you analysed the situation, steps you have taken and the outcome you have achieved. Remember; quantify final results in figures whenever possible. If you are unsure how to do this then see job accomplishment guide to get an idea as what is required.
Below, you can see sample answer to the above mentioned questions nevertheless there are countless scenarios in which you can show off your competencies. We have used as an example problem related to transport and logistics nevertheless as advised above it is recommended to select similar problem you would face in a job you apply for. Lastly, don't forget to structure your answer in S.T.A.R format that is, situation, task, action and result. If you are not familiar with this approach then see S.T.A.R approach to answer job interview questions.
Example answer
At my last job working in a logistics department I was overseeing delivery process of products from point of collection through to final delivery of goods to retail stores. Few months after our new distribution centre was opened it became evident that we were falling behind the schedule with deliveries to retailers.
To address the issue, I sketched the flow chart to identify any possible bottlenecks involved in delivery process. I broke down the movement of each truck detailing every move in the itinerary in an easy to follow up diagrammatic flow. I took a systematic approach to gather relevant data and examined backlogged work, driver waiting times and productivity of staff to get to the bottom of the problem. I noticed that the loading at the client facility went smoothly but once the trucks arrived at the distribution centre the efficiency seemed to fall apart. I gathered warehouse staff and run debriefing session where it was suggested to re-plan and re-design routes to allow efficient packing and cross labelling. I investigated the idea further and after conducting thorough analysis it turned up that that route adjustments in distribution centre would result in time savings needed to increase on time delivery rate and went ahead to implement the project.
Once the project was implemented not only client goods were delivered on time with no delays and penalties but also the efficiency of the cargo handling operations in distribution centre increased with average reduction in waiting times of 34 per cent resulting in savings of £234 per day.
Final thoughts…
Note the above answer is brief, concise and to the point. It briefly defines the problem, describes in detail the process of gathering the data and generating solution. Aim in your answer for the same touch upon how you transferred ideas into practical solutions, how you collaborated with co-workers or how you conducted risk management analysis. Conclude your answer by stating what was accomplished as a result of your actions and perhaps what strategies proved to be effective. As already advised, always quantify your achievements whenever possible in terms of facts and figures.