Word for problem solving skills

Why do employers hire employees? To help them solve problems. Whether you’re a financial analyst deciding where to invest your firm’s money, or a marketer trying to figure out which channel to direct your efforts, companies hire people to help them find solutions. Problem-solving is an essential and marketable soft skill in the workplace. 

So, how can you improve your problem-solving and show employers you have this valuable skill? In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Problem-Solving Skills Definition
• Why Are Problem-Solving Skills Important?
• Problem-Solving Skills Examples
• How to Include Problem-Solving Skills in a Job Application
• How to Improve Problem-Solving Skills
• Problem-Solving: The Bottom Line

Problem-solving skills are the ability to identify problems, brainstorm and analyze answers, and implement the best solutions. An employee with good problem-solving skills is both a self-starter and a collaborative teammate; they are proactive in understanding the root of a problem and work with others to consider a wide range of solutions before deciding how to move forward. 

Examples of using problem-solving skills in the workplace include:

• Researching patterns to understand why revenue decreased last quarter
• Experimenting with a new marketing channel to increase website sign-ups
• Brainstorming content types to share with potential customers
• Testing calls to action to see which ones drive the most product sales
• Implementing a new workflow to automate a team process and increase productivity

Why Are Problem-Solving Skills Important?

Problem-solving skills are the most sought-after soft skill of 2022. In fact, 86% of employers look for problem-solving skills on student resumes, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2022 survey. 

It’s unsurprising why employers are looking for this skill: companies will always need people to help them find solutions to their problems. Someone proactive and successful at problem-solving is valuable to any team.

“Employers are looking for employees who can make decisions independently, especially with the prevalence of remote/hybrid work and the need to communicate asynchronously,” Eric Mochnacz, senior HR consultant at Red Clover, says. “Employers want to see individuals who can make well-informed decisions that mitigate risk, and they can do so without suffering from analysis paralysis.”

Problem-Solving Skills Examples

Problem-solving includes three main parts: identifying the problem, analyzing possible solutions, and deciding on the best course of action.

Research

Research is the first step of problem-solving because it helps you understand the context of a problem. Researching a problem enables you to learn why the problem is happening. For example, is revenue down because of a new sales tactic? Or because of seasonality? Is there a problem with who the sales team is reaching out to? 

Research broadens your scope to all possible reasons why the problem could be happening. Then once you figure it out, it helps you narrow your scope to start solving it. 

Analysis

Analysis is the next step of problem-solving. Now that you’ve identified the problem, analytical skills help you look at what potential solutions there might be.

“The goal of analysis isn’t to solve a problem, actually — it’s to better understand it because that’s where the real solution will be found,” Gretchen Skalka, owner of Career Insights Consulting, says. “Looking at a problem through the lens of impartiality is the only way to get a true understanding of it from all angles.”

Decision-Making

Once you’ve figured out where the problem is coming from and what solutions are, it’s time to decide on the best way to go forth. Decision-making skills help you determine what resources are available, what a feasible action plan entails, and what solution is likely to lead to success.

How to Include Problem-Solving Skills in a Job Application

On a Resume

Employers looking for problem-solving skills might include the word “problem-solving” or other synonyms like “critical thinking” or “analytical skills” in the job description.

“I would add ‘buzzwords’ you can find from the job descriptions or LinkedIn endorsements section to filter into your resume to comply with the ATS,” Matthew Warzel, CPRW resume writer, advises. Warzel recommends including these skills on your resume but warns to “leave the soft skills as adjectives in the summary section. That is the only place soft skills should be mentioned.”

On the other hand, you can list hard skills separately in a skills section on your resume.

In a Cover Letter or an Interview

Explaining your problem-solving skills in an interview can seem daunting. You’re required to expand on your process — how you identified a problem, analyzed potential solutions, and made a choice. As long as you can explain your approach, it’s okay if that solution didn’t come from a professional work experience.

“Young professionals shortchange themselves by thinking only paid-for solutions matter to employers,” Skalka says. “People at the genesis of their careers don’t have a wealth of professional experience to pull from, but they do have relevant experience to share.”

Aaron Case, career counselor and CPRW at Resume Genius, agrees and encourages early professionals to share this skill. “If you don’t have any relevant work experience yet, you can still highlight your problem-solving skills in your cover letter,” he says. “Just showcase examples of problems you solved while completing your degree, working at internships, or volunteering. You can even pull examples from completely unrelated part-time jobs, as long as you make it clear how your problem-solving ability transfers to your new line of work.”

How to Improve Problem-Solving Skills

Learn How to Identify Problems

Problem-solving doesn’t just require finding solutions to problems that are already there. It’s also about being proactive when something isn’t working as you hoped it would. Practice questioning and getting curious about processes and activities in your everyday life. What could you improve? What would you do if you had more resources for this process? If you had fewer? Challenge yourself to challenge the world around you.

Think Digitally

“Employers in the modern workplace value digital problem-solving skills, like being able to find a technology solution to a traditional issue,” Case says. “For example, when I first started working as a marketing writer, my department didn’t have the budget to hire a professional voice actor for marketing video voiceovers. But I found a perfect solution to the problem with an AI voiceover service that cost a fraction of the price of an actor.”

Being comfortable with new technology — even ones you haven’t used before — is a valuable skill in an increasingly hybrid and remote world. Don’t be afraid to research new and innovative technologies to help automate processes or find a more efficient technological solution.

Collaborate

Problem-solving isn’t done in a silo, and it shouldn’t be. Use your collaboration skills to gather multiple perspectives, help eliminate bias, and listen to alternative solutions. Ask others where they think the problem is coming from and what solutions would help them with your workflow. From there, try to compromise on a solution that can benefit everyone.

Adapt

If we’ve learned anything from the past few years, it’s that the world of work is constantly changing — which means it’s crucial to know how to adapt. Be comfortable narrowing down a solution, then changing your direction when a colleague provides a new piece of information. Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone, whether with your personal routine or trying a new system at work.

Put Yourself in the Middle of Tough Moments

Just like adapting requires you to challenge your routine and tradition, good problem-solving requires you to put yourself in challenging situations — especially ones where you don’t have relevant experience or expertise to find a solution. Because you won’t know how to tackle the problem, you’ll learn new problem-solving skills and how to navigate new challenges. Ask your manager or a peer if you can help them work on a complicated problem, and be proactive about asking them questions along the way.

Problem-Solving: The Bottom Line

Companies always need people to help them find solutions — especially proactive employees who have practical analytical skills and can collaborate to decide the best way to move forward. Whether or not you have experience solving problems in a professional workplace, illustrate your problem-solving skills by describing your research, analysis, and decision-making process — and make it clear that you’re the solution to the employer’s current problems. 

Looking to learn more workplace professional skills? Check out Two Sigma’s Professional Skills Development Virtual Experience Program.

Image Credit: Christina Morillo / Pexels 

Inside: Learn one phrase that will help your child get unstuck when a challenge shows up. If your child says, “I can’t” or wants to quit, this is the best response.

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I took two sips of coffee, sat on the couch and immediately noticed my strong-willed child creeping down the stairs. The scowl on his face said it all. I’d been parenting for less than 2 minutes this morning and I could already feel the cloud of frustration between us.

Everything was blurry.

I wanted to start the day positive, so I stood up and turned to the stairs trying to look as empathetic as possible. “Looks like you’re upset. Do you want to play a bit before starting school?”

He was more despondent than ever. “No, I hate school. I’m not doing it!”

This is hard.

I started thinking about how much my child used to love school, and also how frustrating and challenging it is for him some days.

Sitting for longer than he wants.

Following the new rules.

Learning new skills.

All of it can lead to this cloud of frustration that permeates around him.

Related: Raising a Strong-Willed Child: 10 Phrases That Will Improve Cooperation and Listening

Then he saw it. The paper.

“Can I draw on this, mom?” His eyes turned happy and the corners of his mouth widened revealing every single one of his teeth. I immediately smiled back.

“Yep. That’s for you, buddy.”

He immediately flipped opened the first blank sheet and began writing random letters, pictures and shapes across the paper.

For a second I breathed a sigh of relief thinking we were past the scowls and cloud of frustration.

Then I heard it.

The complaining words I cringe hearing every time he says them to me.

“I can’t do it! I give up.”

I knew the best response…

It also happens to be my all-time favorite (and simplest) way to build problem solving skills in kids.

Related: How to Help a Child Focus in the Classroom – 5 Things Parents Can Do

What to say when your kid gives up.

Before I could respond with my golden phrase, he repeated his negative self-talk to me again. This time with more gusto and persistence in his voice. “I can’t do it! I give up!”

There’s a part of me that wanted to respond with something that would fix the problem for him.

Things like…

“You can do it!”

“It looks totally fine!”  

“Just try again.”

Those phrases make me feel better and like I’m doing something, but I don’t find that my son tries any harder.

Instead, I’ve found that he really tries again and works harder when I set the stage for him to solve the problem all on his own (using my golden phrase). 

Related: The Best Printable Daily Schedule for Kids to Build Cooperation and Listening

I sat down next to him at heart level and gently, slowly, deliberately I said my one phrase into his ear.

“Show me the hard part.”

He pointed to the part of the picture where he was writing his name and announced, “HERE!”

Smack dab in the middle of writing his name, he couldn’t seem to get the “S” perfect.

Once I knew where the hard part was for him, I immediately started describing the situation using SAY WHAT YOU SEE® (SWYS) – a technique from Language of Listening®, the 3-part parenting framework that I use.

“You were writing your name down on this paper. You finished the A, M, E and then when you got to the next letter you were stuck. It looks like you wanted the “S” to be just right. I see you erased it and wrote it again.”

He nodded affirming what I said. “Yes, I can’t do it. I can’t do the “S”.

I continued with SWYS. “You wrote first part of the “S” and then it looks like you aren’t sure what to do next. There must be some way you can learn to write the letter “S” as well as you want to.”

He said matter-of-factly, “I need to write more of the letter “S”.

Why this works.

When I see kids say “I can’t” or want to give up or fall straight into whining, I love saying “Show me the hard part” because it gives you – the parent or teacher – a lot of useful information.

It helps you know right away what part is easy and what part is especially hard for the child. It also helps the child recognize what area is creating their biggest challenge and it breaks it down into a smaller challenge.

I could’ve easily seen all letter writing as a challenge for my son. But it turned out the only thing that was bothering him was how to write an “S”.

By describing the situation using SAY WHAT YOU SEE, it immediately becomes more manageable for you and the child.

This simple technique puts you in the neutral zone with kids where you can all agree on what is happening in the here and now.

Kids are less likely to get defensive or try to prove to you that they “really can’t do it.” (This is often what happens when we say ‘You can do it’ or ‘Just try again.’ Kids will dig in their heels to prove they really, really can’t do it.)

Here’s the best part.

“Show me the hard part” allows the child to solve the problem. This is the best learning of all.

Yesterday, my son was working on another project at the kitchen table. This time it was drawing faces with tails inside of trees (don’t ask, lol).

He said, “I can’t do it, mom. I can’t draw these trees.”

And before I could get to heart level and say “Show me the hard part,” he stopped me and said, “But that’s okay. I can just draw more trees. I’ll just try again.”

This time, the cloud of frustration that made everything blurry was notably absent.

And those dark and scary woods?

He found a way to move forward anyway.

Want more on parenting?

• 2 Year Old Not Listening? Try This Remarkable Tip
• How to Handle Back Talk and Disrespect Like a Parenting Warrior
• What’s Really Behind Angry and Aggressive Behaviors in Kids
• The Most Overlooked Reason Why Kids Won’t Listen, Focus or Sit Still

Are you new to this community? Start here, friend.

Word problems for Year 3 are an important tool for improving number fluency. The key focus in maths in Year 3 of primary school is on ensuring pupils are becoming more fluent with number facts and the concept of place value. Children are starting to develop more efficient written methods by this stage and are beginning to carry out calculations with increasingly larger whole numbers.

As children progress through school, they are exposed to a wider variety of problem solving questions covering a range of concepts. In Year 3 maths these include the four operations, fractions, measures and statistics.  

It is important that children are regularly exposed to reasoning and problem solving questions, alongside the fluency work each lesson. It is also important to remember that all children need exposure to reasoning and problem solving questions, not just the higher attaining pupils who finish quickest.

We have put together a collection of 20 word problems, aimed at Year 3 pupils.

Year 3 Maths Word Problems in the National Curriculum

In Year 3, pupils focus on one-step problems, covering a range of topics across the National Curriculum. At this stage the majority of word problems pupils are tackling will have one-step, but they may also start to be introduced to simple two-step word problems. Here is a breakdown of topics that will be covered and expectations in Year 3. 

Place value

Solve number problems and practical problems involving recognising the place value of each digit of a 3-digit number; comparing and ordering numbers up to 1000 and identifying, representing and estimating numbers using different representations.

Addition and subtraction

Solve problems, including missing number problems, using number facts, place value and more complex addition and subtraction word problems.

Multiplication and division

Solve problems, including missing number problems, involving multiplication and division, including positive integer scaling problems and correspondence problems

Fractions and decimals

 Solve problems involving counting in tenths; recognising unit and non-unit fractions; recognising equivalent fractions and adding/ subtracting fractions with the same denominator.

Measurement

Solve problems involving length, volume and mass; adding and subtracting within money word problems; perimeter and problems involving time.

Statistics

Solve-step and two-step questions (For example, ‘How many more?’ and ‘How many fewer’?) using information presented in scaled bar charts, pictograms and tables.

Why are word problems important in Year 3 maths?

By Year 3, children are starting to learn how to use some of the formal written methods of addition and subtraction. It is important that the link between maths in school and maths in real-life continues to be made. Word problems are a key element in helping pupils to make this link. 

How to teach problem solving in Year 3

When teaching maths problems to Year 3, it’s important to think of ways to make them fun, engaging and something the children are able to relate to. This might include acting out the problem, using concrete resources and providing visual images, to bring the problems to life. 

Benefits of pairs, groups and class discussion 

Children should have plenty of opportunity to talk in pairs, groups and as a whole class, to share their understanding of what is being asked and their strategies for solving the problem. As with Key Stage One, the use of manipulatives is important and all children should have access to a range of maths resources when solving problems like this.

Pupils need to be encouraged to read word problems carefully and to make sure they understand what is being asked, before attempting to tackle the problem. This is where the use of a partner and group discussion can really help children’s understanding. Students then need to think about what they already know and how they can use this to help them answer the question. Where appropriate, pupils should also be encouraged to draw diagrams and pictures to help them solve the question.

Here is an example:

Mason needs 4 apples to make an apple pie.

If he has 28 apples. How many apple pies can he make?

How to solve:

What do you already know?

• We know 4 apples are needed to make an apple pie.
• We are told how many apples Mason has in total, so we must have to divide the total number by 4.
• In year 3, children should be building confidence with multiplication and division facts for the 4 times table, so some will be able to quickly recall these facts to solve the problem.
• Children who aren’t apple to recall quickly could use counters to represent the apples, or draw a bar model to help solve it.

How can this be drawn/represented pictorially?

We can draw a bar model or counters to represent this problem:

• To calculate how pies the 28 apples will make, we can either use or draw 28 counters and put them into groups of 4. We can see that 28 counters will make 7 groups of 4.
• Using the bar model, we can keep adding 4 to the bar until we reach 28. From the bar we can see that 7 x 4 = 28.
• 7 apple pies can be made from the 28 apple pies that Mason has.

Addition word problems for Year 3

In Year 3, pupils are exposed to a range of addition word problems, including problems involving mental addition and addition of up to 3-digits using formal written methods.

See also: Mental maths Year 3

At Third Space Learning we often tie word problems into our one-to-one online tuition. With each programme personalised to the needs of each individual student, children are able to develop their problem solving skills, maths fluency and grow confidence in maths.

Subtraction word problems for Year 3

Subtraction word problems in Year 3 also need to comprise of a combination of mental calculation questions and those involving formal written subtraction up to 3-digits. Children should also be starting to estimate answers and check their calculations by using the inverse.

Multiplication word problems for Year 3

By the end of Year 3, pupils should be able to recall and use multiplication facts for the 3, 4 and 8 times table. They should also be starting to progress to using the formal written method for solving multiplication word problems involving 2 digits multiplied by a 1-digit number. 

Division word problems for Year 3

In Year 3, pupils will need to learn the division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables. At this stage, pupils are required to learn the formal method for division, division word problems will involve mainly mental calculations.

Fraction word problems in Year 3

In Year 3 pupils are exposed to a range of fraction word problems, including questions involving counting up and down in tenths; equivalent fractions and adding/subtracting fractions with the same denominator.

Time word problems in Year 3

In Year 3 time word problems may be incorporated into maths problem solving. Students are expected to know time vocabulary, be able to compare time in terms of seconds, minutes and hours and know how many seconds are in a minute and minutes are in an hour. 

Multi-step word problems in Year 3

When children first move into lower Key Stage 2, word problems are predominantly one-step. As they become more confident they can be exposed to more word problems, requiring a second step or multi-step word problems.

We hope that this collection of word problems for Year 3 becomes a useful resource in your Year 3 maths classroom. For more Year 3 maths resources, take a look at our library of Year 3 maths worksheets.

Third Space Learning also offers a wide array of maths and word problems resources for other year groups such as word problems for year 6, word problems for Year 5 and word problems for year 4. Our practice word problems cover all four operations and include more specific topics such as percentage word problems and ratio word problems.

What are problem-solving skills?

Problem-solving skills refer to an individual’s ability to identify a problem and find its solution. It includes understanding the core of the problem — not just the symptoms.

For instance, at a workplace employees perceive dealing with a customer’s complaint as synonymous with solving it. A different approach would be to understand why the complaint arose in the first place. So, eliminating the cause works the best.

Employers desire problem-solving skills as employees with this skill are self-reliant. Thus, owning this skill and knowing how to include it on your resume increases your chances of getting hired!

Read on to understand in-depth about problem-solving skills, their importance for job-seekers, and why recruiters value them.

• Importance of problem-solving skills
• Why should problem-solving skills be included in a resume?
• Problem-solving skills in a resume
• How to improve problem-solving skills?
• Problem-solving skills examples

What is the Importance of Problem-Solving Skills?

At your workplace, problem-solving skills allow you to fix issues that cost your employer time and money. Identifying the underlying issue, developing a solution, and implementing it saves your company’s expenditure.

Problem-solving can help you fix a range of issues from personal issues such as inefficiency to professional issues like ones that disrupt a project.

Going past income, problem-solving skills help you to work through problems as a team. It helps you work well with others. Most superiors prefer someone independent, and capable of dealing with their problems.

Why should Problem Solving Skills be Included in a Resume?

Employers want to hire someone who is fairly independent and can take care of everyday issues arising on the job. Including problem-solving skills in a resume conveys to the recruiter that you are an independent person. So, it increases your chances of getting hired.

How Should Problem Solving Skills be Included in a Resume?

There are different approaches to including problem-solving skills in your resume. For instance, when explaining your ability to problem solve, include examples where you have demonstrated this skill in prior experiences on your resume.

A problem-solving skills resume will:

Mention Them in the Experience Section

When writing about your past jobs in your resume, include specific examples of times when you used your problem-solving skills to improve business outcomes.

Don’t just write problem-solving randomly in the work experience section— prove it by giving concrete examples.

You could write about situations where you had to analyze data to come up with solutions quickly — For instance: identified inefficiencies in the business development model and implemented solutions that drove a 10% increase in sales.

If there are any awards or accolades related to this aspect of your work record, make sure they’re included as well.

Include Examples from your Educational Experiences

The educational background section could contain examples of experiences where you dealt with a problem or were in a conflicted situation.

For instance: Vice-captained the college basketball team and qualified for national competition despite losing team members.

List Skills that Represent Problem-solving Ability

In the skill section of your resume, mention problem-solving skills such as logical analysis, thoughtful planning, and efficient communication.

Pro Tip: Include instances where you demonstrated problem-solving ability in your cover letter and use bullet points on your resume to show how you solved a problem.

Demonstrate Problem Solving Skills in Summary

When writing the resume summary, mention an overview of how you demonstrated problem-solving skills at your workplace. If the company values such skills, this would fetch you brownie points.

For instance: Professional blogger with 4+ years of experience. Skilled in creative writing, blog writing, and SEO. Result-driven with excellent problem-solving skills.

Demonstrate Problem Solving Skills in Other Sections

Remind the HR manager that you are skilled at problem-solving. Make it a point to use instances where you came up with an idea and implemented it or simply failed at achieving a goal and how you dealt with it. It conveys that you provide solutions to issues or problems that you find concerning.

For instance: Started my YouTube channel in 2022 to showcase offbeat places of travel. Garnered 2000+ subscribers in less than 6 months.

There are plenty of ways to develop your problem-solving skills if you feel out of your comfort zone when solving a potential problem. Here are some tips to improve your problem-solving approach.

Clearly Define the Problem

Multiple issues arise on a job that could get overwhelming. Clearly define each problem and approach it singularly.

For instance, a company ABC has 6 pay bands on the basis of the experience and skill level of the professional. Level 1 and level 2 pay band professionals have yellow-colored ID cards whereas level 3 and above had red-colored ID cards.Some discrepancies arise in the operations and level 3 pay band professionals are also assigned red-colored ID cards.

The first step to finding a solution in such a scenario is to identify such issues that get in your way. Ask yourself questions such as:

• Do you have all the information to analyze the situation? If not, how do you gather relevant information?
• Can you determine the source of the problem?
• How many factors affect the problem?
• Is there a company policy that has the issue covered?
• Are the company rules being followed?
• Why did the problem arise in the first place?
• How those touched by the situation will act and respond?

Focus on the Outcome

It is easier to focus on the events that led to the problem but shifting your focus towards finding a solution gives a more positive outlook. Gather all the information required and find new and untested ways of solving the problem at hand.

For instance, you could feed the experience and skill level of the candidate in the database where the information of all employees is stored. This would help with choosing the color of the ID card. A copy o fit can be maintained in case this data is lost or can not be retrieved.

Agree On A Process

In a team, it is a must to agree on the ground rules before you start problem-solving. It helps to prevent conflicts and streamline the process.

For instance, who would feed the information into the database? How would it be cross-checked? When would you roll out new IDs?

Talk to your colleagues and superiors and brainstorm ways to solve the problem. Generate ideas by using polls and discussion groups. Identify an optimum process to solve the problem.

Be an Active listener

The best problem solvers are always great listeners. Problem-solving requires you to analyze different opinions and for that opinions have to be heard.

Choose from the best alternatives depending on the budget, associated time, and risk involved.

What are the Examples of Problem-Solving Skills?

The problem-solving process requires a variety of other skills to work in tandem. The problem-solving skill examples are many, but here are some examples of problem-solving skills in the workspace:

Analysis

It is the ability to identify the cause of a problem. When drafting work-related solutions or identifying issues in your workflow, analysis is done. Having the ability to identify cause-effect relationships can help you perform well.

Communication

The ability to convey ideas to your colleagues or superiors at the workplace. You would need to communicate in-person, over phone, email, etc. Effective communication while working in a team is very important. It helps in finding the issues while working in collaboration efficiently.

Planning

It is the process of dividing the action into doable steps to achieve a goal or a solution. It helps to manage issues and work in a goal-oriented way. It also helps with resource allocation- time, manpower, money,information, etc. Planning also helps to track progress easily and make changes whenever required.

Decision-making

It is the ability to assess one’s options and choose the optimal way. It helps to solve work-related problems quickly and thus saves time and money. Decision making is required every step of the way when solving a problem. So, having decision-making skills makes you a valuable asset.

Creativity

It helps you visualize problems differently and develop unique solutions. You view problems from an open mind and see the big picture. You easily find ways around obstacles. It expands our perceptions and the solutions you develop help you stand out.

Key Takeaways

Problem Solving Skills are soft skills acquired through education and learning. They are highly desired by the employers and must be included in your resume. Keep these points in mind while drafting your resume:

• Problem-solving skills are the ability to identify a problem and find its solution.
• Problem-solving skills allow you to fix issues that could cost your employer time and money.
• Analysis, communication, decision-making, planning, and creativity are examples of problem-solving skills.
• Mention them in the experience section of your resume by including some instances where you made an impact.
• Include examples from your educational experiences where you brought a change in some way by solving a problem.
• Directly list skills that represent problem-solving ability.
• Improve problem-solving skills by focusing on the outcome, clearly defining the problem, agreeing on a process in a team, and being an active listener.

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