During an interview, employers are likely to ask you questions that test your critical thinking skills. This way, they can assess whether you have the ability to effectively evaluate information and make smart decisions. When answering such questions, you want to provide responses that show you’re an innovative and thoughtful candidate. In this article, we share interview questions to assess critical thinking and sample answers you can use as inspiration.
Interview questions with sample answers
Use these sample answers as inspiration when preparing for interview questions that test your critical thinking skills:
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How would you present a new idea or technique to your team?
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What would you do if a colleague was finding it challenging to understand the data you were presenting?
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Explain your decision-making process.
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What is the most difficult work-related decision you’ve ever had to make?
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What would you do if you noticed your supervisor made a mistake?
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What would you do if you needed to make a decision without complete information?
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Are you open to new concepts and ideas?
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How does communication help with your critical thinking abilities?
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Share a time you had to use critical thinking to solve a problem.
How would you present a new idea or technique to your team?
Your job may require you to teach or present new concepts or skills to your team. Employers may ask this question to learn if you can effectively share information with others. To create an effective answer, think about what ways you learn the best, whether they be visual, audible, reading/writing, or kinesthetic. Find a way to incorporate some of these learning methods into your answer.
Example: “I find that the most effective way to learn a new idea or technique is through a visual presentation. That’s why when giving a presentation to my team, I would make sure to incorporate graphs, charts, photos, videos, and other visuals. Throughout my experience giving presentations, I’ve noticed that people tend to grasp information better when they have such visuals. It’s a way to capture their interest and get them focused on what I’m saying.”
What would you do if a colleague was finding it challenging to understand the data you were presenting?
One important part of critical thinking is to have the ability to come up with multiple solutions to a single problem. This question helps an employer assess if you have this ability. Answer this question by showing that you understand other’s learning styles. Make it evident that you can tailor your teaching style to a colleague’s needs.
Example: “I would make sure to be patient as my colleague is learning about my data. I understand that they are learning this for the first time and may need help further understanding what I am saying. That’s why the first thing I would do is ask my colleagues what they understand so far. This way, I know what information I need to explain to them in a new way. If simply explaining something is confusing to them, I would try a more visual or hands-on approach. Since everyone has a different learning style, it’s useful to have multiple ways to present information.”
Explain your decision-making process.
Critical thinking and decision-making are directly related. Employers ask this question to have a better understanding of how you make decisions. In your answer, explain how you make decisions step-by-step. Show that you make smart, thoughtful decisions based on data and information.
Example: “The first step in my decision-making process is to gather as much information about my decision as possible. I want to make sure I have multiple perspectives and anticipated outcomes about every important decision I make. After looking at all the information, I think about how my decision may impact my team and the company as a whole. Depending on the situation, I may get a second opinion to make sure I have considered all the important factors surrounding my choice.”
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What is the most difficult work-related decision you’ve ever had to make?
Certain jobs require you to make challenging decisions. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience making decisions that require a lot of critical thinking. In your answer, share a time that shows you have this skill set. Explain how you made your decision and what the outcome was.
Example: “When I was a creative director, I had the important task of deciding who would be our new graphic designer. This was a challenging decision because this person would work on our top clients’ campaigns. I made this decision by taking my time with the hiring process. I wanted to make sure I properly screened and interviewed each candidate. This process taught me that certain important decisions require a lot of work first. It paid off well since I ended up hiring a very talented designer.”
What would you do if you noticed your supervisor made a mistake?
There may be a time in your career when you need to correct a higher-level employee. Employers ask this question to see if you have the critical thinking skills to determine a professional way to correct your mistake. Through your answer, show that you are ethical enough to correct the mistake and professional enough to do so politely.
Example: “I would wait until I had an opportunity to discuss their mistake one-on-one. This way, I could kindly explain the mistake they made and what is actually correct. This type of scenario has happened in the past, and the person who made the mistake is always appreciative of discussing the matter privately. This gives them a chance to think of a way to correct their mistake.”
What would you do if you needed to make a decision without complete information?
During a fast-paced time in your career, you may need to make a decision quicker than you’d prefer. An employer may ask this question to decide if you can still make good decisions even if you don’t have enough information. In your answer, show that you can work under pressure and make good decisions despite the limitations.
Example: “Although I prefer to have complete information to make important decisions, I understand that sometimes this isn’t possible. That’s why I would use all the information that I do have and try to figure out the rest based on the context. For instance, if I was making a decision based on an incomplete study, I would try to find similar studies to help me with my decision-making process.”
Are you open to new concepts and ideas?
A big part of critical thinking is being open to new concepts and ideas. Employers ask this question to learn if you’re open-minded and willing to listen to others’ input. Answer this question by explaining how open-mindedness can lead to more creative ideas and innovations. Explain how you have benefited by being open-minded.
Example: “I do consider myself open-minded. I find that being open to new concepts and ideas is a way to come up with more innovative and creative solutions. For instance, at my last job, I often consulted the interns to gain a new perspective. I often found that they came up with some of the most unique ideas.”
How does communication help with your critical thinking abilities?
Communicating with others can help you think about a problem in new ways. This question helps employers determine if you have strong communication skills. Create a response that shows you are open to collaborating with others to problem-solve. Explain how open communication leads to effective teamwork.
Example: “I find that communicating a problem or decision with my coworkers helps me think through things better. Even saying something out loud tends to help me with critical thinking. Likewise, hearing other people’s perspectives can help me gain new insights and come up with better solutions.”
Share a time you had to use critical thinking to solve a problem.
Employers ask this question to determine if you’ve actually had to use critical thinking to find a solution. Think of a time you had to deeply think about a problem. Share what your process was with the interviewer.
Example: “One time my client pushed my team’s deadline up an entire week with only a day’s notice. They were our highest-paying client, so I told them we would find a way to make it work. I had to quickly come up with a solution to fit two week’s worth of work into one week. After meeting with my team, we all decided to divide up the work evenly and hire a contractor to do some of our easier tasks. Effective teamwork and communication made it possible to find a solution.”
I hope you find this article helpful.
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