Critical Thinking in the Interview Process
Although employers expect employees to follow directions, critical-thinking skills are important in many jobs, especially jobs that involve any kind of expertise or management skills. Some employers ask seemingly irrelevant questions during job interviews to assess the candidate's critical-thinking skills. If you are asked such a question, take a second to process the question and then talk the interviewer through your thought process as you answer.
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Importance
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Candidates should demonstrate the ability to think critically during an interview for two reasons. First, the candidate shows the interviewer that he is knowledgeable about the company and its contributions to society in general. Secondly, the interviewee demonstrates that he is intelligent and willing to think creatively rather than depending on his future employer to provide solutions to problems or give him orders or instructions. In higher-level positions such as management positions, critical-thinking skills are of special importance because the candidate must be able to lead a work team.
Warning
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If you are asked your opinion on a social issue or otherwise encouraged to demonstrate critical-thinking skills, focus on positive communication. Do not phrase your answer in a manner that suggests that other points of view are unintelligent or uneducated since your interviewer might hold one of those points of view. In addition, keep the focus on whether you will be a good match for the company; don't allow an interview to become a political debate or discussion of social issues rather than a discussion of your skills and abilities for a particular job.
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Types of Questions
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Some interviewers will ask you questions about social issues related to the job. For example, if you are interviewing for a teaching job, you may be asked your opinion on testing standards or the state's educational budget. Other interviewers may ask you to evaluate a hypothetical situation or explain how you would act in such a situation. In either case, answer honestly and concisely and stress that you hold this view because you want to do the best job possible.
Irrelevant Questions
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Occasionally, you may run across an interviewer that asks you a seemingly irrelevant question, such as a riddle or a brainteaser. The website Job Interview Questions states that these types of questions are popular among some business owners because answering them well demonstrates creativity and critical-thinking skills. Don't let irrelevant questions throw you; have fun with these questions and your answers to them. Don't tell the interviewer that you think the question is irrelevant, as doing so insults his intelligence.
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