logical thinking on resume

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The Most Important Logical Thinking Skills (With Examples)

• Logical Skills
• Promotional Skills
• Bookkeeping Skills
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• Sales Skills
• Science And Math Skills
• Physical Strength And Dexterity Skills
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Logical thinking skills like critical-thinking, research, and creative thinking are valuable assets in the workplace. These skills are sought after by many employers, who want employees that take into account facts and data before deciding on an important course of action. This is because such solutions will ensure the organization’s processes can continue to operate efficiently. So, if you’re a job seeker or employee looking to explore and brush up on your logical thinking skills, you’re in luck. This article will cover examples of logical thinking skills in the workplace, as well as what you can do to showcase those skills on your resume and in interviews. Key Takeaways: Logical thinking is problem solving based on reasoning that follows a strictly structured progression of analysis. Critical thinking, research, creativity, mathematics, reading, active listening, and organization are all important logical thinking skills in the workplace. Logical thinking provides objectivity for decision making that multiple people can accept. Deduction follows valid premises to reach a logical conclusion. It can be very helpful to demonstrate logical thinking skills at a job interview. In This Article    Skip to section What is logical thinking? 10 examples of logical thinking skills Examples of logical thinking in the workplace What is deductive reasoning? Logical thinking in a job interview Logical thinking skills FAQ Final thoughts References Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More What is logical thinking?

Logical thinking is the ability to reason out an issue after observing and analyzing it from all angles . You can then form a conclusion that makes the most sense. It also includes the ability to take note of reactions and feedback to aid in the formation of the conclusion.

Logical thinking skills enable you to present your justification for the actions you take, the strategies you use, and the decisions you make. You can easily stand in front of your clients, peers, and supervisors and defend your product, service, and course of action if the necessity arises.

Logical thinking is an excellent way of solving complex problems. You can break the problem into smaller parts; solve them individually in a sequence, then present the complete solution. However, it is not infallible.

So, when a problem in the workplace feels overwhelming, you may want to think about it logically first.

10 examples of logical thinking skills

Logical thinking skills are a skill set that enables you to reason logically when solving problems. They enable you to provide well-reasoned answers to any issues that arise. They also empower you to make decisions that most people will consider rational.

Critical-thinking skills. If you are a critical thinker, then you can analyze and evaluate a problem before making judgments. You need to improve your critical thinking process to become a logical thinker.

Your critical thinking skills will improve your ability to solve problems. You will be the go-to employee concerning crises. People can rely on you to be reasonable whenever an issue arises instead of letting biases rule you.

Research skills. If you are a good researcher , then you can search and locate data that can be useful when presenting information on your preferred subject.

The more relevant information you have about a particular subject, the more accurate your conclusions are likely to be. The sources you use must be reputable and relevant.

For this reason, your ability to ferret out information will affect how well you can reason logically.

Creative thinking skills. If you are a creative thinker , then you can find innovative solutions to problems.

You are the kind of person that can think outside the box when brainstorming ideas and potential solutions. Your thinking is not rigid. Instead, you tend to look at issues in ways other people have not thought of before.

While logical thinking is based on data and facts, that doesn’t mean it is rigid. You can creatively find ways of sourcing that data or experimenting so that you can form logical conclusions. Your strategic thinking skills will also help enable you to analyze reactions or collect feedback .

Mathematical skills. If you are skilled in mathematics , then you can work well with numbers and represent mathematical ideas using visual symbols. Your brain must be able to compute information.

Business is a numbers game. That means you must have some knowledge of mathematics. You must be able to perform basic mathematical tasks involving addition, subtractions, divisions, multiplications, etc.

So, to become a logical thinker, you must be comfortable working with numbers. You will encounter them in many business-related complex problems. And your ability to understand them will determine whether you can reach an accurate logical conclusion that helps your organization.

Reading skills. If you are a good reader , then you can make sense of the letters and symbols that you see. Your ability to read will determine your competency concerning your logical thinking and reasoning skills.

And that skill set will come in handy when you are presented with different sets of work-related statements from which you are meant to conclude. Such statements may be part of your company policy, technical manual, etc.

Active listening skills. Active listening is an important communication skill to have. If you are an active listener, then you can hear, understand what is being said, remember it, and respond to it if necessary.

Not all instructions are written. You may need to listen to someone to get the information you need to solve problems before you write it down. In that case, your active listening skills will determine how well you can remember the information so that you can use it to reason things out logically.

Information ordering skills. If you have information ordering skills, then you can arrange things based on a specified order following the set rules or conditions. These things may include mathematical operations, words, pictures, etc.

Different organizations have different business processes. The workflow in one organization will be not similar to that of another organization even if both belong to the same industry.

Your ability to order information will depend on an organization’s culture . And it will have a major impact on how you can think and reason concerning solutions to your company problems.

If you follow the wrong order, then no matter how good your problem-solving techniques are your conclusions may be wrong for your organization.

Persuasion skills. Logical thinking can be useful when persuading others, especially in the workplace.

For example, lets say one of your co-workers wants to take a project in an impulsive direction, which will increase the budget. However, after you do your research, you realize a budget increase would be impossible.

You can then use your logical thinking skills to explain the situation to your co-worker , including details facts and numbers, which will help dissuade them from making an uninformed decision.

Decision making skills. Decision making skills go hand and hand with logical thinking, as being able to think logically about solutions and research topics will make it far easier to make informed decisions.

After all, no one likes making a decision that feels like a shot in the dark, so knowing crucial information about the options aviable to you, and thinking about them logically, can improve your confidence around decision making.

Confidence skills. Confidence that stems from an emotional and irrational place will always be fragile, but when you have more knowledge available to you through logical thinking, you can be more confident in your confidence skills.

For instance, if an employee asked you to answer an important question, you will have a lot more confidence in your answer if you can think logically about it, as opposed to having an air of uncertainty.

Examples of logical thinking in the workplace

To improve your logic skills, it would be wise to practice how to solve problems based on facts and data. Below are examples of logical thinking in the workplace that will help you understand this kind of reasoning so that you can improve your thinking:

The human resource department in your organization has determined that leadership skills are important for anyone looking to go into a senior management position. So, it decides that it needs proof of leadership before hiring anyone internally. To find the right person for the senior management position , every candidate must undertake a project that involves a team of five. Whoever leads the winning team will get the senior managerial position.

This example shows a logical conclusion that is reached by your organization’s human resource department. In this case, your HR department has utilized logical thinking to determine the best internal candidate for the senior manager position.

It could be summarized as follows:

Statement 1: People with excellent leadership skills that produce winning teams make great senior managers. Statement 2: Candidate A is an excellent leader that has produced a winning team. Conclusion: Candidate A will make an excellent senior manager .

A marketing company researches working women on behalf of one of their clients – a robotics company. They find out that these women feel overwhelmed with responsibilities at home and in the workplace. As a result, they do not have enough time to clean, take care of their children, and stay productive in the workplace. A robotics company uses this research to create a robot cleaner that can be operated remotely . Then they advertise this cleaner specifically to working women with the tag line, “Working women can do it all with a little bit of help.” As a result of this marketing campaign, their revenues double within a year.

This example shows a logical conclusion reached by a robotics company after receiving the results of marketing research on working women. In this case, logical thinking has enabled the company to come up with a new marketing strategy for their cleaning product.

Statement 1: Working women struggle to keep their homes clean. Statement 2: Robot cleaners can take over cleaning duties for women who struggle to keep their homes clean. Conclusion: Robot cleaner can help working women keep their homes clean.

CalcX. Inc. has created a customer survey concerning its new finance software. The goal of the survey is to determine what customers like best about the software. After reading through over 100 customer reviews and ratings, it emerges that 60% of customers love the new user interface because it’s easy to navigate. CalcX. Inc. then decides to improve its marketing strategy. It decides to train every salesperson to talk about the easy navigation feature and how superior it is to the competition. So, every time a client objects to the price, the sales rep could admit that it is expensive, but the excellent user interface makes up for the price. At the end of the year, it emerges that this strategy has improved sales revenues by 10%.

The above example shows how logical thinking has helped CalcX. Sell more software and improve its bottom line.

Statement 1: If the majority of customers like a particular software feature, then sales reps should use it to overcome objections and increase revenues. Statement 2: 60% of the surveyed customers like the user interface of the new software, and; they think it makes navigation easier. Conclusion: The sales reps should market the new software’s user interface and the fact that it is easy to navigate to improve the company’s bottom line.

A political candidate hires a focus group to discuss hot-button issues they feel strongly about. It emerges that the group is torn on sexual reproductive health issues, but most support the issue of internal security . However, nearly everyone is opposed to the lower wages being paid due to the current economic crisis. Based on the results of this research, the candidate decides to focus on improving the economy and security mechanisms in the country. He also decides to let go of the sexual productive health issues because it would potentially cause him to lose some support.

In this case, the political candidate has made logical conclusions on what topics he should use to campaign for his seat with minimal controversies so that he doesn’t lose many votes.

This situation could be summarized as follows:

Statement 1: Most people find sexual reproductive health issues controversial and cannot agree. Statement 2: Most people feel that the internal security of the country is in jeopardy and something should be done about it. Statement 3: Most people want higher wages and an improved economy. Statement 4: Political candidates who want to win must avoid controversy and speak up on things that matter to people. Conclusion: To win, political candidates must focus on higher wages, an improved economy, and the internal security of the country while avoiding sexual reproductive health matters.

What is deductive reasoning?

Deductive reasoning is an aspect of logical reasoning. It is a top-down reasoning approach that enables you to form a specific logical conclusion based on generalities. Therefore, you can use one or more statements, usually referred to as premises, to conclude something.

For example:

Statement 1: All mothers are women Statement 2: Daisy is a mother. Conclusion: Daisy is a woman.

Based on the above examples, all mothers are classified as women, and since Daisy is a mother, then it’s logical to deduce that she is a woman too.

It’s worth noting though, that deductive reasoning does not always produce an accurate conclusion based on reality.

Statement 1: All caregivers in this room are nurses. Statement 2: This dog, Tom, is a caregiver . Conclusion: This dog, Tom, is a nurse .

From the above example, we have deduced that Tom, the dog, is a nurse simply because the first statement stated that all caregivers are nurses. And yet, in reality, we know that dogs cannot be nurses. They do not have the mental capacity to become engaged in the profession.

For this reason, you must bear in mind that an argument can be validly based on the conditions but it can also be unsound if some statements are based on a fallacy.

Logical thinking in a job interview

Since logical thinking is so important in the workplace, most job interviewers will want to see you demonstrate this skill at the job interview. It is very important to keep in mind your logical thinking skills when you talk about yourself at the interview.

There are many ways in which an interviewer may ask you to demonstrate your logical thinking skills. For example:

You may have to solve an example problem. If the interviewer provides you a problem similar to one you might find at your job, make sure to critically analyze the problem to deduce a solution.

You may be asked about a previous problem or conflict you had to solve. This classic question provides you the opportunity to show your skills in action, so make sure to highlight the objectivity and logic of your problem solving.

Show your logic when talking about yourself. When given the opportunity to talk about yourself, highlight how logic comes into play in your decision making. This could be in how you picked the job position, why you choose your career or education, or what it is about yourself that makes you a great candidate.

Logical thinking skills FAQ

Why is it important to think logically?

It’s important to think logically because it allows you to analyze a situation and come up with a logical solution. It allows for you to reason through the important decisions and solve problems with a better understanding of what needs to be done. This is necessary for developing a strong career.

Why is logic important?

Logic is important because it helps develop critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills are important because they help you analyze and evaluate a problem before you make a decision. It also helps you improve your problem-solving skills to allow you to make better decisions.

How do you improve your logical thinking skills?

When improving your logical thinking skills make sure you spend time on a creative hobby and practice questioning. Creative hobbies can help reduce stress levels, and lower stress leads to having an easier time focusing on tasks and making logical thinking. Creative hobbies can include things like drawing, painting, and writing.

Another way to improve your logical thinking is to start asking questions about things. Asking questions allows for you to discover new things and learn about new topics you may not have thought about before.

What are logical thinking skills you need to succeed at work?

There are many logical thinking skills you need to succeed in the workplace. Our top four picks include:

Observation

Active Listening

Problem-solving

Final thoughts

Logical thinking skills are valuable skills to have. You need to develop them so that you can become an asset to any organization that hires you. Be sure to include them in your resume and cover letter .

And if you make it to the interview, also ensure that you highlight these skills. You can do all this by highlighting the career accomplishments that required you to use logical thinking in the workplace.

It’s Your Yale – Consider Critical Thinking Skills to Articulate Your Work Quality

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Roger Raber has been a content writer at Zippia for over a year and has authored several hundred articles. Having retired after 28 years of teaching writing and research at both the high school and college levels, Roger enjoys providing career details that help inform people who are curious about a new job or career. Roger holds a BA in English from Cleveland State University and a MA from Marygrove college.

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Critical Thinking Skills for Resume: Definition, Importance Examples

It’s no secret that employers want adaptable people, who can solve problems, and contribute to the organization’s success. The difference between an employee who can do these things and one who can’t comes down to one simple thing: they have strong critical thinking skills.

So of course you’d want to tout these on your resume and all over your job application materials too. There’s one problem, though. Critical skills aren’t always easy to put on paper. But there are a few ‘workarounds’ this post will show you! 

What Are Critical Thinking Skills?

Critical thinking skills stand for your ability to rationally process information, find connections between ideas, reflect, and draw conclusions. You use critical thinking skills in the workplace to solve problems, collaborate with others, resolve conflicts, and complete many other everyday tasks.

To give you a better idea, here are several critical thinking skills examples : 

• Analysis of information for relevancy and accuracy. Strong fact-checking abilities. 
• Critical self-reflection and introspection to eliminate bias or flawed assumptions. 
• Using available data to formulate effective, empathetic, and rational solutions to problems.
• Integrating different information sources and perspectives to form a coherent understanding of an issue. 
• Recognition of fallacies: Ability to spot and eliminate flaws in arguments, assessments, and suggested solutions. 
• Brainstorming multiple approaches to a problem and evaluating their potential effectiveness.

Generally, critical thinking falls into the broader category of conceptual skills — your cognitive abilities to transform abstract problems into concrete solutions. Critical thinking skills also form the base of your analytical skills — a broader range of abilities to perceive, process, and assimilate information. 

Why Are Critical Thinking Skills In Demand By Employers

Employers find ‘soft skills’ like critical thinking in short supply: 78% of employers rank 

critical thinking/analytic reasoning is the most important workplace competency, but only 34% of college graduates they interview are well-prepared in this department. 

At the same time, 93% of employers state that they value strong critical thinking skills over the candidate’s undergraduate degree. Why so? 

Put simply, critical thinking indicates your ability to make good decisions — a competency required for almost every role. 

Critical thinkers can effectively assess the available information and synthesize the best plan of action, based on analyzed data and personal experience.  On the other hand, people with poor critical-thinking skills may be more prone to drawing fast conclusions on incomplete or unreliable data, and rely on ‘hunches’ or personal biases.

The knowledge economy, we now operate in, also puts a premium on human capital. Simple menial work can be done by algorithms and smart manufacturing equipment. However, we still need humans to supervise, develop, and oversee the execution. Another study also argues that people with strong critical thinking skills are less likely to get displaced from their jobs by emerging technologies. 

The bottom line: Critical thinking is 81% of employers already highly valued today and one that prepares you well for the future of work. 

List Of Critical Thinking Skills For Your Resume

Let’s be real: you won’t convince hiring managers by simply stating, ‘I have strong critical thinking skills’ in your cover letter . It’s a fact you need to demonstrate via your duties and accomplishments. The best way to do so is to share specific critical thinking skills examples on your resume. 

Analysis stands for your ability to effectively deal with incoming information and translate it into insights. To analyze things properly, you must know how to source information, verify that it is valid, determine which data is relevant, and take an objective approach to draw conclusions based on that information.

How to demonstrate this critical thinking skill on a resume: 

From a project coordinator resume example : 

Employed a Checklist-Oriented Requirement Analysis (CORA) framework to analyze project requirements, map dependencies, identify possible constraints, and develop contingency plans.

Observation

Observation involves having a heightened awareness of your surroundings, understanding what you observe, and knowing the appropriate action to take. For example, they may notice a downward trend in productivity, and take action to address potential staffing issues.

How to add this critical thinking skill to a resume: 

From a teacher’s resume example : 

Observed students’ performance on standardized English language tests versus creating assignments to better understand the impact of each on information retention and improve my teaching strategies.

Inference indicates your ability to draw conclusions based on a limited set of data. For example, the manager of a community pool may infer that an unseasonably hot day will mean that more people will order cold drinks from the concession stand. Combined with business acumen , interference often helps bring more creative ideas and accelerate innovation. 

How to demonstrate such critical thinking skills on a resume

From a digital marketing manager resume example : 

Increase the ROAS from digital out-of-home ad campaigns by 25%, by a new customer cohort of ‘eco-conscious consumers” and adjusting the messaging for them in key locations.

Problem-Solving

The ability to strategize and evaluate a solution after it has been implemented is the essence of problem-solving skills. Problem-solving requires that you can look at a problem objectively, and think through potential solutions in a methodical manner. 

Although employers are the most likely to assess this skill with problem-solving interview questions , it’s still worth including a short mention on your resume too, especially for roles that require quick thinking. 

How to demonstrate problem-solving skills on a resume: 

From an administrative assistant resume example :

Helped organize a 1,000 sales rep conference on a 3-week deadline, despite facing venue cancelations and two last-moment speaker cancellations. 

Communication

The ability to effectively collaborate with others, discuss problems, give and receive feedback are critical skills for every hire. Show the employer that you can hold productive exchanges with people who don’t always agree with you, be persuasive, and critically process all the information others are sharing with you. 

How to demonstrate strong communication skills on a resume: 

From a program manager resume example : 

Successfully led change management efforts, helping transition over 500 employees to a new EHR system. Addressed initial cultural resistance among staff via a series of workshops, personalized demo sessions, and group training, as well as ‘employee advocate’ initiatives.

Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinkers can draw data from the past and present to anticipate future implications of their actions and engineer effective plans to achieve targeted goals. This critical-thinking skill is especially important for anyone in managerial or executive roles as you’d be primarily expected to formulate and oversee different corporate objectives. 

How to demonstrate strategic thinking on a resume

From a Chief Financial Officer resume example :

Spreadheded the effort to re-engineer the procurement function. Developed and executed a strategy, aimed at improving supplier assessments, onboarding, and payments, as well as the general purchase order cycle. Reduced the average purchase time for new materials by 25% and achieved bottom-line improvements of $250k annually.

Critical Evaluation

Critical evaluation indicates your ability to assess the accuracy, validity, and relevancy of information available to you. Much of the information today is accessed online and often comes from questionable sources. 

It takes a combination of digital literacy and critical thinking skills for workers to discern which information is reliable, and what can be dismissed as pseudo-science, fake news, marketing talk, propaganda, or highly speculative thinking. 

How to demonstrate this critical thinking skill on a resume

From a personal banker resume example:

Educate customers on the risks associated with investments in so-called “hyped” stocks, as well as penny-stock trading. Suggest more sustainable, value-oriented investment strategies, based on their financial goals.

Continuous Learning 

Continuous learning indicates your commitment to self-improvement. Although it’s a less direct demonstration of strong critical-thinking skills, it is still a valid indicator of your ability to effectively navigate the available information, identify emerging themes on the market, and translate these into new professional knowledge. 

From a personal trainer resume example : 

Completed Precision Nutrition Certification Level 1 certification in 2023 to help clients develop appropriate dietary regiments to ensure faster muscle gain naturally.

How To Improve Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is a “muscle” you can train by being more deliberate about how you process information, build logical arguments, and catch some biases in your thinking. If you need some training, start building the following habits: 

• Practice information analysis: When trying to solve a problem, focus on getting all the necessary data first. Then, evaluate which ‘intel’ is accurate, important, and fit for purpose. Toss other findings and work with what’s left. 
• Learn to give recommendations: Recommendations are synthesized findings — a feasible, data- or experience-based solution. Learn to formulate all your recommendations based on the above. 
• Challenge your biases : Everyone is prone to preconceived notions and assumptions. Unfortunately, these get in the way of critical thinking. Learn to recognize your own biases, and make a dedicated effort to put those aside when you innovate and solve problems.
• Cultivate media literacy skills. When reading your favorite publishers, pay attention to how they make different claims. Are they guilty of exaggerating the problem by citing super-bold, but underrepresenative claims? What do other sources about the same topic? What types of sources do they cite? Are these credible and reliable? Learning to analyze how information is presented helps you develop sharper critical thinking skills. 

Critical thinking skills are key for effective decision-making, smooth collaboration, and personal efficiency — a triumvirate of in-demand skills among employers. Today, these skills are crucial for working with data, solving emerging market problems, and discerning truth from a growing volume of unproven information, circulating online. Tomorrow, critical thinking will become even more important as the future workforce will be primarily focused on knowledge work.

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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Expert Tips for Highlighting Analytical Skills on Your Resume: 2024 Edition

In a data-driven world, your resume needs to keep up. Our 2024, recruiter-approved guide on embedding analytical skills in your resume includes which skills to list, synonyms to use, and 15+ examples.

3 years ago   •   12 min read

Analytical skills are an integral part of any job, be it a data analyst role or a senior management position. But what exactly are employers looking for when they ask to see analytical skills on your resume?

Analytical skills refer to your ability to break down problems and come up with appropriate solutions. These skills are useful in any field, but especially in roles involving science, data, engineering, or other tech-heavy processes. Typically, to show analytical skills, you need to describe a situation or a problem at a previous job, detail how you came up with a solution, and quantify the benefits of your solution. In other words, how did your solution benefit the company or project as a whole?

In this article, we’ll explain what the best analytical skills are to showcase on your resume, how to tailor your skills to each application, how to highlight specific analytical toolsets depending on your industry, and how to show analytical skills in each section of your resume.

Let's start with a quick "how to" before diving into exactly what analytical skills employers are looking for.

A step by step guide to demonstrating analytical skills on your resume

If you're applying for a job that requires strong analytical skills, you should:

• Think of a time when you had to analyze something and include examples in your work experience accomplishments. Be as specific as possible and include the results of your actions.
• Include a section for projects and other activities where you’ve used analytical skills.
• List any relevant degrees or other qualifications in your education section.
• Mention technical skills related to analysis in your skills section.
• Highlight analytical skills in your resume summary and cover letter.
• Use synonyms to avoid repeating “analyzed,” “analysis,” and “analytical skills.”

We'll go into each of those in a little more detail below, but first — what are employers actually looking for when they ask for analytical skills?

Analytical skills to list on your resume

If a job posting mentions analytical skills, that means the company is looking for applicants with abilities in:

• Problem solving
• Observation
• Data analysis
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Machine learning
• AI-driven data interpretation
• Deductive reasoning
• Forecasting
• Brainstorming
• Troubleshooting
• Predictive modeling
• Qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Organization
• Communication
• Feedback and reporting

How analytical skills are changing in 2024

With the rise of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial intelligence (AI), traditional analytical roles are evolving to include these new and emerging skill sets. As AI and ML reshape conventional analysis methods and data-driven decision-making, modern recruiters expect to see experience with these types of tools for a variety of roles moving forward.

Studying modern AI and ML tools can help you update your resume and remain competitive, especially in technical roles. Consider investing in online learning, qualifications, and certificates to add these skills to your resume, as this will help your resume stand out in 2024, particularly for modern data-driven roles.

Should you still list analytical skills for non-technical roles?

It's important to mention analytical skills on your resume, even when applying for non-technical roles. In today’s diverse job market, roles in areas like marketing, human resources, and administration still benefit significantly from analytical thinking, even if it’s not directly a data-driven role.

Demonstrating your ability to analyze consumer trends, assess employee data, or manage complex scheduling shows versatility and critical thinking, and highlights your capacity to approach problems creatively, all of which are excellent transferable skills to highlight for any industry.

How to show analytical skills on your resume

Now that you understand what employers are looking for, how do you prove that you have what it takes?You can demonstrate analytical skills on your resume by giving examples of where you:

• Analyzed data to come up with solutions or improve processes
• Worked with numbers (i.e. show your numerical and quantitative abilities)
• Managed budgets or involved in organizational planning
• Designed processes, background research, etc.

In addition to the traditional work settings, it's important to showcase how you've used analytical skills in remote or hybrid work environments, as employers increasingly value candidates who can adapt their problem-solving skills to virtual settings. Highlight examples where you have successfully managed or participated in remote projects, used digital communication tools, or independently solved problems while working remotely.

Synonyms for analytical skills

Where do you begin when demonstrating analytical skills on a resume? With action verbs . These are the heart and soul of your bullet point accomplishments and the clearest way to tell recruiters what you actually did.

Starting with "analyzed" sounds like a no-brainer, and it should definitely be in there once or twice. More than that, however, and it’s likely to make a hiring manager's eyes start to glaze over. Try shaking it up with synonyms like:

• Interpreted
• Investigated
• Extrapolated

Where to put analytical skills on your resume

The best way to demonstrate any kind of soft skill is to scatter it throughout your resume — that way, instead of just saying, "I have great analytical skills" and leaving it at that, you're painting a picture of exactly what you bring to the table.

This means you should include analytical skills in your:

• Work experience bullet points
• Projects or additional section
• Education section
• Skills section
• Resume summary
• Cover letter

Here are some examples of what that should look like.

In your work experience section

The best place to include analytical skills on your resume is in your work experience section . Why? Because a) it’s the part of your resume recruiters pay the most attention to, and b) it shows how you’ve actually used those skills in a professional setting.

Include bullet point examples of times you’ve analyzed data, including what impact your accomplishment had on the company’s bottom line, as shown in the example below.

In a projects or additional section

Your resume doesn’t have to be limited to paid work experience. If you’ve completed significant personal or university projects, activities, competitions, or certifications , feel free to list these in a section titled “Projects,” “Other,” or “Additional Information.”For example:

In your education section

If you have a degree, major, or other qualification that could help demonstrate analytical skills, make sure you list it in your education section . This could include majors in computer science , engineering, mathematics, or statistics.

If you’ve taken courses or projects in AI, machine learning, or advanced data analytics, highlight these to demonstrate your understanding of current industry trends.  If you’re a recent graduate, you could also include minors or relevant coursework .

For example:

In your skills section

Technical skills like data visualization or engineering software , proficiency with standard techniques, programming languages, and other tools and frameworks can all go in the skills section of your resume, as shown in the example below.

Alongside traditional analysis tools, mention your proficiency with modern AI and machine learning software, visualization tools like TensorFlow or PyTorch, and any other modern data analysis frameworks you're familiar with to show that you’re up-to-date with current and emerging tools.

If you’re not sure of which technical skills to include on your resume, use the tool below to search for the job you’re applying for and it’ll give you a list of relevant skills. You can also upload your resume to the tool — it’ll perform a quick scan and tell you which skills are missing from your resume.

In your resume summary

When applying for roles involving data analysis, put your analytical skills front and center in your resume summary . Your summary should be 3-6 lines, including your key skills and experience related to data analysis. For an even better chance of getting past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) , include a resume title that matches the title of the job you’re applying for. For example:

In your cover letter

If you want to talk about your skills in a little more depth, your cover letter is the ideal place. Reinforce that you’re a good fit for an analysis-heavy role by expanding on how you’ve used your analytical skills, including the context, end result, and how you plan to use those skills in the position you’re applying for.

Here's an example:

During my internship with Airbus working with fluid mechanic technology I evaluated wind tunnel and flight test data in order to reduce external airframe noise emissions. The analysis that I conducted involved examining data under varying flight conditions and extracting useful information. At the conclusion of my internship, I was able to provide my group with recommendations for improving the model scale testing in the wind tunnel to make better predictions for the flight test outcomes. My work was part of the group’s task to provide continual improvements to the company’s commercial aircraft. I would be excited to use my analytical skills to improve hardware systems, especially early in their life-cycle at Raytheon, when recommendations can have a high impact and positive result for the end user.

Sample resume with analytical skills

Really need to emphasize analytical skills on your resume? Here's an example of what you should be aiming for:

You can download this resume template in Google Docs or as a Microsoft Word document.

Notice that not once does this example use the words “strong analytical skills.” Instead, it demonstrates these skills through previous experience, technical skills, appropriate qualifications, and the use of resume power words.

Get a free resume analysis

The best way to figure out if your resume conveys enough analytical skills is to upload it to the tool below — you'll get a confidential resume review, with a detailed analysis of your analytical skills.

Analytical skills bullet point examples

You don’t have to start from scratch when coming up with examples of resume accomplishments that demonstrate analytical skills. Here are some examples to help you get started:

Don't just say that you analyzed something — mention exactly what you did and what the results were.

Led the first major effort to A/B test the company's core sales landing page and optimize it for customer acquisition; resulted in a 18% increase in new customers.

You can always list hard skills in your Skills section, but it's even better if you can weave them into your bullet points as well.

Built Looker dashboard using data from MySQL and MongoDB to visualize core business KPIs (e.g. Monthly Recurring Revenue), saving 18 hours per week of manual reporting work.

What employers care about most is the bottom line, so if you made a measurable impact on your company, start with that.

Reduced signup drop-offs from 35% to 18% and increased user engagement by 20%, through a combination of hypothesis testing, segmentation analysis and machine learning algorithms.

Problem solving and critical thinking are essential components of analytical skills. Hiring managers aren't just looking for someone who can solve the problems presented to them — they want people who can seek out answers on their own.

Implemented crash reporter and used findings to fix three biggest causes of crashes; fixes reduced customer support calls by 30%.

Communication and analysis may seem like very different skills, but they often go hand in hand. The best employees are the ones with a healthy mix of hard and soft skills — things like teamwork, leadership, and communication.

Co-led task force to realize $1.62m annual savings; analyzed large sets of data to improve fixed and variable cost inputs and recommended additional invoice validation measures.

How to tailor your analytical skills to match the job description

Matching the skills you highlight on your resume with each specific job description is an essential part of showing a recruiter why you’re the right candidate for the job, and how your previous experience is relevant to their position.

Here's how to tailor your analytical skills to each job you apply for:

• Analyze the job description : Carefully read the job posting and identify any analytical skills specifically highlighted in the text. Employers often list specific tools, methodologies, or problem-solving approaches they prefer, so take note of these.
• Use relevant keywords : Look for keywords in the job description and use a keyword finder to generate a list of relevant words to include on your resume. Including these keywords not only shows that you have the specific skills a recruiter is looking for but also helps your resume get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
• Customize your experience : In your work experience section, emphasize aspects of your previous roles that align with these keywords and requirements. For example, if the job requires data visualization, highlight your experience with tools like Tableau or Power BI, and demonstrate your practical experience in contexts similar to what the job will entail.
• Highlight transferable skills : If you are switching industries or applying for a role that involves a different kind of analysis than you've done in the past, focus on transferable analytical skills like data interpretation, statistical analysis, or logical reasoning.
• Quantify your achievements : Whether discussing projects, specific tools, or transferable skills, use metrics to quantify your experience. For example, instead of simply saying that you “worked to improve the efficiency of your project’s marketing campaign” , write that you "Used statistical analysis to improve marketing campaign efficiency, resulting in a 20% increase in customer engagement."

How to highlight specific analytical tools on your resume

When applying for roles that require proficiency in specific analytical tools, it's crucial to highlight and mention the particular tools you have experience with. These tools are likely the exact tools you will be using in your new position, so it’s important to be specific about your experience with each one, even if you’re just a beginner.

• Split up your skills list: Dedicate a portion of your skills section to list the analytical tools you are proficient with, like Excel, SQL, Python, R, Tableau, SAS, or SPSS.
• Highlight your proficiency: Be specific about your level of expertise, such as beginner, advanced, or expert, and the projects you’ve used them in. Even if you are only a novice in a skill, it is worth including if it’s relevant to your application.
• Mention specific tools in your work experience bullet points: Directly mention tools in your work experience section, to demonstrate not just the particular tool but also how you have used it in a work context. For example, “Utilized Python and Pandas library for data manipulation and analysis in a market research project.”
• Describe specific projects and the scope of your skills : If you’ve worked on academic or personal projects that involved data analysis, describe the tools and software you used, the scope of your involvement, and the positive results. This showcases your practical application of these tools in real-world scenarios, even if you lack paid experience with these skills.

How to showcase analytical skills at different career stages

Whether you're just starting out, are mid-career, or are looking for senior positions, here are tailored tips to highlight your analytical skills effectively.

Entry-level candidates

For entry-level candidates, focus on educational and project experience, especially if you lack extensive paid work experience. You can highlight analytical skills you learned through university projects, internships, and relevant coursework and showcase your eagerness to learn and adapt by including relevant certificates or workshops.

Conducted comprehensive data analysis using Python during a university project, resulting in actionable insights to improve campus recycling programs.

Mid-level candidates

If you have a range of paid experience, provide examples of how you've applied specific analytical skills in your previous roles. Show your skill development by discussing how you've expanded your skill set over time, such as learning new data analysis tools or methodologies relevant to your field.

Leveraged data analytics to optimize supply chain processes, resulting in a 15% reduction in costs over two years.

Senior professionals

If you’re applying for a senior position, you want to demonstrate your leadership in analytical roles. Focus on how your analytical skills have contributed to strategic decision-making and leadership, and highlight the impact of your analytical skills on company goals, such as improving efficiency, increasing revenue, or driving innovation.

Guided a team in the implementation of advanced data modeling techniques, enhancing predictive capabilities by 25%.

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6 Critical Thinking Skills to Supercharge Your Resume

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When employers are asked which resume skills are the most important, the majority answer “critical thinking skills”.

This is according to the Job Outlook 2022 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. 

But what exactly are critical thinking skills? And how can you highlight them on your resume? Let’s find out…

Table of Contents

• What are critical thinking skills and why are they important? 

6 essential critical thinking skills

6 ways to add critical thinking skills to your resume.

• How can you develop your critical thinking skills? 

What are critical thinking skills and why are they important?

Humans employ critical thinking skills without even realizing it. From the time we get up to the time we go to sleep, our minds are always working to analyze and make sense of the world around us. 

Critical thinking skills allow us to see beyond the surface level of many issues and problems, and to think deeply and creatively about potential solutions.

Critical thinking skills are key for many modern job roles. If you’re thinking about data engineer skills , critical thinking is needed to design and manage complex data systems. In terms of data scientist skills , critical thinking plays a big part in interpreting data to gain useful insights. When it comes to project manager skills , the ability to think critically helps to manage tasks and solve project issues effectively. Finally, when considering business analyst skills , critical thinking is essential to understand business needs and suggest improvements.

Here are six critical thinking skills that can strengthen your resume. Try to use them whenever you can.

1. Questioning

To think critically, you need to be able to question the information you’re given. This means looking at all sides of an issue and not taking anything at face value.

Questioning at work might involve asking your boss for more information about a new project that’s been assigned to you. Or for clarification on an email that was sent out to the team. 

Questioning information is a key part of being a successful employee. It shows that you’re engaged and interested in what’s going on around you. 

How to add “questioning” to your resume:

• Consistently posed relevant questions during meetings and discussions, contributing to a deeper analysis of topics.
• Questioned and critically evaluated the information presented in team communications, resulting in improved comprehension and minimized misunderstandings.

2. Creativity

Critical thinking isn’t just about logic and reasoning – it also requires creativity. 

Sometimes the most unexpected solution can be the most effective. This kind of problem solving requires creative, outside the box type of thinking.

An example of using creativity at work is to brainstorm with colleagues in an attempt to come up with new ideas or solutions to a problem. Or you can use creativity to look at a problem from a different perspective or angle.

For example, if you’re struggling to come up with new ideas, try talking to people outside your field for inspiration.

How to add “creativity” to your resume:

• Applied creative problem-solving techniques to develop innovative solutions, contributing to a 30% increase in efficiency and cost savings within the department.
• Spearheaded a creative brainstorming initiative, fostering a collaborative environment where diverse ideas were encouraged.

3. Analysis

When you’re presented with an argument, it’s important to be able to analyze it rationally to determine its strengths and weaknesses. 

For example, a vendor might try to persuade you to buy a product or service to help your business grow. In order to make a decision, you need to analyze the vendor’s argument.

What are the potential rewards of buying? What are the risks? Does the vendor’s argument make sense? Is there anything they’re leaving out?

By analyzing the vendor’s argument in this way, you can make informed decisions that align with the growth and success of your business.

How to add “analysis” to your resume:

• Applied critical analysis to competitor data, providing valuable insights that guided product development decisions.
• Analyzed complex financial reports, enabling accurate forecasting and budgeting.

4. Decision-Making

Critical thinking skills allow you to sift through information and make well-informed decisions. 

For example, if your job is a customer service representative, you need to make decisions when people call to complain about a product. Should you refund the customer’s money, send them a replacement product, or offer some other type of compensation?

After considering all the options, you would then make the decision that you believe is in the best interest of the customer and the company.

How to add “decision-making” to your resume:

• Demonstrated strong decision-making skills by assessing risks and evaluating alternatives, resulting in a 20% increase in project completion rates.
• Led cross-functional teams in critical decision-making processes by gathering relevant information, analyzing potential outcomes, and implementing solutions.

5. Communication

Critical thinkers know how to express themselves clearly and persuasively. They can communicate their ideas in a way that is logical and easy for others to understand.

In the work environment, good communication helps prevent misunderstandings and conflict at work. It also gets everyone on the same page, which creates a more efficient workflow. 

Overall, good communication skills result in a more positive, professional, and productive work environment. 

How to add “communication” to your resume:

• Delivered compelling presentations to diverse stakeholders, conveying complex ideas in a concise and accessible manner.
• Orchestrated communication strategies across multiple departments, facilitating collaboration and ensuring clear dissemination of information.

6. Leadership

If you want to be a successful leader , developing your critical thinking skills is essential.

Leadership requires the ability to ask questions, make sound decisions, solve problems, and communicate clearly. Good leaders also continually challenge their own assumptions.

Many businesses do not reach their potential because the leaders lack the ability to do these kinds of things effectively. Are you beginning to see why employers place such a high value on critical thinking skills?

How to add “leadership” to your resume:

• Led a high-performing team of 15 members, employing strategic decision-making and effective delegation to drive project success.
• Fostered a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, inspiring team members to think critically, take calculated risks, and implement creative solutions.

Employers are always looking for candidates who can think critically and solve problems. That’s why it’s so important to showcase critical thinking skills on your resume.

If you’re not sure how to add critical thinking skills examples to your resume in a way that will have the biggest impact, here are some tips and strategies:

1. Use keywords

When searching for jobs, be sure to include keywords like “critical thinking” or “problem solving.”

Some employers may even specifically state in the job description that they are looking for candidates with strong critical thinking skills . If so, it’s absolutely vital that you include that keyword.

To make sure you’re using the right keywords on your resume, use a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner . It uses AI technology to analyze your resume and score it based on how well it matches the job description.

2. Highlight examples

On your resume , be sure to highlight any projects or tasks that required you to use strong critical thinking skills. You can mention how you solved a difficult problem at work, or discuss a time when you had to make a quick decision using logic and reasoning.

For example, you could say, “Increased social media engagement by 82% after analyzing what our top competitors were doing.”

Remember, employers are also looking for creative thinking, so share any successful results you got from thinking outside-the-box.

3. Describe your process

It’s always a good idea to show exactly how you solved problems using critical thinking skills. In other words, present any research, analysis, or brainstorming that went into your decision-making process. 

You can also mention any tools or technology that you used. For example, you could say, “I improved department efficiency by 50 percent using Six Sigma management tools.” 

4. Use action words

When writing your resume, use powerful action verbs that demonstrate critical thinking skills, such as: 

• Investigated
• Transformed
• Spear-headed

For a comprehensive list of action verbs to use on your resume, check out 500 Action Verbs to Use on Your Resume .

5. Focus on transferability

Critical thinking is a soft skill , which means it’s transferabl e . This means you can apply it to any job, across all industries and positions. 

Even if you don’t have expertise in the role you’re applying for, you can still highlight critical thinking skills that are relevant to the position. 

For example, if you’re applying for a job in customer service , mention any experience you have with managing difficult people, even if they weren’t your customers. 

6. Use numbers and data

Whenever possible, use metrics to showcase your critical thinking skills. 

Rather than saying “I increased sales by coming up with an innovative marketing strategy,” say “I increased sales by 30 percent with an innovative marketing strategy.”

Following these six tips for adding critical thinking skills to your resume will make you a stronger job candidate for any position you apply for.  

To make sure your resume is as strong as possible, use a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner . It analyzes your resume and tells you how to improve it to give you the best possible chance of getting an interview.

How can you develop your critical thinking skills?

Developing strong critical thinking skills will benefit your professional life and help you get jobs. They’ll also make you a more well-rounded and successful person in general. 

You won’t develop these skills overnight – it can take time and practice – but it’s well worth the effort. 

Here are 8 things you can do to increase your critical thinking powers. 

1. Read, read, read

Reading is great “brain-food” and you should try to do as much of it as possible.

The more you read, the better your understanding of the world will be, and the easier it will be to see both sides of an argument. 

Try to read a variety of materials, from news articles to novels to non-fiction books. 

2. Challenge your own beliefs and assumptions

Assuming that you are always correct can lead to close-mindedness. It can also prevent you from learning new information or considering new ideas. 

To become more open-minded, you need to be willing to challenge your own beliefs and assumptions.

Try to seek out other points of view as much as possible and always question the source of your information. Is it objective and reliable? 

Also, when you’re confronted with a new idea, take the time to really think about it before you form an opinion.

3. Weigh the pros and cons

Before making a decision, always consider carefully the potential positives and negatives of each option. This will allow you to see both sides of the issue and make a more informed decision. 

Of course, this is not always easy, and there are times when the best course of action may not be immediately obvious. 

However, taking the time to weigh the potential options is always worth the effort. It increases the chances of making a decision that leads to a positive outcome.

4. Consider different interpretations

How many times has your initial reaction to a situation colored your judgment and prevented you from seeing all the possibilities?

When you’re trying to understand a situation, it’s important to consider all the different ways you could interpret it.

For example, if you receive a low grade on a test, it is easy to feel discouraged and think that you are not smart enough. But if you take a step back and look at the situation objectively, you may realize that the test was unfair or that you simply didn’t have enough time to prepare. 

By considering the different interpretations of a situation, you can make better decisions and avoid potential pitfalls.

5. Practice active listening

In our fast-paced, often hectic lives, it can be easy to let our minds wander when someone else is speaking. That’s why it’s so important to make a conscious effort to actively listen to what others are saying.

The next time you find yourself in a discussion, really try to listen and understand the other person’s perspective. It could help you see the situation in a new light.

6. Be willing to change your mind

If you find that a new argument or piece of evidence has convinced you, don’t be afraid to change your mind. This shows that you are flexible and adaptable. These are highly valued qualities in most workplaces. 

Additionally, being willing to change your mind can help you avoid making the same mistakes over and over again.

7. Ask questions

It’s important to remember that nobody knows everything. So don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Asking questions can deepen your understanding about a topic. It also shows that you’re interested and want to learn more. 

The next time you’re in a meeting or listening to a presentation, don’t be nervous about raising your hand and asking a question. Chances are, you’re not the only one who wants to know the answer!

8. Practice, practice, practice

Like anything else, critical thinking is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. The more you do it, the better you’ll become at it. 

So challenge yourself to think critically about everything from the news to your daily conversations. Over time, you’ll start to develop good critical thinking skills that will last a lifetime. And, of course, these skills also look great on your resume.

To fully optimize your resume for each job you apply to, use a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner . It uses AI technology to analyze your resume and score it based on how well it matches the job description.

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How to Highlight Critical Thinking Skills on Your Resume

Avoid Listing Critical Thinking as a Skill

Skills related to critical thinking, highlight your ability to perform critical analysis, feature your communication skills, when to mention critical thinking on your resume.

Hiring managers are drawn to candidates with a strong capacity for critical thinking. Organizations want applicants who can identify creative solutions to complex problems quickly and independently. The question is, how do you highlight critical thinking skills on your resume?

Simply listing it as a skill doesn’t carry much weight if you can’t provide tangible examples, so you’ll need to leverage your professional experience to highlight this attribute. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide insights to help you showcase your critical thinking skills using a variety of different strategies:

Although this may seem surprising, you should avoid listing critical thinking as a skill when building your resume. The term itself is broad and won’t help the hiring manager to gain a better understanding of what your qualifications are. Instead, you should provide examples of solving complex problems quickly and efficiently. You can also incorporate key terms and skills that draw attention to your capacity for critical thinking without needing to use the word specifically. The resume’s goal is to highlight why you’re qualified for the role you’re applying for, and you won’t be able to separate yourself as a candidate if your content is generic.

There are many ways to highlight your capacity for critical thinking by featuring more specific types of skills on your resume. For instance, data analysis and data-driven decision-making skills draw attention to your ability to analyze and interpret findings critically. By featuring skill sets that are more grounded in your field, you’ll be able to highlight your critical thinking capabilities and industry expertise simultaneously. Below, you’ll find a list of skills you can use to emphasize critical thinking on your resume:

• Business Strategy
• Communication
• Content Strategy
• Continuous Improvement
• Change Management
• Creative Problem Solving
• Creative Thinking
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Data Analysis
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Forecasting
• Marketing Strategy
• Process Improvement
• Risk Management
• Qualitative Analysis
• Quantitative Analysis
• Solution Development
• Strategic Planning
• Strategy Development
• Technical Leadership
• Technical Solutions
• Trend Analysis

To highlight your critical thinking skills, you’ll want to draw attention to complex problems you’ve solved over the course of your career. For instance, if you were a project manager within the software industry, you may want to mention a time when you had to create a solution for a critical issue during the software development lifecycle. This paints a much clearer picture of your qualifications for the hiring manager while also drawing attention to your capacity for critical thinking in high-pressure situations. Below, you’ll find an example of how to showcase this attribute in your work experience:

• Managed the development of new software products for an industry-leading education technology company and coordinated with software developers and learning specialists to define product vision and create roadmaps based on customer data
• Identified the ideal solution to a critical issue during the development of a new software solution, utilized cloud technology to streamline user authentication while maintaining security standards, and prevented a three-month delay in product launch
• Interfaced with enterprise customers and project stakeholders to field concerns, resolve project roadblocks, and ensure alignment with overarching product vision

Notice how the candidate never uses the term critical thinking once in any of these bullet points. Although it isn’t stated directly, these accomplishments emphasize the project manager’s ability to devise practical solutions and analyze data critically, which is extremely valuable to prospective employers. Critical thinking extends far beyond the technology field, as you’ll see in the following example:

• Led rebranding initiatives to transform brand messaging based on customer data, collaborated with the marketing to develop new advertising solutions, and successfully re-established the brand as a trusted industry leader in the financial services space
• Developed PR strategy and communicated with media outlets to schedule a press release and drafted a response to major controversy related to a data security breach
• Successfully retained 80% of existing client base by attending meetings with executive leadership and fielding concerns to regain client trust

Here, the candidate highlights their critical thinking skills by detailing a situation where they needed to develop marketing solutions for an underperforming brand. Only some of the problems you encounter during your career will always be purely technical. In this case, the job seeker showcases critical thinking in the form of strategy development. The important thing to emphasize is your ability to use objective reasoning to assess problems and determine the ideal solution. Providing tangible examples of this from your career will always carry more weight than simply listing “critical thinking” will in your skills section.

The ability to express yourself cogently and effectively is very much an indicator of critical thinking skills. Suppose you’re a sales executive educating a potential client on a service offering. In that case, you’ll need to build a compelling presentation that persuasively outlines the benefits of your product as it relates to the customer’s needs. As a team leader, resolving employee conflicts and collaborating effectively with your direct reports requires strong critical thinking skills. Communication skills are extremely important to hiring managers, and highlighting examples of this on your resume will go a long way in helping you secure your next interview.

While you’ll generally want to avoid simply listing this as a skill on your document, there are situations where you may need to incorporate it as written. If you notice that critical thinking is mentioned multiple times in a job description, this is a strong indicator that the employer is using it as a keyword in the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This is a situation where it’s safer to list the term directly to achieve ATS compliance, even if it doesn’t paint a compelling picture of your professional experience.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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Analytical Skills for Your Resume

If you’re reading over a description for a job, you may have come across a requirement such as “Possesses strong analytical skills.” This may leave you wondering: what are analytical skills, and how can I showcase them on my resume?

Analytical skills are commonly listed in job descriptions. These are the skills that allow you to make decisions effectively and solve difficult problems. While you may not know it, you will already have exercised many analytical skills that you can mention on your resume, whether you have done so in the workplace, in school, or elsewhere.

Find your bootcamp match

In this article, we’re going to discuss the basics of analytical skills, why they are important, and walk through a few analytical skills you can mention on your tech resume .

What Are Analytical Skills?

Analytical skills are skills that practice analytical thinking. This is a method of thinking where you first observe a problem, then use the information you have gathered to develop deeper insights into that problem.

Analytical skills are used in a wide range of scenarios in the workplace. For instance, brainstorming new ideas involves a high degree of analytical thinking, because you need to be able to critically evaluate ideas and figure out which ones are worth pursuing.

Making decisions is another scenario where analytical skills may come up. This is because you will need to be able to first analyze a problem before you can make an informed decision about how that problem can be solved.

Analytical thinking involves the ability to try out different approaches and see what works. There is often not one clear answer to a problem that a business faces, and so if you possess analytical thinking skills, you should be competent in trying out ideas, and iterating upon those ideas based on your findings.

Why Do Employers Value Analytical Skills?

Analytical skills are a type of “soft skill”—a trait that is not trained, rather acquired—and are in high demand in the modern workforce.

Analytical skills are important, especially in modern businesses, because they allow you to come up with solutions to difficult problems effectively. Being able to break down a problem into smaller parts, analyze them, and determine an actionable solution can help you tackle tough organizational challenges that a business may be facing.

There are a number of jobs that require analytical skills. For instance, programmers , teachers, data analysts , accountants , and salespeople all need to be comfortable exercising analytical thinking skills.

Examples of Analytical Skills

If you notice that a job description asks for analytical skills, you may be wondering what you can do to your resume to align yourself with those skills.

Here are a few analytical skills you can mention on your resume to showcase your capacity to think analytically:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Problem Solving

#1: Communication

In order to solve difficult problems, you need to be able to work in a team.

When you are solving a problem, you’ll first need to work with other stakeholders to determine exactly what problem you need to solve and walk through what approaches have been tried in the past to solve the problem. Then, you’ll need to work with a team to come up with a solution, and implement that solution based on the specifications you have created.

You should be able to effectively communicate using both written and verbal methods of communication, such as presentations, talking with others, and writing memos.

#2: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a skill that allows you to think clearly and rationally, and find logical connections between different ideas.

When you’re solving a problem for a business, you will need to figure out all the main features of that problem. You’ll also have to discover why a problem has arisen in the first place. To do so effectively, you will need to be capable of using logic to understand the problem at hand.

#3: Research

Before you can solve a problem, you need to know all about the problem you are trying to solve. This will involve researching the context behind a problem, and collecting any data that will help you better understand the problem at hand.

In the workplace, research may involve working with team members to better understand a problem or creating official methods to collect data to answer a question. For instance, if you are a marketing manager who wants to know why a campaign performed so well, you may have to create a metrics dashboard to analyze data on the effectiveness of a campaign.

#4: Problem Solving

Once you have identified a problem, you need to come up with a solution. In the workplace, you’ll use analytical thinking skills to consider the data you have collected, and figure out what an effective solution to a problem would be.

Then, once you have come up with a solution, you will need to figure out how you can implement that solution. This will involve considering all the constraints within which you need to operate—such as financial or resource limitations—and breaking down your solution into simple and addressable components.

#5: Creativity

To come up with a solution to a problem, you should be able to think creatively.

When you’re working in a business, you may realize that the most obvious solution is not the best option. For instance, if you are trying to reduce overhead, you may realize that cutting certain obvious expenditures is not a good idea because it will impact employee morale. In this case, you would need to come up with other creative ways to reduce overhead.

How to List Analytical Skills on Your Resume

You can highlight analytical skills in three different places on your resume. These are in the summary, professional history, and skills sections.

Let’s walk through an example of how analytical skills can be listed in each of these sections.

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Administrative assistant skills: organization, time management, resourcefulness, critical thinking, problem solving, written and verbal communication, ability to anticipate needs.

Analytical thinking skills are a crucial component of every industry, from teaching to healthcare to manufacturing. People with analytical thinking skills are those who can effectively identify problems, break them down into smaller parts, and come up with creative solutions to those problems.

If you are applying for a job that seeks analytical skills, make sure that you take some time to consider which skills you have that you could mention on your resume. Ensure that those skills appear prominently on your resume, so that you can position yourself as someone who has the right skills for the job.

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Essential Critical Thinking Skills: Demonstrate Critical Thinking in Your Resume

Here are the top ways to show your Critical Thinking skills on your resume. Find out relevant Critical Thinking keywords and phrases and build your resume today.

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In This Guide:

Critical thinking skills: key takeaways for your resume.

Essential Critical Thinking Skills in professional resumes. How to apply Critical Thinking in resume building in 2022. Show that you are a Critical Thinker and get the interview call.

How to demonstrate critical thinking skills on your resume

• Describe a challenging situation at work that put your critical thinking and decision-making skills to the test
• Mention a situation in which your answer to a problem was crucial for the success of a project
• Show that you are capable of prioritizing your task when having a significant workload.
• Provide evidence for a situation in which you have to conduct a whole project without any instructions

Remember that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes, which means that you have to pay close attention to describing the most essential and valuable facts about yourself as a professional. Thus, recruiters will be 100% sure that you know how to sort out data and explain it understandably.

Do not hesitate to use action verbs like ''analyze'', ''identify'' and ''solve'', which show that you have analytical skills. Focus on results rather than empty explanations. Now let's put everything said into practice.

Example 1: Demonstrate critical thinking skills in the experience section

Sales Analyst applying for the position of Sales Manager

• • Designed a social media strategy by myself that increased the company's share growth rate by 15%
• • Achieved a 200% increase in the lifetime value of every client by utilizing an innovative sales strategy
• • Created daily reports and contacted customers to determine customers' satisfaction
• • Completed a massive sales project 4 months before schedule, saving 35% of the estimated project cost
• • Collected, evaluated, and interpreted data from surveys every month and presented the results in front of the whole department
• • Resolved gaps between project development and budget costs, which led to better performance and increased brand awareness

The following candidate demonstrated undeniable experience in solving problems. They resolved gaps, created successful strategies and worked with big data. 

The applicant proved to be self-directed by designing an entire strategy entirely by themselves. The candidate's critical thinking skills led to astonishing results that impacted the entire performance of the company.

Demonstrate that you are good at prioritizing by selecting the essential experience points in your resume. Use action verbs that indicate critical thinking, like "analyze" and "conclude."

Prove that you solved problems and made critical decisions by providing appropriate examples. Let the results speak for you as a professional. Thus, recruiters are more likely to select you among other candidates because critical thinkers are the most promising employees.

Example 2: resume summary.

Project Manager applying for the position of Chief Operating Officer

With solid experience, this applicant proves to be a reliable professional who makes important decisions in a vast and successful company. They know how to coordinate massive projects while leading large teams of professionals.

Use this section to mention the most valuable experience in your career that proves your critical thinking and leadership skills. Do not forget the 80/20 principle. It is a clear sign that you are capable of evaluating and prioritizing information.

Example 3: Key Achievements

Research Scientist applying for the position of Medical Writer

Participating in such revolutionary projects is a clear sign that the candidate is highly intelligent. Their diligent work in writing these articles and holding inspiring and valuable presentations prove their critical thinking.

In this section, you should prove you are a trustworthy individual. Your accomplishments will provide evidence that you are a go-getter who always reaches their goals.

Example 4: Courses & Talents

Intern applying for the role of Business Analyst

You could build an impression about yourself by the courses you took in the past. They show that you are a self-directed individual who knows how to set SMART goals in their learning and professional experience. Mention only those courses that directly relate to the position you apply for.

Computer Technician applying for the job of Infrastructure Analyst

This candidate listed the most important skills for a computer technician. They emphasized both soft and hard skills that prove their professionalism.

Do not hesitate to add those critical thinking skills that you find appropriate for the section. Just remember to emphasize results and abilities rather than empty explanations. Action verbs and catchy phrases might help you create a good impression as an extraordinary person and professional.

• Show action:  use action verbs that indicate critical thinking and experience.
• Prioritize & Evaluate:  you should provide the recruiter with the most valuable information about yourself. This action proves you to be a critical thinker.
• Show problem solving: demonstrate your inner drive to overcome every issue and provide an answer to every problem.
• Set SMART goals: show that you always set reasonable goals that enhance your motivation to work.
• Demonstrate intelligence in decision-making:  let your results speak for you. Provide evidence that you can work under stress and make essential and logical decisions that lead to success.

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What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information and make reasoned judgments.

Critical thinking helps to think rationally and understand the connection between ideas. It helps to make sense of the world. Using critical thinking skills will make you challenge the loopholes.

For instance, it would enable you to find better solutions or ways to deal with existing issues, thus making you an asset. It is also why employers wish to find such people who think critically.

Read on to understand more about critical thinking, its importance, and incorporating such skills into your resumes.

Additionally, you can get a clear understanding of the following questions about critical thinking skills :

• What do you mean by critical thinking skills?
• How would you demonstrate critical thinking on a resume?
• What are the examples of critical thinking on a job?
• What are the 5 critical thinking skills?
• How to improve critical thinking skills?

What Are Critical Thinking Skills?

The skills that help us to analyze information, arguments, and situations are known as critical thinking skills. Critical thinkers can draw reasonable conclusions from plenty of information and discriminate between information.

Why is Critical Thinking Important?

A critical thinker evaluates sources of information- data, facts, and research findings. For instance, you can research the pros and cons of having a balanced diet. A quick Google search will give you plenty of information on why it is good for your health or is not.

You can find data to back up either side of the claim. Then, using critical thinking skills, you decide for yourself if having a balanced diet will be more or less beneficial for you.

So, critical thinking is important both personally and professionally. It is a skill that is highly valued by employers as well.

Why is Critical Thinking Important In a Workplace?

Critical thinking guides good decision-making, helping you spot possible obstacles and discover solutions to them. It assists you and your coworkers in coming up with new ideas to achieve objectives.

Critical thinking helps in identifying, and addressing workflow inefficiencies, improving management practices, guiding financial decisions, and cultivating a strategic attitude.

Employers want critical thinkers to evaluate a situation using logical thought and offer the best solution. Hiring a critical thinker implies micro-managing is not required.

How Would You Demonstrate Critical Thinking Skills in Your Job Search?

Critical thinking and critical thinker are the go-to words for employers, so much so that they mention them in the job listing. So, it fetches you brownie points when you mention critical thinking on your resume.

But is that all? Not really!

So, how do you demonstrate critical thinking skills in your job search?

Use Critical Thinking While Looking for Jobs

Read the job listing carefully and decide whether it would be worth your time. In your job search, it might happen that the role is suitable but the working hours are not, or the remuneration is not competitive. Would it then be worth going through the hiring process only to reject the offer in the end?

Add Keywords to Your Resume

If critical thinking is a key phrase in the job listing, then emphasize critical thinking skills throughout your job search. Use critical thinking keywords such as analytical, problem solving, creativity, etc. Include the top critical thinking skills that best describe you in your work experience and resume summary.

Demonstrate Critical Thinking in the Experience Section

Mention prior experiences where you had to make a decision in a challenging situation. It could be an instance where you supervised a project when no instructions were given or where you had to prioritize between many tasks.

What impact did your decision have? Quantify the results you achieved due to the decisions you took and mention them as bullet points in the experience section.

Demonstrate Critical Thinking in the Resume Summary

Craft a resume summary that encapsulates your experiences and sprinkle keywords such as implemented, result-oriented, problem solver, and driven. Keep the resume summary short and mention the most valuable experiences that you have had.

For instance, a driven individual with 5+ years of experience in app development who has led a team of 10 and implemented complex changes in software for IT companies.

Mention Skills in Your Cover Letter

Include critical thinking skills in the body of your letter. Pick relevant situations and experiences that you highly value and challenge you the most. Give specific examples of times when you have demonstrated critical thinking at work.

Show the Interviewer Your Skills

You can use instances when you demonstrated critical thinking at work when answering behavioral questions. Use the STAR method or situation, task, action, and result method.

Discuss times when you were faced with challenges at work and explain how you applied critical thinking to solve them. Explain your thought process clearly to the interviewer.

Also read : Should I include my soft skills on a resume?

What Are the Examples of Using Critical Thinking on a Job?

Aside from hard skills that decide how skilled you will be at your job, soft skills decide how tactful you will be with your tasks. Having rich soft skills will ensure that you perform your tasks correctly with very little mistakes or setbacks.

• Deciding the precedence order of tasks : A critical thinker decides the order by which the tasks should be completed on the basis of urgency and importance.
• Deciding the best course of action : A critical thinker reviews the evidence and devises a strategy to reach the desired outcome.
• Deciding favorable inputs : A critical thinker decides which information, data, or materials (in case a project requires using raw material) that would be required to complete the task.

The Top 5 Critical Thinking Skills

The in-demand critical thinking skills must be added to your resume and cover letter. They should be emphasized throughout the application process, such as during interviews.

The most important critical thinking skills are:

It means carefully examining something- a set of data or a text. Critical thinkers examine information, understand it, and convey its implications.

Communication

You have to communicate with colleagues and superiors to share your ideas effectively. Often, you will have to share your conclusions with them one-on-one or in a group.

So, you would use critical thinking and communicate effectively to figure out solutions to complex problems.

Also read : How to leverage communication skills in a workplace?

Critical thinking involves creativity and innovation. You would spot patterns in the information or provide a solution that no one else has thought of before. It requires a creative bent of mind.

Open-mindedness

To think critically, one needs to put aside assumptions or judgments. You have to analyze the information you receive and be objective in evaluating ideas without bias.

Problem-Solving

It is another critical thinking skill that involves- analyzing a problem, generating its solution, and then implementing it. It also involves assessing the success of the plan.

Hiring managers don’t simply want employees who can think about information critically. They need employees to come up with practical solutions.

How to Develop Critical Thinking Skills?

If you catch yourself making rushed decisions with no real thought, don't worry because it is a skill that you can build. Use the seven-step rule to develop critical thinking skills:

Step 1: Identify the Problem

Choose to be precise while identifying the issue. The narrower the scope, the easier it is to find answers. You do not have to do it all on your own either, if there are coworkers with the same skill set as you, consult them so that you cover all bases.

Step 2: Gather Data

Find several sources of information that contain different ideas and points of view. Doing so will help you avoid hasty decisions and understand how to ensure integrity of choices by looking at it from all points of view.

Step 3: Analyze and Evaluate the Data

To analyze and evaluate data, you need to check the reliability of the sources from where the data is derived. Check if the conclusions are backed by data.

Step 4: Identify Assumptions

Ensure that you identify any underlying assumptions before you come to a conclusion. Consider others' assumptions from every angle along with yours to eradicate any biased decisions and to come up with the best solutions.

Step 5: Establish Significance

Include information that is useful and relevant. While conducting surveys, use a suitable sample size to determine if the outcomes affect many people.

Step 6: Make a Decision/Reach a Conclusion

Identify various conclusions that are possible. Decide which of them are sufficiently supported. Weigh their pros and cons. Making brash decisions can be risky as the lack of thought can lead you to lose resources in many ways.

Step 7: Present or Communicate

Present the conclusion to all stakeholders. Instead of being unprepared, try to structure your thoughts and develop an outline so that you do not miss out on any points. Articulating your thoughts correctly can earn you great respect in a workplace.

Key Takeaways

Critical thinking skills are applicable in both personal and professional lives. More often than not, they are mentioned in the job listings. Keep these points in mind while incorporating such skills into your resumes:

• Critical thinkers can draw reasonable conclusions from plenty of information and are highly valued by employers
• If critical thinking is a key phrase in the job listing, then emphasize critical thinking skills throughout your job search
• Critical thinking would help you to decide the precedence order of tasks, the best course of action, and favorable inputs for a task
• Develop critical thinking skills by applying the seven-step rule

Use our career platform for a smooth resume-building experience. We provide a 24/7 online chat service for all your job & career-related queries. You can also reach out to us at [email protected] for any professional assistance.

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Analytical Thinking: 4 Examples to Boost Your Resume

Amid the coronavirus pandemics, companies have announced pay cuts, furlough, permanent shutdowns, and even layoffs. As professionals prepare for the job hunt, it’s time to polish up your resume and add the skills that matter the most: analytical thinking skills.

Before we get into it, be sure to check out our analytical thinking skill guide ! We’ve compiled the do’s and don’ts, identified some strong analytical thinkers, and professionals that can benefit from this skill. What are you waiting for? Let’s start exploring!

Including soft skills like analytical thinking can make you stand out among the crowd when applying for a job. If you want to get a leg up on the competitive job market, reframe your resume to include these top 4 analytical thinking examples to land that dream job.

📚 Diligent researcher. A key element to analytical thinking is researching. In order to find solutions, analytical thinkers take time to gather and collect data to draw effective conclusions. That means conducting extensive online research and sourcing peers. You want to clearly convey your ability to consume and analyze large amounts of information.

🔍 Detailed-orientated. The definition of analytical thinking includes paying attention to details. Noticing even the smallest, overlooked details shows how you’re able to tune into your environment, make a conscious effort to follow directions, and focus on both the big and small picture.

🎨 Creative thinker. Analytical thinkers, when faced with an issue, take it as an opportunity to think outside the box. Find moments in your career where you have nurtured the creative side of your brain. Creative thinking encourages you to explore unorthodox solutions, challenge ideas, and promote a growth mindset. Remember, analytical thinkers don't accept the first idea. They explore all avenues.

🤔 Decision maker. Taking action is what completes the analytical thinking circle. Coming to a decision means you've been able to strategize, plan, and predict the best possible outcomes. You want to show that you can carefully evaluate the pros and cons before coming to a logical conclusion.

Before you start editing your resume , take the time to pinpoint moments throughout your career where you've demonstrated your analytical thinking skills. Interviewers aren't looking for right or wrong answers. Instead they want to understand your thought process when it comes to facing complex issues. Be sure to elaborate, share examples, and provide insight into your analytical thinking process.

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Critical thinking skills: What are they and why do employers care about them?

Observation

Problem-solving, self-awareness, resume and cover letter.

Being able to conceptualize, analyze and evaluate information to generate appropriate outcomes is the primary driver of corporate decisions. Disciplined and critical thinking skills lead to creative approaches, free of irrational biases and self-interest.

Employers understand that decision making is inherently complex, so when it comes to meeting a potential new employee, critical thinking skills are often at the top of the agenda. When left unchecked, lazy workplace thinking can cause damage. If your boss knows that you have turned over every stone in the search for a solution, they will sleep easy.

In this blog, we will consider critical thinking from a job seeker’s perspective:

• What are the typical steps of a critical thinking process?
• Why does your future employer care about critical thinking?
• 7 examples of critical thinking skills.
• How to improve your critical thinking skills.
• How to highlight critical thinking during your job search.

Being able to “think about thinking” is central to self-awareness and career success. 

Six steps of a critical thinking process.

• Identify the issue and understand why it is important.
• Find out as much information as possible to inform your thinking.
• Interpret the data from as many angles as possible – build a picture.
• Consider your assumptions – are there any biases involved?
• Work out what is relevant to help you to reach a useful conclusion.
• Weigh each piece of evidence to come to a balanced judgment.

Critical thinking is an essential skill and should be highlighted in your cv and cover letter. If you need any additional inspiration, check out our resume examples, and cover letter examples.

Why your future employer cares about your critical thinking

Employers want people who can consider a problem from multiple angles and take into account the context before they decide on a way forward. If you do not take the time to explore the nuances, the level of uncertainty in terms of the outcome will be high.

If everyone in the team is comfortable with thinking critically, every debate will be well informed, and every decision will be optimized.

Critical thinking skills allow an employee to:

• See the links between ideas - suggest synergies and find solutions.
• Consider a discussion and be able to weigh the importance of each argument.
• Build upon arguments to create a consensus and find a way forward.
• Highlight errors in reasoning and challenge inconsistencies in decision-making.
• Adopt a systematic and transparent approach to problem-solving .
• Reflect on assumptions and be flexible to amend assumptions where required.
• Understand the implications of ideas and find the best solutions for implementation.

Critical thinking is a complex topic. As you read through this blog, have a think about how you can frame your decision making to shine a light on how you came to your conclusions. You might be surprised at just how interested your future employer will be about how you got there. Sometimes the process of thinking is as important as the result.

The benefit of foresight in critical thinking . Thinking through the impact of workplace decisions is critical in any dynamic workplace. Show your future employer that you can pause and consider the deeper ramifications of your actions. You will only achieve the best outcomes if you evaluate the potential outcome from multiple angles.

Getting on with others is the key to business success, but how are interpersonal skills defined and how might we use these examples in our resume to make it stronger? Which interpersonal skills does the job require?

7 examples of critical thinking skills

The following seven critical thinking skills form a roadmap for making an informed decision:

Being observant at work means sensing the undercurrents of what is going on and how the future might change as a result. Employees who can perceive a problem before it has arisen will be better placed to deal with it. Observational skills often revolve around an understanding of patterns of behavior – if you have seen something happen before (in similar circumstances), there is a fair chance that it will happen again. 

Critical thinking skill: Be an observant and perceptive sounding board.

When thinking critically, the ability to compare and contrast various information is key to reaching a balanced conclusion. Where do you source your information? How do you verify its validity? Be open minded about where you inform yourself and do not be satisfied with a narrow range of sources. Industry echo chambers are real – especially on social media. Go out of your way to solicit contrary opinions and be dispassionate in your evaluation.

Critical thinking skill: Thorough research forms the foundation of a sound opinion

When you are faced with a mass of information at your disposal, you need to be able to analyze what will help you to make the best decision. Review the data, examine the sources, and interrogate the findings. The quality of the data set will determine the quality of the conclusion. If you make a decision based on shaky sources, you will be fumbling in the dark. Collecting and categorizing information at the early stage of any critical thinking process might take longer than you hope, but this investment is central to an optimal outcome.

Critical thinking skill: Analyze exactly what you need to include in your thinking.

When there is not enough information to make a fully informed decision, you sometimes need to make an educated guess. Inference is the ability to take raw data and fill in the gaps to make the best possible decision. The ability to extrapolate information and infer the correct conclusions is an incredibly valuable skill in the workplace – it requires sound judgment and an ability to solve an incomplete puzzle.

Critical thinking skill: Making an educated guess with incomplete source data.

As the process of critical thinking is rarely straightforward, the ability to tackle problems and resolve conflicts is central to smoothing the path. Adopt a self-critical mindset and constantly ask yourself the question: “is this going to get us to where we need to be?” Problem solvers view setbacks as opportunities for exploring a different path and know that the resultant insights will move them one step closer to a conclusion. There is nothing scarier than admitting that something isn’t working, but such feelings should be embraced.

Critical thinking skill: Problem-solving turns scary setbacks into unexpected opportunities.

You're meeting with someone who is judging you. Judging your character, your work ethic. Here are 7 interview skills that will get you hired in 2024.

It might sound obvious, but your critical thinking abilities are bound by the limitations of your mindset. If you are not self-aware enough to monitor and correct your assumptions, your thinking can be impaired. The ability to be self-aware and adaptable enough to correct your course when you are in a stressful situation is one of the hallmarks of a critical thinker. If your fixed mindset does not allow you to change direction, your potential is limited.

Critical thinking skill: Self-awareness means that you can adapt to change course.

Why? Pondering this simple word has the potential to reveal insights and question assumptions. Having the curiosity to explore the unknowns can tell you much about the problem that you face and throw up multiple other questions. You might not always find a satisfactory answer but allowing these questions to linger at the back of your mind proves an ongoing driving force for your intellect. Critical thinkers are not afraid of questioning everything like a five-year-old. 

Critical thinking skill: Curiosity opens up avenues of thought you didn’t know existed.

How do you improve your critical thinking skills?

• Put yourself in new and challenging situations where you need to act differently.
• Forget about common sense for a minute – practice thinking differently.
• Invest in your education to broaden your theoretical knowledge base.
• Ask open-ended questions and follow up on what the answers might mean.
• Network with a wider range of people and seek their perspectives regularly.
• Be clear about your objectives and narrow your focus in accordance.
• Be aware of your biases in any new situation – avoid instant judgements.

Sharing your array of leadership skills is essential to securing your dream job, so which ones do you showcase on your resume and how do you talk about them?

How to highlight critical thinking during your job search

Potential employers are interested in exploring how you went about making your decisions as well as their outcomes. When different problems come along, they want to be sure that your critical thinking ability is robust enough to make the right moves.

Showcase your critical thinking both in your job search writing and during an interview.

One effective way of highlighting your critical thinking in your written job search documents is to outline the journey that you took to your decisions. This is easier to do in a long-form cover letter than a resume, but you can still include impactful action verbs in bullet-pointed resume achievements.

You should make it clear that you do not take the big decisions lightly. Touching on aspects of the six critical thinking skills listed above will prompt a hiring manager to explore further during an interview. Analyze your thought processes and crystallize your approach.

There will be many situational questions during an interview where you will be able to share the thinking skills that led to the result. If you choose to tell your career stories using the STAR method , you can weave your critical thinking skills in between the task and action parts. In some ways, it should read STTAR. You can’t take action without critical thought.

When you are outlining your critical thinking during an interview, it is important to consider the culture of your potential employer. Is short-term tactical thinking preferred over longer-term strategy? Are decisions made by collective agreement or are individuals trusted to do the right thing within their remits? How open are senior management to being challenged?

Don’t just talk about your thinking skills in an interview – back up your claims with proof.

An example of critical thinking : Think about something that someone recently told you. Who said it? What did they say? When did they say it? Why did they say it? How did they say it? Considering the wider context of a problem will lead you onto further questions.

There’s really no such thing as an unskilled worker — pretty much everyone is good at something. And whatever field you work in, you need to know how to list hard skills on your resume to let employers know what you’re capable of doing.

Key takeaways

• If your future boss can understand the thought processes behind how you make decisions, it will be easier for them to imagine you making the right moves in your new role.
• The ability to outline how you think is essential to gaining their trust in your decision-making.
• Develop a narrative around critical thinking successes and share an example in the interview. It is only through real-life examples that an employer will gauge the depth of your thinking.
• Don't forget to showcase your critical thinking skills in your cover letter and resume by using impactful action verbs that describe your achievements. You can find even more insights on how to highlight your critical thinking skill in our cover letter examples and resume templates.

What Is Logical Thinking in the Workplace?

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Forage puts students first. Our blog articles are written independently by our editorial team. They have not been paid for or sponsored by our partners. See our full  editorial guidelines .

Logical thinking isn’t just for solving riddles; employers are actively looking for candidates with this valuable skill. Logical thinkers approach work problems critically and provide actionable solutions to help the company succeed. In this guide, we cover:

What Is Logical Thinking?

Logical thinking examples, logical thinking skills, how to show logical thinking skills on a job application, 4 ways to improve your logical thinking, why is logical thinking important in 2022.

The logical thinking definition is analyzing a situation or problem using reason and coming up with potential solutions. Logical thinkers gather all the information they can, assess the facts, and then methodically decide the best way to move forward.

Logical thinking is an essential tool in the workplace to help analyze problems, brainstorm ideas, and find answers. Employers want employees who can come up with the right solutions that are financially reasonable, probable, and actionable.

Logical thinking is an umbrella term for different ways to reach a factual, reasonable conclusion. Examples of types of logical thinking include:

• Inductive reasoning
• Deductive reasoning

Inferencing happens when we assume something new based on facts we already know. For example:

When you infer, you’re drawing the line between two factual dots.

Inductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning is a type of reasoning that moves from specific to general. You start with a specific observation and pattern recognition, then come to a general conclusion.

Not all conclusions are correct in this type of logical thinking because specific circumstances don’t always apply to a general rule. However, you’ll end with a general conclusion that you can then further research. For example:

In this example, the general conclusion isn’t necessarily true. However, it’s a theory you can now test with further research and surveying.

Deductive Reasoning

Contrary to deductive reasoning, this type of logical thinking moves from the general to the specific. You start with a general premise and then apply it to a specific premise. Take these two examples:

Like conclusions from inductive reasoning, not every conclusion from deductive reasoning is necessarily sound. You’ll need a true general premise, a true specific premise, and a valid, logical argument between the two premises to come to a sound conclusion.

In example one, Marissa may work four-day workweeks, and Julia may work five-day workweeks, but saying Marissa is happier only because of her work schedule is not a sound argument because the conclusion doesn’t logically follow. On the other hand, example two is a sound argument because both premises are true, and there is clear, valid logic between the premises and the conclusion.

Logical thinking requires multiple skills you’ll need to exercise at various points when solving problems. These skills include:

Problem-solving

• Critical thinking

The goal of logical thinking is to problem solve. Problem-solving has three parts: identifying why the problem’s happening, brainstorming solutions, and deciding which solution to move forward with. This skill requires both analysis and creativity, as a strong problem-solver analyzes the facts and finds creative solutions.

Critical Thinking

People often consider critical thinking synonymous with logical thinking, yet critical thinking comes into play most at the beginning of the problem-solving process. Critical thinkers analyze problems to get to the bottom of the facts and evidence. They are objective, free of bias, and focused on accuracy.

When we think of the word “logical,” we might not think of creativity — yet it’s creativity that allows logical thinkers to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. Logical thinking isn’t just about following the facts but also figuring out how to connect them and unearth them in expected ways.

Reasoning is the ability to assess things logically and rationally. Reasoning typically comes in the later stages of the logical thinking process, when you’re deciding between multiple ways to move forward. Then, you can use reasoning to compare solutions for their benefits and disadvantages.

On a Resume

You don’t have to list “logical thinking” on your resume to prove you’re a logical thinker; instead, you can show your logical thinking skills through hobbies or extracurricular activities you include on your resume.

“If a candidate mentions their hobbies that they play chess, board games, or strategic video games, it always makes me think they are logical thinkers,” Maciej Kubiak, head of people at PhotoAiD, says. “These interests require analysis and deductive reasoning to find a viable solution.”

Log in to view and download a customizable resume template with examples of how to include logical thinking skills:

Learn the other top skills to include on a resume .

In an Interview

While your resume can show you’re a logical person, describing your work methodology in an interview is the best way to show off this skill. Be specific and prescriptive when describing what steps you took to overcome a work problem or what steps you would take in a potential scenario.

Logical Thinking Interview Questions

Employers looking for this skill in an interview often won’t use the term “logical thinking.” Instead, they’ll often ask you about the steps you took or would take to solve a problem. Examples of these interview questions include:

• Have you ever disagreed with a coworker about the best course of action? How did you go about convincing them to try your way?
• Have you ever needed to make a critical decision on a deadline? What was your process like for making that decision?
• What proactive steps do you take to prevent problems with your work projects?

It’s okay if you’re initially stumped when the interviewer asks you to show your logical thinking skills; take your time and think through your answer before saying anything.

“Do not say the very first thought that springs to mind,” David Bitton, co-founder and CMO at DoorLoop, recommends. “While you don’t want to take too long, pausing and thinking for a few moments can help. If you are unable to provide a suitable and confident answer, do not be hesitant to ask clarifying questions.”

When you do answer, it’s okay — and even encouraged — to give multiple solutions.

Yet it’s vital to strike the right balance between being thorough and succinct, especially when explaining your thought process.

“Be able to describe how you solved a problem with steps, although be mindful of time,” software engineer Adeena Mignogna says. “When I’m interviewing someone, there’s nothing worse then them going on and on. Learn to concisely explain and answer.”

If you can respond concisely, you’ll also prove to the hiring manager that you can communicate complex ideas and information to others — which is another valuable soft skill .

While logical thinking is a soft skill, it’s easy to practice and improve tangibly, like most hard skills you may learn in class. In addition, you don’t need to be faced with a workplace problem to work on your logical thinking; there are ways to build this skill in your personal life.

1. Build Creative Habits

“Spend more time on creative hobbies such as playing music, solving riddles, and reading,” Christian Velitchkov, co-founder of Twiz, says. “These are some hobbies that can stimulate your mind and promote logical thinking in a better manner. Creative thinking naturally comes from practicing more problem-solving hobbies. The more you challenge your minds to answer and solve different problems at work, the better you get at your logical thinking skills over time.”

Word games, painting, drawing, and crafting are other creative habits to try.

2. Learn a New Skill

Learning a new skill requires patience, time, effort, and focus — all things you need when trying to solve a new problem. However, you don’t need to learn how to code or practice software engineering to improve work-related logical thinking skills. Learning how to crochet or play a new instrument, for example, will help you flex logical thinking as you develop your new skill.

3. Practice Breaking It Down

If you’re a big picture thinker, it can be hard to look at all the details before diving in and trying to offer solutions. However, a crucial part of logical thinking is breaking down individual facts and connecting them to a reasonable conclusion. Start by breaking down a task you must do in your everyday life. For example, if your task is “get ready for work,” break this down into tasks like “brush my teeth,” “take a shower,” and “get dressed.” This practice will help develop a habit of zooming into smaller components of bigger issues.

4. Observe Others

We can be limited in how we approach problems; for example, we may try to approach a problem the way we’ve always done because it generally works out for us. Yet we might miss other paths and solutions that we’d never even consider.

Be aware of how others tackle problems and what strategies they use, whether in a work meeting, class lecture, or group project. Get curious about why they’re making specific choices and moving in a particular direction.

According to Monster’s The Future of Work: 2022 Global Report, problem-solving — a critical aspect of logical thinking — is one of the top three skills employers are looking for. Yet this same skill is also where employers see the most significant skill gap between what they need from a candidate and the candidate’s skill level.

So get ahead in the job search by continually improving your logical thinking skills and showing them off with concise but methodical answers to interview questions. You got this — and if you need more help leveling up your professional skills, try out Two Sigma’s Professional Skills Development Program .

Image Credit: Karolina Grabowska / Pexels

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• 7 Best Problem-Solving Skills...

7 Best Problem-Solving Skills for Your Resume + Examples

11 min read · Updated on April 17, 2024

If you're a strong problem solver, your resume needs to prove it!

Imagine this scenario: a supplier delivers the wrong piece of equipment, your deadline is tomorrow, and your logistics person is out sick. What would you do if you were the one who had to respond?

All businesses encounter problems at one time or another. That's why companies need high-quality employees on hand who can solve problems like shifting deadlines, equipment failure, and changing client needs. Those problem-solving skills can mean the difference between success and failure. 

That's why today's employers are actively seeking candidates who possess these critical problem-solving skills. 

But what are problem-solving skills? 

How do you identify which ones you might have or which ones a hiring manager might be looking for? 

Most importantly, how can you present problem-solving on your resume to land that interview?

In this post, we'll help you learn to identify, define, and present problem-solving skills in your resume.

What are problem-solving skills?

Put simply, problem-solving skills help you overcome challenges and obstacles. They enable you to identify the core issue, propose solutions, choose the best option, and implement it.

When employers talk about problem-solving skills, they're usually referring to the ability to deal with challenging, complex, or unexpected situations. While they enable someone to assess and solve problems calmly, these skills can also be useful for relationship building and routine decision-making.

Why do companies need employees with problem-solving skills?

All companies experience challenges that can impact their operations and effectiveness. Those businesses will always need people to help them to find solutions to their problems. In fact, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook, 86% of employers look for problem-solving skills on student resumes.

Employers like to see good problem-solving skills because it also shows them you have a range of other talents, like logic, creativity, resilience, imagination, and lateral thinking.

Looking for problem-solving skills in a job description

Sometimes, a job description will plainly state the problem-solving skills that the job requires. More often, however, problem-solving is one of those skill sets that don't necessarily appear in the “requirements” section of a job post. Employers simply expect candidates to demonstrate an analytical mind. So, instead, they will describe those desired skills using other phrases.

In those instances, you can look for keywords to identify the skills the employer is seeking. When you find any relevant keywords in the job description, you'll be able to tell what skills you should highlight in the resume you send in.

How to include problem-solving skills on a resume

It should be easy to highlight these skills during an interview, where you can describe a specific problem and paint a picture of how you successfully solved it. But it's also easy to find ways to illustrate your problem-solving on your resume.

Problem-solving skills sound like they're self-explanatory, but they can be difficult to describe without good storytelling. Unlike conceptual skills like abstract thinking and ideation, problem-solving skills are all about developing and implementing an action plan. That's why the best strategy to demonstrate your problem-solving skills is to tell a story: find specific examples of challenging scenarios and explain the plan you implemented and the results you achieved. 

Related post : How to Create an Effective STAR Method Resume (With Examples)

Many resumes will use terms like “critical thinker” or “problem-solver.” Instead, get specific by showing how you've used a skill in a way that has solved a problem at work. 

Give examples of scenarios where those skills lead to a solution

Describe a specific process you employed

List major accomplishments enabled by your solution

Add specific training related to problem-solving skills

Use various keywords to avoid repeating “problem-solving”

Let's look at 4 places on a resume where you can describe your problem-solving skills. 

Where to include problem-solving skills on your resume

The summary.

The summary is a great place to present a core skill that has benefitted you and your employers. If you've been responsible for finding out-of-the-box solutions to unexpected problems or been a team leader known for adjusting to personnel or process challenges, this is the place to introduce those talents.

Solutions-driven sales specialist with 10 years of experience managing sales teams, analyzing markets, expanding market reach, and solving logistics issues. Extensive experience with rolling out new products and reinventing campaigns. Transformed market by 40% despite a period of intense market fluctuation.

In the work experience section

The work experience section is the ideal place to list problem-solving skills that have contributed to proven solutions. When detailing past job roles, you can use details like percentages, dollar amounts, and specific scenarios to show how your ability to analyze issues, find options, and communicate action plans has solved problems. 

Mention a time when you took the initiative to troubleshoot key areas

Explain your habit of collecting new data regularly

Give examples of instances when you assumed a leadership role in process optimization

Look at the following resume example. It shows how this candidate's ability to design solutions, optimize testing processes, and adjust the process to the client helped to optimize process efficiency and save the client money. 

In addition, the candidate highlights his communication skills by showing that he can collaborate with clients to adapt processes to their needs. 

Solar Engineer, Acme Corp, 2010 - 2020

Developed solution designs in collaboration with Software Architects that improved process efficiency by 150% and reduced costs by $300K

Supported testing on 3 large-scale projects to refine solutions and ensure they were fit for purpose and matched the customer's needs, resulting in $1M savings for the client

The skills section

If problem-solving skills are needed for a particular role, the hiring manager will be looking for them in the skills section. The key, however, is to only list skills that specifically relate to the job posting. 

Remember, it's crucial to tailor each resume to a specific job advertisement, including the skills section. This is obviously easier if the job post explicitly lists desired skills. If it doesn't, look for keywords in the bullet points of the requirements part of the job description to find specific problem-solving skills to include in your resume.

Is it a management position looking for a “proven leader?” Communication skills are a must-have talent.

Is it a logistics position that requires experience with scaling? Then, troubleshooting and negotiation skills will be paramount.

There are both soft skills and hard skills that can be defined as problem-solving skills. “Test development” can be trained, but “troubleshooting” improves with experience. When considering which skills you possess, look at both categories.

Data analysis / Process analysis / Project design / Solution design / Test development / Benchmark development / Troubleshooting / Collaboration

A notable achievements section

A notable achievements section isn't always necessary, but some resumes can benefit from including one. If, for example, you're using a functional resume format for a career change resume or you're a senior executive looking to emphasize career highlights, an accomplishments section can really highlight those skills in action. 

If you're using this section to focus on your problem-solving skills, describe accomplishments with demonstrable results.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• Re-designed and upgraded front-end on 20+ sites with jQuery, AJAX, and Handlebars.js
• Oversaw process improvements, which reduced expenses by $225,000 per quarter
• Restructured the supply chain team following vendor flow issues

Related post : Seven Key Resume Sections and How to Organize Them

7 Important problem-solving skills for your resume

Problem-solving skills can range from detail-oriented diagnostics to team leadership. Here's a list of skills involved in various stages of the problem-solving process. When crafting your resume, look to these examples to see what problem-solving skills you might have.

1. Research

Research skills are an essential component of the problem-solving skill set, enabling you to identify and understand the root cause of an issue. Research involves gathering data and information, consulting with more experienced colleagues, acquiring knowledge online or from external sources, and collating newfound data for dissemination. This skill is about the ability to find and use the right resources, extract the data you need, and brainstorm with the right group of people. This means:

Studying specific cases without generalizing

Aiming at variables that make the desired differences

Reporting findings in understandable terms

2. Analysis

The first step in finding a solution is an effective analysis of the problem.  To solve a problem, you must be able to analyze it from every angle. Your analytical skills will also help you identify and propose solutions that can resolve the problem.

Analytical skills allow you to assess data and processes to find solutions to a company's challenges. These include:

Forecasting

Data analysis

Interpretation of data and metrics

Deductive reasoning

Inductive reasoning 

Diagnostics

3. Critical-thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to process details with a particular flow and draw connections between concepts and facts. In other words, it's “thinking about thinking” – or finding and fixing flaws in the way we think.

The ability to think critically is the foundation of problem solving. Unless you can see the big picture, you won't be able to identify the pros and cons of different action plans. 

Critical thinking includes:

Interpretation

Open-mindedness

4. Decision making

Decision-making is the ability to choose solutions to problems. Simply stated, it's taking the relevant collected data, considering multiple viewpoints, and making an informed choice.

Once the choices are narrowed down, you'll need to pull the trigger – knowing you'll be held accountable for the decision. At times, you may need to make these decisions quickly, even if the wrong decision might make the problem worse. The ability to make proper use of your research and analysis to select the best action plan is a valuable skill. Components of this skill include:

Emotional Intelligence

Organization

5. Creativity

Sometimes, the best solution is only found by thinking outside the box. That demands creativity. 

Creativity is the ability to approach a task or a challenge in a different way. In other words, it's possessing the imagination to generate new ideas and find interesting approaches and unique perspectives. Creativity is often described as

Divergent thinking

Inspirational thinking

Outside-the-box thinking

Experimental thinking

6. Communication

Strong communication skills are vital during all phases of problem solving:

While identifying and analyzing the problem, you'll need to know how to communicate the core issues to others.

When researching the background of the issue, you'll need to know what communication channels are appropriate when seeking guidance.

When brainstorming possible solutions, you will need to know how to guide a team through positive and effective discussions.

Then, once you find a solution, communicating the action plan with clarity and precision is key to avoiding confusion and achieving proper implementation. 

No problem would ever be solved without good communication skills at work. 

Communication skills, however, include a much broader array of abilities beyond just speaking clearly. They also encompass listening in ways that make your colleagues feel heard, body language that puts your audience at ease, and vocal pitch adjustments to make your point land better. Here are a few common communication skills:

Active listening

Giving constructive feedback

Presentation / visual communication

Nonverbal communication

Written communication

Oral communication

Voice modulation

Rapport building 

7. Collaboration

In the business world, most problems are solved by teams of dedicated personnel, working in collaboration with one another. When highlighting this skill, you need to show how you've worked effectively as part of a team to generate and implement solutions.

Collaboration, by definition, means working with one or more individuals to complete a task. In the workplace, collaboration can be brainstorming ideas, delegating tasks to individual strengths, layering pieces of a process, or bringing together the team to understand the bigger picture.

When people work together, they're more effective at problem solving than when attempting to go it alone. Successful collaboration with your coworkers also increases their motivation and engagement at work, making them feel like they're an important part of the team. 

Collaboration includes:

Long-term thinking

Adaptability

Positive debate

Emotional intelligence

The bottom line

In an increasingly complex business environment, the ability to solve problems is more important than ever before. As a result, including these high-value problem-solving skills on your resume can help to ensure that employers recognize your full value proposition as a prospective new hire. That, in turn, can help to separate you from your competition and increase your odds of landing an interview and job offer.

If you want to make sure that the problem-solving skills in your resume are making the right impression on employers, take a few moments to get your free resume review from our team of experts today!

Related reading:

9 Soft Skills Employers Are Looking for in 2022

11 Steps to Writing the Perfect Resume

Standout Skills for a Resume: How to Make your Resume Great  

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• Career Blog

Logical Thinking in the Workplace: A Complete Guide for 2024

In any workplace, logical thinking plays a vital role in ensuring the success and effectiveness of everyday operations. Logical thinking involves the use of reasoning, critical thinking and deduction to solve problems and make decisions based on sound principles and evidence-based facts.

In the modern workplace, the pace of business is faster than ever before, and employees are consistently faced with complex issues that require quick and effective problem-solving skills. Logical thinking helps employees to analyze data, identify patterns and make decisions that are based on facts, rather than simply relying on gut instincts or assumptions.

Importance of Logical Thinking in the Workplace

The ability to think logically is crucial for success in the workplace, regardless of an individual’s profession or industry. When employees are logical thinkers, they can communicate effectively, break down complex information into manageable pieces, and apply insights and ideas in the best interest of the company.

Benefits of Logical Thinking in the Workplace

Employees who are skilled in logical thinking can identify problems more easily, create efficient solutions and make informed decisions based on the company’s strategic goals. Furthermore, logical thinking facilitates a working environment of collaboration, creativity, and innovation, leading to improved teamwork and job satisfaction.

Definition of Logical Thinking

Logical thinking is a cognitive process of evaluating information and situations and making decisions based on empirical evidence and sound principles. It involves collecting and analyzing data, identifying trends and making inferences based on objective facts, and drawing conclusions based on the insight gained through logical analysis. Logical thinking typically involves breaking down complex problems into simpler components, and then applying reasoning and problem-solving techniques to identify the best possible solutions.

Logical thinking is a fundamental skill that is essential for success in the workplace. By providing a strong framework for problem-solving and decision-making, logical thinking can lead to increased efficiency, productivity, job satisfaction, and overall success in any organization.

The Role of Logical Thinking in the Workplace

In order to succeed in the workplace, you need to be able to think logically. Logical thinking is the process of using reasoning and critical thinking skills to arrive at a conclusion. It involves separating the facts from the opinions and analyzing the evidence in order to make informed decisions.

A. Understanding the Impact of Logical Thinking on the Workplace

Logical thinking plays a crucial role in the workplace. It helps individuals to solve problems, make decisions, and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. Logical thinking is essential for achieving success in many different fields, from science and engineering to business and finance.

B. Types of Logical Thinking Used in the Workplace

In the workplace, there are several types of logical thinking that are commonly used. These include deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, and abductive reasoning.

Deductive reasoning involves drawing conclusions based on a set of premises or assumptions. For example, if you know that all dogs are mammals, and you observe a new animal with fur and four legs, you can logically deduce that it is a mammal.

Inductive reasoning involves drawing conclusions based on patterns and observations. For example, if you observe that every time you turn off your computer, it stops working, you can logically induct that turning off the computer is causing it to stop working.

Abductive reasoning involves making educated guesses based on incomplete information. This type of reasoning is often used in problem-solving situations where the individual does not have all the facts. For example, if a client complains about a product malfunction, you can use abductive reasoning to narrow down the possible causes of the problem.

C. Examples of Logical Thinking Applied in the Workplace

In the workplace, logical thinking is applied in a variety of situations. Here are some examples:

• A sales manager uses deductive reasoning to determine which sales techniques are most effective with different types of clients.
• An engineer uses inductive reasoning to develop a new product design based on previous successful designs.
• A marketer uses abductive reasoning to figure out what might be causing a drop in customer engagement with a new advertising campaign.

Logical thinking is an essential skill for success in the workplace. By understanding the impact of logical thinking, the types of logical thinking used in the workplace, and examples of logical thinking applied in the workplace, individuals can develop this skill and use it to their advantage in their career.

Key Elements of Logical Thinking

Applying logical thinking in the workplace can help you make sound decisions, solve complex problems, and enhance your critical thinking skills. In this section, we will discuss the six key elements of logical thinking that can help you become a more effective problem solver.

A. Identifying the Problem or Situation

The first step in logical thinking is identifying and defining the problem or situation that needs to be solved. This involves asking the right questions, gathering information, and understanding the context of the problem. It is important to be clear and specific about the problem to avoid confusion and misinterpretation.

B. Gathering and Analyzing Information

Once you have identified the problem, the next step is to gather and analyze information related to the problem. Gathering information involves collecting data from relevant sources such as documents, reports, and interviews. Analyzing the information involves evaluating its relevance, reliability, and validity. This helps you gain a better understanding of the problem and identify potential solutions.

C. Identifying Assumptions

Assumptions are beliefs or ideas that people take for granted without questioning them. Identifying and challenging assumptions is an important step in logical thinking. Assumptions can be based on personal biases, stereotypes or incomplete information. By identifying and analyzing assumptions, you can gain a more accurate understanding of the problem and avoid making hasty conclusions.

D. Establishing Criteria for Making Decisions

Once you have a clear understanding of the problem and have gathered relevant information, the next step is to establish criteria for making decisions. Criteria are the standards or guidelines that are used to evaluate different alternatives. This involves considering factors such as feasibility, cost, benefits, and risks.

E. Analyzing and Evaluating Alternatives

After establishing criteria, the next step is to identify and analyze different alternatives to address the problem. This involves evaluating the pros and cons of each alternative and determining its suitability for the situation. It is important to consider the potential outcomes of each alternative and their impact on the organization.

F. Making Deductive and Inductive Reasoning

Deductive and inductive reasoning are two types of logical reasoning that can be useful in decision-making. Deductive reasoning involves using general principles or rules to make specific predictions or conclusions. Inductive reasoning involves using specific observations or data to make generalizations or hypotheses. Both types of reasoning can be used to support decisions, depending on the context of the problem.

Applying logical thinking in the workplace involves a systematic approach to problem-solving that involves identifying the problem, gathering and analyzing information, challenging assumptions, establishing criteria, evaluating alternatives, and using deductive and inductive reasoning. By using these key elements, you can develop your critical thinking skills and become a more effective decision-maker.

Tips for Developing Logical Thinking Skills

The ability to think logically is a critical skill in the workplace. It allows individuals to evaluate complex situations and make sound decisions with limited information. Here are five tips for developing logical thinking skills:

A. Identify Biases and Assumptions

Everyone has biases and assumptions that influence their thinking. These can lead to flawed conclusions and decisions. The first step in developing logical thinking skills is to recognize and acknowledge these biases and assumptions. This can be done through introspection, seeking feedback from others, and engaging in conversations that challenge preconceived notions.

B. Applying Critical Thinking Strategies

Critical thinking is the application of logical and systematic analysis to information to reach well-reasoned conclusions. It involves questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and considering alternative perspectives. To apply critical thinking strategies in the workplace, individuals should learn to ask effective questions, gather and analyze data, and make informed decisions based on sound reasoning.

C. Encouraging Creativity

Creative thinking is essential to developing innovative solutions and strategies. It involves generating new ideas, looking at things from different perspectives, and exploring unconventional approaches. To encourage creativity in the workplace, individuals should be open to new ideas, collaborate with others, and create an environment that values experimentation and risk-taking.

D. Practicing Analytical and Reasoning Skills

Analytical and reasoning skills are necessary to evaluate complex information and make informed decisions. It involves breaking down complex problems, identifying patterns and trends, and evaluating the potential impact of different scenarios. To practice analytical and reasoning skills, individuals should work on puzzles, engage in thought experiments, and seek out opportunities to analyze data and solve problems.

E. Enhancing Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover from adversity and setbacks. It involves maintaining a positive attitude, adapting to change, and persevering through difficult circumstances. Enhancing resilience requires cultivating a growth mindset, building strong relationships, and developing coping strategies to manage stress and setbacks.

Developing logical thinking skills is an ongoing process that requires self-awareness, critical thinking strategies, creativity, analytical and reasoning skills, and resilience. By practicing these skills, individuals can make well-informed decisions, solve complex problems, and contribute to a more effective and productive workplace.

Techniques to Improve Logical Thinking in the Workplace

In any workplace, logical thinking is an essential skill that employees need to have to make informed decisions and solve problems effectively. Employers should take steps to help their workforce improve their logical thinking skills to enhance their overall performance. Here are five techniques that can help in improving logical thinking in the workplace:

A. Socratic Questioning

Socratic questioning is a cognitive approach to critical thinking that can be helpful in the workplace. This method involves asking strategic questions that require deep reflection and exploration of a particular idea or issue. Employers can train their employees to use this technique to improve their ability to process information and identify potential problems or weak points.

B. SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis is a tool used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a business or project. It promotes logical thinking by breaking the problem down into manageable parts, which helps in finding potential solutions, and helps employees identify what the organization or a project needs to work on, and what can be leveraged for success.

C. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a creative approach to organizing information visually. The process involves brainstorming ideas and then connecting them through diagrams, graphs, or other graphical representations. Mind mapping can help in logical thinking by allowing employees to approach a problem from multiple perspectives and connections, which can be useful in identifying potential solutions.

D. Flowcharting

Flowcharting is a visual representation of a process or system that can be used to highlight the various steps involved in a project or task. It enables logical thinking by providing an overview of the entire process, and the flow of events that lead to a successful outcome. It’s a helpful technique for employees who need to troubleshoot complex tasks with heavy dependencies.

E. Fishbone Diagram

Fishbone diagram or Ishikawa diagram is a problem-solving tool that helps individuals identify possible causes of an issue. In this technique, the problem is identified at the head of a fishbone shape, and contributing factors are shown on the bone itself. By detailing the problem and its causes, employees can gain a better understanding of the issue and the necessary steps for finding solutions.

Improving logical thinking in the workplace is crucial for any organization’s success. Using these techniques can help employees develop stronger analytical and critical thinking skills while promoting problem-solving abilities. With the right training and tools, employees can become more efficient and effective at their jobs, creating a more productive and innovative workforce.

Barriers to Logical Thinking in the Workplace

As important as logical thinking is in the workplace, various barriers can make it challenging to achieve. These barriers can stem from a negative mindset and attitudes, resistance to change, fear and uncertainty, poor communication and collaboration, and organizational culture.

A. Negative Mindset and Attitudes

Negativity is a significant barrier to logical thinking in the workplace. Employees with a negative mindset and attitude may exhibit pessimism, apathy, and low morale. Such employees may shy away from taking responsibility for tasks or take on tasks with minimal effort, which can lead to mistakes, missed opportunities, and subpar results.

B. Resistance to Change

Inertia often sets in when change is introduced into the workplace. Employees may resist changes in job roles, procedures, or technology, making it challenging to apply logical thinking to adapt to change. Rather than welcoming the change and the opportunity it presents, employees may grumble, question, or outright reject it, hindering the development of logical thinking skills.

C. Fear and Uncertainty

Fear and uncertainty are common problems in the workplace that limit logical thinking ability. Fear and uncertainty in the workplace may arise from various factors, including job insecurity, pending layoffs, or lack of job satisfaction. Employees facing such fears may avoid undertaking new responsibilities, fail to communicate effectively with colleagues, or restrict their contributions, limiting their and the organization’s potential.

D. Poor Communication and Collaboration

Communication and collaboration are essential aspects of logical thinking in the workplace. Poor communication and collaboration practices limit organizational productivity, and can hinder the adoption of logical thinking strategies. Employees may misunderstand or misinterpret one another, leading to errors, burnout, and low morale.

E. Organizational Culture

Organizational culture is the collective attitudes, values, and beliefs that shape the workplace environment. A workplace culture that does not prioritize logical thinking may limit employees’ ability to think critically, participate actively in problem-solving, or even stigmatize logical thinking’s importance. Organizations must nurture a culture of logical thinking that promotes openness, creativity, and innovation to remove the barriers to logical thinking in the workplace.

The barriers to logical thinking in the workplace are significant and multifaceted. Organizational leaders must create an environment that supports and nurtures logical thinking, promoting teamwork, communication, and collaboration to remove the barriers and empower employees to think critically, solve problems, and achieve results.

Examples of Logical Thinking in the Workplace

Logical thinking is essential in the workplace to help companies make informed decisions and solve complex problems. Here are five examples of how logical thinking is applied in various aspects of the workplace.

A. Analyzing Data to Improve Operations

Data analysis is a key component of logical thinking in the workplace. By examining data, companies can identify patterns, understand trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve operations. For example, a company may analyze sales data to identify the best-selling products, which can help improve inventory management and boost profits.

B. Developing Strategies to Address Business Challenges

Logical thinking also plays a crucial role in developing strategies to address business challenges. Companies must identify the root cause of a problem and develop a practical solution. By using analysis and critical thinking, businesses can develop effective strategies to address various challenges, such as declining sales or production issues.

C. Exploring New Market Opportunities

Companies must be able to adapt and keep up with changing market trends. A key aspect of logical thinking is the ability to identify new market opportunities and trends accurately. By exploring new market opportunities, companies can expand and grow, ultimately leading to increased profits.

D. Identifying Root Causes of Problems

Logical thinking is also used in identifying the root causes of problems. Often, issues occur because of more than one factor, making it challenging to identify the primary cause. By using logical thinking, companies can analyze data, gather insights, and identify the root cause of any problem, making it easier to develop effective solutions.

E. Enhancing Customer Experience

Logical thinking is also essential when it comes to enhancing customer experience. By analyzing customer behavior and feedback, companies can develop personalized strategies to improve the customer experience. For example, a company may use data analysis to identify common customer issues, enabling them to develop customized solutions that address the needs of individual customers.

Logical thinking is a valuable skill that plays a crucial role in various aspects of the workplace. Whether analyzing data, developing strategies or addressing business challenges, logical thinking is an essential skill for success in any line of work. Using the examples shared above, businesses can optimize their operations, increase customer satisfaction, and grow their business in today’s competitive market.

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The Importance of Logical Thinking in the Workplace

Definition & Examples of Logical Thinking

What Is Logical Thinking?

What is deductive reasoning, the importance of logical thinking, examples of logical thinking.

• How to Demonstrate Logical Thinking

What is logical thinking, and why is it important to employers? The word "logic" comes from the Greek word meaning "reason." Employers place a high value on workers who display strong logical thinking or reasoning skills because their  decision making  is based on factual data. In most cases, organizations don’t want employees making decisions influenced by emotions instead of facts. 

Logical thinkers observe and analyze phenomena, reactions, and feedback and then draw conclusions based on that input.  They can justify their strategies, actions, and decisions based on the facts they gather.

Logical thinkers don't go with their gut or develop a strategy because it "feels right." Logical thinking also requires clarifying assumptions and setting aside biases, as far as possible. Here's an example:

A sales representative modifies a presentation about a product to highlight its user-friendly qualities after receiving feedback from customers indicating that ease of use was the primary reason that they had purchased the product. 

Logical thinkers can also  reason deductively . They can identify an acceptable premise and apply it to situations that they encounter on the job. Here's an example:

An organization may work with a core belief that employees are more productive if they have control over the ways they carry out their responsibilities. A manager could demonstrate logical thinking using deductive reasoning by meeting with subordinates, communicating department goals, and structuring a brainstorming session for staff to decide methods for reaching those objectives. 

Logical thinking helps all employees process facts and implement reasonable solutions rather than acting solely on their emotions. A strategy set based on logic may also be more compelling to other employees than a feeling-based strategy. 

The following are some examples of logical thinking in the workplace. Take a look at this list, and think about situations at work where you have used logic and facts—rather than feelings—to work toward a solution or set a course of action.

• Conducting market research tests to gauge consumer reactions to a new product before devising an advertising strategy.
• Developing a recruiting profile for new sales representatives based on an assessment of the qualities of the company's most productive sales representatives.
• Recommending a strategy for quitting smoking after reviewing the latest overview studies on smoking cessation.
• Analyzing reviews by restaurant customers before structuring training protocols.
• Surveying employees about their preferences for employee benefits before finalizing contracts with vendors.
• Soliciting feedback from users about their experience with software before creating the next generation.
• Deciding who to designate as team leader after comparing the past evidence of leadership behaviors by prospective candidates.
• Interviewing departing employees to uncover patterns of unwanted turnover.
• Reaching out to colleagues at other organizations to discover high-impact practices before finalizing a strategy for the next cycle.
• Creating campaign slogans based on an assessment of hot-button issues for potential voters.
• A contractor recommending extra insulation, high-efficiency heating, cooling equipment and appliances, and a passive solar design to a customer who wants the most energy-efficient home possible.

How to Demonstrate Logical Thinking as a Candidate

During job interviews, you likely won't hear an  interview question  that directly mentions logical thinking. That is, interviewers won't say, "Tell me an example of a time you used logic at work." Instead, an interviewer may say, "Tell me about the steps you took to determine the next stages in that project you mentioned." Or, they may ask, "How would you respond if a newly launched product received negative feedback?" 

In your answers to questions like this, you want to outline the steps you'd take for the given scenario.

Walk through the process you'd use to arrive at a decision—or share an example of how you set a strategy in the past.

You can talk about what questions you asked, data you pulled, or research you analyzed to come to conclusions. This will help showcase your logical thinking skills. 

You can also emphasize logical thinking abilities in your resume or cover letter. Again, you'll just want to outline your process. For instance, instead of simply saying, "Created a new training program," you could add more details:

"Solicited and analyzed customer feedback, then created a new employee training program to address areas of weakness and standardize employee performance."

As a reminder, employers seek candidates with a track record of logical thinking because it ensures a smooth decision-making process. 

Springer. " Logical Reasoning and Learning ." Accessed June 15, 2021.

American Psychological Association. " Deductive Reasoning ." Accessed June 15, 2021.