Why Problem-Solving Matters to Employability

Some are small:

• a process is inefficient
• a customer is confused
• information is missing
• a deadline is approaching

Others are complex:

• costs are increasing
• a system is failing
• customers are leaving
• teams are struggling to coordinate

Problem-solving helps people move from:

"Something is wrong."

to:

"What is happening, why is it happening, and what could we do about it?"

Strong Problem-Solving Involves More Than Having Ideas

A useful process may involve:

1. defining the problem

2. gathering information

3. identifying possible causes

4. generating solutions

5. evaluating alternatives

6. implementing an appropriate response

7. reviewing the result

For employability, being able to demonstrate how you solved a real problem can be stronger than simply claiming that you are a "problem solver."