20+ Examples of Good Problem Solving Skills for Your CV

Problem-solving skills are a group of soft and hard skills that allow individuals to effectively identify, work on, and create effective solutions to problems. Efficient problem solvers possess hard research and analytical skills combined with soft thought-process and interpersonal skills.

That’s the problem-solving skills definition. The importance of problem-solving skills in the workplace won’t diminish, but putting them on your CV effectively can be a problem in itself. We’re here to solve it.

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Problem solving skills examples on a CV

Examples of problem solving skills

Luckily for you, most problem-solving skills are transferable skills which you could have acquired already, and will be able to apply to many occupations. It may be the case that many successful decisions are made on gut instinct, but that’s not going to work on your CV.

You need proven and quantifiable problem-solving abilities to convince hiring managers that you’re the solution to their problems.

So let’s see the problem-solving skills examples that you could put on your CV:

1. Research

Without solid research and preparation, you could be focusing on the wrong issue. A consistent research method will ensure that you’re working on the right problem with the maximum knowledge and resources.

2. Data analysis

Data analysis doesn’t pertain just to IT skills. Analysing qualitative data, and knowing how to spot trends and patterns, is invaluable to the problem-solving process. Identify the cause, and you’ll be able to identify the solution.

3. Critical thinking

The most important example of problem-solving skills is critical thinking. Following a consistent, logical method from identifying the problem, through considering possible solutions, to finding a way to implement them, ties up all the other skills into one. 

4. Teamwork

Most of the time, problems are solved faster by more than one individual. Whether you’re commandeering the whole team to a solution, or just consulting your thought process with a co-worker, teamwork is important in being an efficient problem solver. 

5. Interpersonal skills

Working together on solving the problem, or implementing your solution, can be difficult if you lack the interpersonal skills to get along with your colleagues. The ability to tailor your approach to different personalities and get them all on the same track speeds everything up.

6. Communication 

Communication skills ensure that once the decision is made, you present your solution in a clear, understandable, and consistent manner. The right tone and presentation can inspire your colleagues to implement the solution—or convince your superiors that it’s the right one. 

7. Creativity

Going off-script can be massively beneficial, like it was for Martin Luther King Jr. with his improvised ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. The ability to think outside the box, or take a calculated risk when it’s needed is rare, and therefore worth its weight in gold.

8. Organisational skills

Organising your problem-solving process, as well as the process of implementation once the solution is agreed, is crucial. There is no use in having the best solution if the implementation process gets muddled and messy. 

9. Reporting

When you make important business decisions, you’ll need to report them and justify them to colleagues and superiors. Presenting the problem, data, thought process and solution clearly is essential if you want to be taken seriously and engage others.

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How to demonstrate problem solving skills on your CV

Now that you have some idea of examples of problem-solving skills, it’s time to discuss how to write that CV! The CV structure might differ some between industries, but the main components are generally the same.

1. Start with your CV personal statement

The CV personal statement adorns the top of every CV and solves the problem of a recruiter quickly and absent-mindedly looking at your application. It’s also known as the CV summary and allows the recruiter to instantly see what you’re about in a few quick lines.

Problem solving skills in the CV summary

2. Write an experience section full of problem solving skills

The most important component is definitely the work experience section. Here’s where the bulk of your problem-solving skills should be, since this is where you can write the most. With these CV tips, you’ll get it right every time.

• Scan the job posting for the skills they need, and put most work in on those.
• List all the different skills, and try to write a bullet point for each. You won’t get all of them, some will end up in the bin, but that’s fine.
• Start as many bullet points as possible with action verbs.
• Quantify with numbers, justify with high-impact accomplishment statements.
• Five plus bullet points for the most recent position, three or less for the older ones.

Job description with problem solving skills

3. Solve your education section

Write down your degree or highest level of education. If you have more than a couple of years of experience, that’s it.

When writing a student CV, you have to get more value out of your CV education section, and talk about some extracurricular activities or relevant modules that show examples of problem-solving skills.

Problem solving skills in the education section

4. Add a skills section

To get some value out of your CV skills section, try the following:

• Either add a short list of additional skills that you haven’t discussed yet, or use this space to reiterate some important points.
• Balance soft skills and hard skills. 
• Two skills with a couple lines of justification could be more memorable than a laundry list of five skills with no explanation.

Problem solving skills in the skills section

5. Include additional sections

Writing a perfect CV requires an informed approach to additional sections, only listing relevant facts that demonstrate your problem-solving skills. It’s done this way:

• Languages, Certificates and Awards should have their own separate sections.
• Provide details about issuers of certificates or awards.
• Ensure that the CV hobbies and interests section adds to your general problem-solver profile, instead of being generic or uninteresting.

Problem solving skills in the extra sections

What else to remember when including problem solving skills on your CV?

If you want to learn a logical and scientific approach to problem solving, MindTools has a completely free series of 45 articles on approaches, processes and tools for problem solving. It’s the best resource we could find, with 10-15 minute reads per module, allowing you to take it step by step.

Make sure to write a cover letter. That gives you approximately 350 words to elaborate just what problems you have faced, took on, and solved in your previous positions. It’s valuable space that your CV cannot provide.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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If you’re still struggling to demonstrate problem-solving skills, or you just need some advice on how to include problem-solving skills examples in your CV, then let us know in the comments section. We’re here to help.

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Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.