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Problem Solving Test

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Type

Cognitive Ability

Time

10 minutes

Level

Medium

Questions

10

About the Test

This test evaluates the candidate’s problem-solving skills across various business functionalities. 

The capacity to solve problems under pressure is a crucial skill to look for in any candidate. It is common for problems to occur in businesses. But how a candidate analyzes the problem and solves the issue differentiates them from other applicants. Problem-solving tests are an excellent tool for assessing a candidate’s analytical skills when presented with complex situations.

This test poses the candidates with potential issues that might arise in different business areas and queries how they would respond in the given situations. The questions force the candidate to think from the point of view of a specified role and gauge how well they resolve the problem successfully with everyone’s best interests in mind.

When recruiting candidates to fill positions in management, operations, and logistics, assessing their problem-solving skills is essential as they are often faced with situations requiring quick reasoning ability to resolve the issue without affecting the reputation of the company. Candidates who clear this test are good at thinking critically, managing clients and stakeholders, handling customers, and making appropriate decisions. The test can identify real talents who possess the capability to create short-term and long-term solutions for problems that might obstruct a company from achieving its goals.

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Skills Measured

  • Client Management
  • Decision Making
  • Customer Escalation
  • Stakeholder Management

Roles

  • Management
  • Project leadership
  • Team leadership
  • Project management
  • Operations
  • Logistics.

Recruiting for Problem Solving

For candidates with good problem-solving abilities, the traditional method of assessing their skills by questioning them about their previous experiences can be inaccurate, and recruiters can lose promising talents. Additionally, cognitive bias may arise while evaluating soft skills during personal interviews.
An objective problem-solving test is designed to assess without bias various skills such as:

Hire the best, every time, anywhere


4.9

Customer Satisfaction

Testlify helps you identify the best talent from anywhere in the world, with a seamless experience that candidates and hiring teams love every step of the way.

1

Client Management

Customer assistance or client management often involves addressing a critical problem or grievance and are key areas determining the success of a business. It requires careful consideration of an issue’s cause and effect and the consequences of the actions taken to resolve it.

2

Decision Making

Making appropriate situational decisions with the given resources is a vital problem-solving skill. A candidate should make suitable choices after identification and careful consideration of the problem, thinking about the possible solutions and repercussions of the issue.

3

Customer Escalation

Problem-solving skills include the ability to identify situations requiring escalation and take appropriate actions. In addition to providing solutions, it is a necessary skill to guide and redirect customers to experienced agents who can help them better.

4

Stakeholder Management

Managing stakeholders requires knowledge about the interests of different parties involved and careful coordination to minimize damages to the overall business. Satisfied stakeholders are critical to the long-term sustainability of any project, and extensive problem-solving skills are required to handle them.

The test is created by a subject-matter expert

Testlify’s skill tests are designed by experienced SMEs (subject matter experts). We evaluate these experts based on specific metrics such as expertise, capability, and their market reputation. Prior to being published, each skill test is peer-reviewed by other experts and then calibrated based on insights derived from a significant number of test-takers who are well-versed in that skill area. Our inherent feedback systems and built-in algorithms enable our SMEs to refine our tests continually.

View sample score cards

Top five hard skills interview questions for Problem Solving

1. Can you walk me through your process for solving complex problems?
Why this Matters?

Problem-solving is a critical skill in any business or technical role, and a skilled problem solver should have a well-defined process for approaching complex problems.

What to listen for?

Listen for the candidate to describe a structured approach to problem-solving, including how they define the problem, gather information, analyze data, generate potential solutions, evaluate those solutions, and implement the best one. Look for examples of how the candidate has used this process to solve complex problems in the past.

2. How do you handle situations where you don’t have all the information you need to solve a problem?
Why this Matters?

Problem-solving often involves incomplete or ambiguous information, and a skilled problem solver should be able to handle those situations effectively.

What to listen for?

Listen for the candidate to describe their approach to handling incomplete or ambiguous information, including how they identify gaps in their knowledge, how they gather additional information, and how they make assumptions and test those assumptions. Look for examples of how the candidate has successfully solved problems with incomplete information.

3. Can you describe a particularly challenging problem you solved and how you approached it?
Why this Matters?

This question allows the candidate to showcase their problem-solving abilities and provides insight into their problem-solving process.

What to listen for?

Listen for the candidate to describe a particularly challenging problem they solved, and how they approached it. Look for examples of how the candidate defined the problem, identified potential solutions, evaluated those solutions, and implemented the best one. Also, listen for how the candidate communicated their solution to stakeholders and how they measured the success of their solution.

4. How do you prioritize and manage multiple competing problems or projects?
Why this Matters?

Effective problem solvers should be able to prioritize and manage multiple competing priorities to maximize productivity and efficiency.

What to listen for?

Listen for the candidate to describe their process for prioritizing and managing multiple competing problems or projects. Look for examples of how they’ve managed complex projects and how they’ve dealt with competing demands for their time and attention. Also, listen for how the candidate balances short-term and long-term priorities.

5. Can you give an example of a problem you encountered that required you to think outside the box to find a solution?
Why this Matters?

Innovative thinking and creativity can be valuable assets in problem-solving, and this question helps assess those skills.

What to listen for?

Listen for the candidate to describe a problem that required them to think outside the box to find a solution. Look for examples of how they generated unique and creative solutions, and how they tested and refined those solutions. Also, listen for how the candidate communicated their solution to stakeholders and how they evaluated the success of their solution.

Frequently Asked Questions for Problem Solving

A problem-solving assessment is a process used to evaluate an individual’s ability to identify and solve problems in a systematic and logical manner. It may be conducted as part of a job application process, in order to determine whether a candidate has the necessary skills and experience to perform a particular role.

The capacity to solve problems under pressure is a crucial skill to look for in any candidate. It is common for problems to occur in businesses. But how a candidate analyzes the problem and solves the issue differentiates them from other applicants. Problem-solving tests are an excellent tool for assessing a candidate’s analytical skills when presented with complex situations.

  • Management
  • Project leadership
  • Team leadership
  • Project management
  • Operations
  • Logistics.

  • Client Management
  • Decision Making
  • Customer Escalation
  • Stakeholder Management

  • It helps to improve decision-making: Problem-solving involves gathering and analyzing information, evaluating options, and making decisions based on that information. This process helps to ensure that decisions are based on sound reasoning and evidence, rather than being made impulsively or based on assumptions.
  • Effective problem-solving is crucial for achieving both personal and organizational goals. By identifying and addressing obstacles and challenges, individuals and organizations can move forward and make progress toward their objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Want to know more about Testlify? Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about our company.

These are ready-made tests, existing in our test library, created by subject matter experts. We have 200+ such skills tests covering various skills from programming skills to DevOps, including Aptitude and Personality testing.

You can go to the ‘Test Library’ tab and search for tests from the Job Role or Test Type drop-down menu.

Currently, we do not offer any sample tests. However, when you select a test, there would be a few practice questions before the start of the actual test, which would give you a fair idea of how the entire test would look.

Our tests typically take between 25-30 minutes to complete.

In case you need to test for a unique skill-set or specialized experience, you can add your own questions and customize the test to suit your requirements.

We’ve put a lot of effort into ensuring a conducive test environment. A stable internet connection, an internet browser with cookies and Java-Script enabled is all that is required!
However, for a smooth test-taking process, we recommend the following browsers:
– Google Chrome
– Internet Expl
– Mozilla Firefox

Yes, our tests are compatible with almost all modern mobile devices (including tablets) that have a webcam installed.

Yes, our tests are EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) compliant and are whetted by subject matter experts, thus having high reliability (test consistency) and validity (accuracy of the test).

Yes! We integrate with popular recruiting tools such as Greenhouse, Lever, GoodTime, and many more.

We are GDPR compliant and take data security very seriously. You have complete ownership of your data. All your data is safe and secure, and we do not expose it to any third party.

Testlify is an excellent tool for assessing candidates’ soft and hard skills. The founder and customer success team were helpful during onboarding and demonstrated a commitment to continuously improving the platform.
Fabrizio Parzanese
Founder, ExpHire
Testlify’s integration with ATS makes it simple to incorporate into recruitment processes. Customizable test suites, open-ended questions, and qualifying questions streamline the candidate assessment process and improve collaboration with hiring managers. 
Benjamin Marsili
 Founder, White
A must-have tool in any HR department! Well thought out a comprehensive platform that shortens the candidate selection time significantly.
Meir Shachar
CEO at PowerLinx
With Testlify, we were able to optimize our initial screening process by upwards of 75%.
We saved a tremendous amount
Gary E. Benedik
President, Arch Advisory Group
Testlify has revolutionized our hiring process by streamlining the screening stage. It has saved us countless hours by allowing us to shortlist the right candidates.
Vipin Kashyap
CEO at Sookshum Labs

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