What are analytical skills?
Analytical thinkers consider the benefits of each option before deciding on the best step. People with analytical abilities also typically appreciate others’ perspectives. They may use logic and reasoning to solve problems and identify data discrepancies.
Consider the following analytical skills examples.
Critical thinking
Critical thinking skills are essential for creativity and innovation. This ability to consider various alternatives and ways to improve processes makes critical thinking a key quality in potential employees.
Research
Strong research skills enable employees to sort through data to identify innovative solutions to critical business challenges.
Problem-solving
People with excellent problem-solving skills brainstorm solutions through critical thinking and research. They experiment with different approaches to find which works best, collect feedback and make adjustments.
Data analysis
Analyzing data from various sources generally comes easily to individuals with strong analytical skills. Employees with excellent data-analysis skills can improve decision-making by looking at processes from numerous angles and using those observations to boost efficiency.
Why are analytical skills important?
When hiring an employee, employers typically look for skills and experiences to ensure the candidate can perform the essential job functions. An employee with strong analytical skills may bring the following to the workplace:
- Problem-solving: Analytical thinkers often come up with logical solutions to problems. Solving problems quickly keeps your company running smoothly and could help improve efficiency.
- Identifying underlying issues: By breaking down an issue and analyzing all the components, an analytical employee might discover underlying issues or root causes of larger problems.
- Making decisions: A thorough analysis of a situation helps you make a more informed decision. With analytical thinkers on the team, you can make strategic decisions based on data instead.
- Introducing new ideas: Analytical thinkers look at issues from multiple perspectives and develop creative ideas. They can help you stay competitive with their innovative recommendations.
- Working independently: When someone is analytical, they often feel confident researching, analyzing and making decisions with little to no supervision.
Three places to look for analytical skills
During the hiring process, you can typically find evidence of analytical skills in three key places:
- Resumes: Read resumes carefully to find keywords such as analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving and evaluation. If you use automated screening tools, you might enter these keywords into your applicant tracking system (ATS).
- Cover letters: Candidates with strong analytical skills often include relevant keywords in their cover letters. Look for these words and examples of previously demonstrated analytical skills.
- Job interviews: Candidates should provide analytical skills examples during their interviews. If a candidate doesn’t mention these skills, ask targeted questions to assess their experience.
Why should you test analytical skills?
During the hiring process, asking candidates to complete an analytical skills test allows you to assess their logic and reasoning capabilities. Consider whether tests fit the needs of your business:
- Cognitive ability test: Cognitive tests assess a candidate’s memory, ability to reason and comprehension skills. Because a great deal of analytical skill relies on reasoning and critical thinking, these tests can help you identify candidates with the potential to learn quickly and perform at high levels. Examples of cognitive ability tests include the Universal Cognitive Aptitude Test and the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test.
- Skills assessment: Skill assessments measure a candidate’s proficiency in certain hard and soft skills. To measure a candidate’s ability to analyze information, hiring managers might ask candidates to perform tests relevant to the job opening. For example, you may want to assess typing, computer coding or other technical skills.
- Job knowledge test: Job knowledge tests assess analytical skills by asking candidates specific questions about the position, such as how to perform a particular task. To test their analytical skills, ask candidates questions that involve inductive and deductive reasoning abilities.
- Analytical reasoning test: Analytical reasoning tests help assess a candidate’s problem-solving and critical thinking skills. These tests measure several analytical skills with logic problems, business scenarios and questions requiring candidates to demonstrate verbal and graphical reasoning skills.
Best practices in analytical skills testing
When creating analytical tests, consider the most essential skills for your workplace and open position. You can also research the tests other companies require for similar positions.
You might incorporate questions from numerical reasoning tests, logical reasoning tests and cognitive ability tests. Combining questions from multiple tests makes it possible to create a custom assessment for your company.
Administration of analytical skills tests
You can administer an analytical skills test over the phone, in writing or through a video application. However, most analytical skills tests are completed online, with content ranging from multiple-choice questions to open-ended questions requiring written responses. Certain skills tests are timed and monitored by a live proctor.
If a candidate applies for a job or attends an interview in person, consider having a dedicated computer available for skills testing. Alternatively, you can provide a link to an online test and ask each candidate to complete it before the in-person interview. When hiring for remote employment opportunities, many online assessments are available to suit specific industry needs.
When screening candidates for open positions, use analytical tests to discover whether potential employees may succeed with your company. Candidates who score highly on critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis and research may be more likely to succeed in high-level support and management positions.
Activities for improving analytical skills
Engaging in these activities regularly can strengthen the analytical skills of employees across your organization.
1. Good communication with others
Communicating with colleagues, customers and clients helps develop analytical skills because it requires constant information processing. Employees may also improve their analytical skills by explaining their analyses to others.
Verbal and written communication can have beneficial effects. Participating in team-building exercises, delivering customer service and giving presentations generally provide opportunities for communication.
2. Creation and development
Creating professional content often requires analytical skills, as potential problems and areas for improvement must be identified. Participating in creative processes, including brainstorming and collaboration, can improve analytical skills.
Creating a wide range of content can strengthen analytical skills, so you might have your team members create budgets, strategic plans, marketing campaigns or new product ideas.
3. Workplace assessment and evaluation
Workplace assessment and evaluation tasks require employees to apply their analytical skills to improve businesses. While performing these tasks, employees analyze workplace processes, products and marketing initiatives.
4. Data and information analysis
Workers also evaluate external information while completing data- and information-analysis tasks. Employees analyzing industry trends and government policies must examine large volumes of data and look for patterns. This practice goes beyond reading and involves comprehension and analytical skills.
5. Research
Sometimes, employees must perform independent research instead of having data and information presented to them. During research tasks, employees use their analytical skills to define the scope of the project, identify valuable information and synthesize data from several sources. Research often occurs in conjunction with data and information analysis.
6. New skill development
Learning new skills encourages team members to think in new ways because it requires active participation. This deeper level of cognitive function stimulates the brain, potentially improving an employee’s analytical skills.
If you want to help your employees develop new analytical skills, provide opportunities to learn new things. Consider paying for employees to take online classes or offering tuition reimbursement for those who dedicate themselves to continuous learning.
