1. Creativity

Creativity skills allow candidates to generate original ideas or innovations. In a work setting, creativity can help drive innovation and better solutions.

How to hire for creativity

To attract candidates with creative skills, consider:

• Discussing internally what decisions the position involves and how creative thinking plays a role in success

• Including creativity or creative thinking as a desired skill in your job description

• Listing responsibilities that require creativity in the job description

Assessing creativity

You can assess creativity by providing a candidate with the opportunity to demonstrate these skills during the interview process. You might do this with a practical test. For example, you could ask candidates for a copywriting position to submit a writing sample.

You can also ask questions that require candidates to think creatively by setting up a hypothetical problem with several limitations and asking them to propose a solution.

Roles that may require innovation skills

• Makeup Artist: On film sets and in other environments, makeup artists use creative skills to bring a vision to life or solve an issue related to lighting, color or other visual needs.

• Graphic Designer: Graphic designers rely on creative skills to produce unique logos, website designs and other images that meet client needs.

• Interior Designer: These professionals use a variety of creative skills to ensure a room’s decor is visually pleasing while meeting functional needs.

• Senior Project Manager: Project managers must think creatively to plan and implement solutions that may not initially be obvious.

2. Data analysis

Data analysis skills help individuals evaluate, interpret and visualize data to draw conclusions about trends or outcomes. These skills are critical in supporting data-backed decision-making and optimizing processes to reduce waste, drive efficiencies or enhance other positive outcomes.

How to hire for data analysis

Use these tips to hire for data analysis skills:

• Include relevant language in job descriptions, such as data analysis, statistical analysis or analytical thinking

• Be specific about your data analysis needs. For example, do you want someone with Excel skills, statistics knowledge or big data experience?

• Align job duties with these skills so candidates can see what type of work the role involves

Assessing data analysis skills

You may evaluate data analysis skills differently, depending on the role you’re hiring for. If you need someone with excellent Excel skills, you can require candidates to take a practical test that demonstrates proficiency with the program.

You can also ask questions about specific skills in interviews. For example, if you want to hire someone with statistical analysis skills, you might ask them how they would decide on a relevant sample size in a hypothetical situation you provide.

Roles that may require data analysis skills

• Data Engineer: Data engineers need to understand analysis requirements to create the right environment and processes.

• Information Security Analyst: Technical security often requires fast, accurate analysis of data and situations so IT staff can make the right decisions to protect networks and other resources.

• Market Research Analyst: Marketing analysts must be able to review large amounts of data and identify trends that can inform product development and marketing campaigns.

• Historian: Historians use data analysis skills to understand the world of the past to uncover new narratives and convert information into teaching tools for others.

3. Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking skills help individuals analyze complex situations, think about long-term applications and plan with those factors in mind. These skills are essential for business leaders and other roles, as they help teams align goals with business needs and support growth.

How to hire for strategic thinking

If you want to hire for strategic thinking, your job descriptions should:

• Include language that describes this skill, such as strategic planning , big-picture thinking, goal setting and innovative solutions

• Demonstrate the role’s decision-making responsibilities

• Describe some of your business goals and needs so candidates understand the type of strategy that might be relevant

Assessing strategic thinking skills

Role-playing during interviews can be a great way to assess strategic thinking skills. You can provide a range of hypothetical situations to see what type of goals, solutions and approaches the candidate comes up with. Another way to assess strategic thinking skills is to ask candidates about how they used such skills in past roles to support success.

Roles that may require strategic thinking skills

• Account Manager: An account manager must think strategically to forecast client needs, solve problems and align business and client expectations.

• Brand Manager: Brand managers use strategic thinking skills to create long-term goals and strategies for brand growth.

• Chief Financial Officer: CFOs and other C-suite leaders need big-picture strategic thinking skills to help them lead companies to success.

• Auto Mechanic: Vehicle repair requires strategic thinking as auto mechanics consider a problem, plan and implement an approach to the repair that minimizes work and expenses when possible.

4. Problem-solving

Problem-solving skills allow people to identify challenges, brainstorm ideas, choose the most appropriate solution and implement it. These skills help individuals and teams overcome obstacles, improve processes and drive better outcomes for businesses.

How to hire for problem-solving

When hiring for problem-solving skills, take the following steps:

• Ask yourself what types of problems a person in this position may face and how they can solve them.

• Use that information to draft a relevant job description that lists some of the expectations related to problem-solving for the role.

• Include relevant keywords in the job listing, such as problem-solving, solutions-focused and critical thinking.

Assessing problem-solving skills

You can assess problem-solving skills by asking hypothetical interview questions. Set up a problem a candidate might face and have them come up with potential solutions. Or, ask them about problems they faced in previous roles and how they solved them.

For technical roles, such as developer jobs, consider asking the candidate to take a practical test that lets them demonstrate their relevant skills. For example, you might provide a piece of broken code and ask them to troubleshoot it.

Roles that may require problem-solving skills

• Assistant Property Manager: Problem-solving skills help property management teams come up with fast, quality solutions to tenant or resident concerns.

• Childcare Worker: Daycare workers, teachers and others who work with children use problem-solving skills to teach and support young people and address care issues and conflicts.

• Event Planner: An event planner must be able to quickly assess and address problems to keep events on track and organized.

• Electrician: Problem-solving skills are essential in technical trade positions, and electricians use these skills to evaluate repair needs and apply the right work to each situation.

5. Adaptability

Adaptability allows people to more easily adjust to specific circumstances or priorities. This can enhance a person’s ability to support a team, address customer service needs or grow in a constantly evolving work environment.

How to hire for adaptability

To help ensure you find adaptable candidates, signal that you prefer this trait in job descriptions by:

• Using language related to the skill, such as adaptability and agility

• Including related skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking and comfort with high levels of change

Assessing adaptability

One of the best ways to determine whether a person is adaptable is to look at their approach to work. Ask them about challenges they’ve faced in the past or the hardest thing they’ve overcome. Talking about how someone has adapted to face and overcome obstacles can give you a good idea of their adaptability.

Roles that may require adaptability skills

• Warehouse Worker: Warehouse workers often need to adapt to different workflows, locations or volumes.

• Project Coordinator: Project leaders must be able to adapt as collaborators make changes to goals or to work with different team members.

• Car Salesperson: Salespeople use adaptability to best meet the communication and shopping needs of various customers.

• Executive Secretary: Administrative support professionals must be able to adapt to whatever priority is the focus of a particular day or hour.