The answer to this question demonstrates that the candidate understands their own specific critical thinking skills and is able to communicate them clearly. It also shows that the candidate has the confidence necessary to defend their capacity for critical thinking and effective decision-making. What to look for in an answer:

• Understanding of what critical thinking skills are

• Able to confidently defend their self-assessment

• Ability to communicate clearly

This interview question establishes that the applicant has previous experience with critical thinking in tough workplaces, and they've been able to handle it responsibly. It also shows that the candidate is forthright enough to discuss their previous work experience and apply what they learned when onboarding with you. What to look for in an answer:

• Adequate previous experience

• Honesty about experience

• Calmness under stress

This critical thinking interview question helps you assess whether the applicant can exercise this skill set and persuade others to trust their arguments. It also shows that their former colleagues trusted them and that they're able to work well as a member of a team. What to look for in an answer:

• Shows ability to consistently think critically

• Demonstrates previous employer’s confidence in candidate

• Persuasion skills

The applicant’s answer to this important question establishes that they understand the mechanics of critical thinking and are familiar with the concept in an abstract sense. It also shows that they can clearly distill their key ideas and demonstrates their cognitive preferences. What to look for in an answer:

• Abstract understanding of critical thinking

• Ability to simplify complex subjects

• Demonstration of cognitive preferences

In their answer to this interview question, a candidate establishes previous experience with important decisions and critical thinking in their life. They also demonstrate how effectively they can apply and translate personal life experiences to the workplace. The question is useful for filtering out candidates who are too timid for the stresses of certain jobs. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience with high-impact decisions in life

• Applies life lessons to workplace complexities

• Indicator of timidity in critical thinking

How an applicant answers this question indicates their level of experience in navigating through tough situations on the job. The scope of the difficulty they describe can also demonstrate how much responsibility they were given in previous positions. It establishes a bit more about the candidate’s ability to make hard choices despite their emotions. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience with tough work situations

• Previous levels of responsibility

• Reveals critical reasoning process

A candidate’s answer to this question shows their ability to communicate with their supervisors and their dedication to clear, unvarnished communication both up and down the chain of command. Their answer also demonstrates their level of courage in pointing out weaknesses among their supervisors that affect them. What to look for in an answer:

• Strong communication skills

• Frankness and perceptiveness

• Courage to communicate problems directly with superiors

How the candidate answers this question demonstrates their capacity for improvising solutions and showing initiative based on their trust in their own critical thinking and decision-making skills. It also indicates that the applicant isn’t too timid to make an urgent customer relations choice, despite a lack of clear and present supervisory approval. What to look for in an answer:

• Confidence during emergencies

• Resilience to panic

• Aggressive responsiveness

How candidates answer this critical thinking interview question will be a strong indicator of how they reason their way through difficult choices and complex issues. You'll be able to assess how much emotional reasoning they use and how much they depend on hard data when coming to conclusions, as well as their communication skills. What to look for in an answer:

• Complex reasoning

• Emotional vs. logical thinking

• Communications skills

A candidate’s answer to this question helps demonstrate their understanding of workplace dynamics and effective team organization. It also shows that they keep a critical eye out for problems beyond the scope of their immediate duties. Finally, how they answer indicates how frankly they can speak to their supervisors about team or company problems. What to look for in an answer:

• Wider workflow understanding

• Attention to broader workplace dynamics

• Frank assessment of situations