Analytical Interview Questions: Why You Should Test Candidates' Analytical Skills
Analytical Interview Questions: Why You Should Test Candidates' Analytical Skills
Analytical Interview Questions: Why You Should Test Candidates' Analytical Skills
Use these sample analytical skills interview questions to discover how candidates approach
complex situations and evaluate information to reach decisions or solve problems.
Every position requires analytical skills. For some roles (e.g. Investment Banker), methodical
thinking is key, while for others (e.g. Marketing Strategist) brainstorming abilities are more relevant.
Regardless of how they approach problems, employees with sharp analytical skills are able to
confidently connect the dots and come up with solutions.
The following analytical interview questions will help you assess how candidates:
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Tips to assess analytical skills in interviews
Pose hypothetical but job-related scenarios to test candidates’ way of thinking. It’s
important to figure whether they take all relevant factors into consideration.
Make sure you give candidates enough time to come up with an answer. These types of
questions usually require thinking through a situation and evaluating given facts.
“Highly analytical” is often confused with “losing the big picture.” Look for people who can
prioritize what’s most important and ignore irrelevant information.
Candidates who are intrigued by challenges are more likely to effectively manage complex
situations on the job. Keep an eye out for candidates who don’t easily quit when faced with
problems, even if they can’t immediately find solutions.
Red flags
They give canned answers. Candidates tend to describe themselves in resumes and
interviews as highly analytical, organized and detail-oriented. If they can’t support these
skills with examples from real work experiences, they mightn’t be honest.
They only scratch the surface. Candidates who don’t ask follow-up questions are likely
to jump to rushed conclusions or miss out on important facts when dealing with a challenge.
They have poor communication skills. Thorough analytical skills should be paired with
the ability to communicate ideas to coworkers, managers and clients. Candidates who
struggle to explain technical details (e.g. rates) using simple language will find it hard to be
effective in their roles.
They make assumptions. Analytical skills go hand-in-hand with critical thinking.
Candidates who take things for granted and don’t fact-check tend to make more superficial
decisions.
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