Ready to Roar: Problem Solving
July 16, 2024
LSU produces highly capable students that are ready to enter the workplace of any
discipline. The combination of professional experiences, academic pursuits, and involvement
opportunities on and off campus produce graduates that are: Ready to Roar.
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Problem solving
What is problem solving?
The process of designing, evaluating, and implementing a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal. Problem solving is a complex skill that requires a combination of critical thinking, creativity, and analytical skills.
What problem solving looks like:
- Recognizing and clearly defining problems by gathering relevant data, evaluating potential causes, and identifying the root issue.
- Weighing the pros, cons, and risks of different solutions.
- Developing an action plan to address a problem in an ethical and reasonable manner.
- Brainstorming multiple creative options in team projects.
- Managing conflict with empathy, listening to all parties, and working collaboratively to find solutions.
- Navigating changes effectively in real-time, ensuring they don't hinder progress toward the goal.
Where to build problem solving skills as a student:
- Class projects
- Roommate conflicts
- Student employment
- Research projects
- Student organization judicial roles
- Professional internships
How employers may ask about problem solving:
- Tell me about a major conflict you recently handled. Were you successful in resolving it?
- Have you ever been in a situation where you had to act based on your morals vs popular opinion?
- Describe a situation that required several things to be done at the same time.
- Guide me through an experience where you had to anticipate the needs of someone else and create a plan to effectively address those needs.
- Can you describe a time when you had to multitask effectively?
How to put problem solving skills on your resume:
- Generated creative solutions to solve new problems that arose on the job.
- Benchmarked with competitors and compiled into a 20-minute presentation for 11+ sales directors.
- Tested a variety of equipment using factors such as three-point bed, torque, and column strength.
- Provided product recommendations to increase customer satisfaction.
- Researched appropriate product materials based on needed strength and heat endurance.
- Assessed student progress and incorporated new techniques and language to explain complex content.
- Managed restaurant seating chart and ensured that all servers received the appropriate amount
of customers throughout every shift.
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