Every role requires the ability to tackle challenges head-on. Problem-solving behavioral questions are how interviewers assess your analytical abilities and logical thinking. They want to see your process for identifying, analyzing, and resolving issues. Expect to answer these decision-making interview questions with clear, step-by-step examples.

Here are some of the most common critical thinking interview questions:

1. “Describe a complex problem you faced at work. How did you go about solving it?”
   • What they’re assessing: Your entire problem-solving framework, from analysis to implementation.
2. “Tell me about a time you had to make an important decision with incomplete information.”
   • What they’re assessing: Your judgment, risk assessment, and ability to act decisively in ambiguous situations.
3. “Walk me through a time you identified a potential issue and implemented a preventative solution.”
   • What they’re assessing: Your proactivity, foresight, and strategic thinking.
4. “Give an example of a time you used data or logic to make a recommendation.”
   • What they’re assessing: Your analytical skills and ability to base decisions on evidence rather than intuition alone.
5. “Describe a time a solution you implemented didn’t work as planned. What did you do?”
   • What they’re assessing: Your adaptability, accountability, and ability to pivot when things go wrong.

For more scenarios, see our list of Specific Problem-Solving Question Examples. To see a model answer, check out our STAR Example: Problem-Solving .

This content supports our Ultimate List of Common Behavioral Interview Questions .