When problem solving is used in selection, the employment professional must be able to assess each candidate's problem solving ability by probing and measuring people from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures and job experiences. Therefore, when problem solving is used in selection, it must be simple enough to allow skill translation from one job to another. Training problem solving is a different matter, because problem solving has a heavy intelligence component. It would take an exceptional trainer to raise someone's IQ in a few hours. The best a trainer can do is to teach effective problem solving techniques.
Problem solving on the job takes an entirely different tack.
Managers and jobholders need clear and explicit understanding about what should be accomplished. In this situation, problem solving must be highly detailed and customizable to provide clear direction and clear objectives. They all work in HR now, and each can prove that it doesn't take a conventional HR background to work in this field. She began her career working on disability determinations for the Colorado Social Security Disability Department and followed that with a stint selling real estate. Then she became interested in technical recruiting through a friend who worked in the field.