How to Answer Job Interview Questions About Creativity

Businesses exist and succeed because of the people behind them. Workers drive growth and development for companies today by thinking of new, creative answers to old issues.

Employers are aware of how vital creativity is for the workplace. Expect questions about creativity for your next job hunt, as it belongs to the top five skills employers look for in their potential employees.

Job interviewers ask creativity questions to learn how you can think outside the box to solve specific or stressful events. But where should you start? Read the article below to learn more about creativity questions and how to answer them for your next job interview.

Why is Creative Thinking Useful in Employment?

When you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, it pays to look at it as a challenge you can turn into a solution. Creativity allows you to get from point A to point B, even with challenges.

Remember that your skill in finding different ways to get the best out of a situation makes you creative. For example, creativity is figuring out a new system for your team to process paperwork or organizing a shared folder for all the documents needed for a new project.

Creativity fuels you and your team to use what you have and what you've learned to defeat hardships. Here are more ways creativity can help a professional work setting:

• Encourages problem-solving skills

  To understand an issue and offer a creative solution, you must know how it works. Creativity allows you to see each factor and its connection to the bigger picture. You'll be able to see what lies behind an issue and how you can fix it.

• Builds teamwork

  As you come up with fresh ideas, you're pushing the limits of what the situation demands. You motivate your team to explore new possibilities and achieve goals together.

• Boosts productivity

  When you have a creative mindset, you know that errors are bound to happen. Being creative encourages you to hear remarks on your work healthily and use them to give better results. It makes it easier to accept and understand feedback on your work.

• Releases stress

  Being creative allows you to look at ideas without boundaries. It can be a great help in relieving yourself from everyday work stress. In creativity, you'll be able to express yourself in different ways. It allows you to be confident in your ability to handle challenges that come your way.

How Do You Answer Creativity Questions in a Job Interview?

Creativity is responding to new challenges and environments, like a job interview. Make sure your skills show through every step of your answer with some tips for answering creative thinking interview questions.

• Provide appropriate instances

  When you're asked about creativity, tell your interviewer about an event that demanded this skill. Discuss when you took a problem as an opportunity, looked at it from another angle, and seized it to give the best possible result.

  Keep in mind that creativity doesn't always mean painting or writing poems. Even in highly technical industries like accounting, creativity is a skill that can help make work easier to get the best results.

• Show your creative process

  More than focusing on your winning results, consider telling your employer the steps you've taken to come up with a new solution. For example, mention how and where you got the fresh idea. Then, explain how your solution can solve other problems, which is ultimately the most effective option. By highlighting your creativity, you also show the interviewer your analytical and communication skills.

• Consider the STAR method

  Use the STAR method to avoid rambling and unnecessary details during your interview. It enables you to provide and discuss instances from your work history in a structured, direct, yet substantial manner.

  Situation: Describe the challenge
  Task: Explain your role in the issue
  Action: Discuss your creative process to solve the issue
  Result: Show the results of your efforts and how it has helped your work

• Be honest

  Remember that creativity is a skill you can always develop but never impose. Creativity and honesty work hand in hand to show off your values and abilities as a worker and impress your interviewer. If creativity isn't your strength, focus on your suggestions to improve a situation instead. To answer questions about creativity, highlight the lessons you've learned from your mentors about it.

Answer Creative Thinking Interview Questions with Ease

Employers value workers who are forward thinkers and can think outside of the box. Ace interview questions about creativity and showcase what you can bring to the table to be the best fit for the job. Browse through job listings on Career.com to explore new opportunities for your job hunt today!