Many people associate creativity with artistic abilities such as painting, composing music, and writing books or poetry. These are all creative endeavors. However, not all creative thinkers are artists. Creative abilities are also required in the corporate world, such as business and law.
But first, what is creative thinking?
Creative thinking refers to the way of looking at things from a different perspective and coming up with solutions towards problems. Other than the already discussed new ways to create new music or stories, creative thinking also enables you to come up with new ideas. Therefore, creative thinking is the ability to look at problems or issues from a new angle. This ability allows you to come up with a unique solution or see that the problem does not necessarily require an answer. Organizations highly value creative thinkers.
Creative thinking can be developed by solving out riddles, being aware of, and being ready to let go of assumptions.
Creative Thinking in Job Searching
Some employers clearly articulate in the job description that they need a creative person. However, others may require creative thinkers even though they do not specify. It is vital that in whichever case, you take advantage of your creative past and give yourself a competitive edge over other interviewees.
In your cover letter and resume, use keywords that demonstrate your creativity. You can consider words such as “innovative” and fresh.” In the cover letter and “Employment History” section of our resume, include specific examples of the number of times your creative thinking ability added value to your former employer. For example, this could consist of how you came up with methods to help your department save money, or how you helped increase efficiency by coming up with a new filing system.
Other than that, you can go a step further and prepare yourself for the oral interview. For example, use the behavioral interview questions and answers to prove that you can handle any situations in the workplace productively. They will help you demonstrate that you have teamwork, self-knowledge techniques, stress management, and problem-solving skills.
Top Creative Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Employers simply don’t hire because you are qualified. Remember, different issues may arise in the workplace. They want creative employees who will help them solve that. When applying for a job, it is important that you highlight how you use your creativity to solve problems.
Communication
Your boss and colleagues in the workplace will appreciate it when you can communicate effectively. Further, your new idea or solution will only be recognized when you can deliver it well. Oral and written communication skills do wonders, even when communicating with vendors and clients.
Communication skills also involve being able to understand a situation well before making any decision about it. This means that you also need to be a good listener. When you ask the right questions to understand any situation better, you can come up with a unique solution.
Open-mindedness
Creativity involves thinking about a situation in a unique and out of the ordinary way. Always set aside any biases or past beliefs so that you can look at the issue in a new way.
Analysis
It is crucial that before you solve any problem, you first understand it well. This involves the ability to sift through things and understanding what they mean. You need analysis skills whether you are looking at an equation, text, lesson plan, or data set.
Organization
It is a common belief that most creative people are quite disorganized. However, organization is an essential aspect of creativity. It is common to get a bit messy when trying out new ideas. However, organize your thoughts well so that other people can understand them clearly and walk with you through your vision. To achieve this, you have to structure an action plan that has clear goals and deadlines.
Final Thoughts
Creativity is held in high regard in the corporate sector. It is essential that you include this skill in your resume, cover letter, and mention it during the interview. Learning to think differently will help you improve your problem-solving ability, and also open your eyes to see other people’s views. In this fast-changing world, the ability to see things differently is an advantage.