This article will discuss how to improve quantitative reasoning skills with the Socratic method. Specifically, this article will discuss how to ask better questions to get better answers.
This article is largely based on the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, commonly abbreviated as LIWC or LINC, a qualitative research method that uses statistical interrogation, defining many variables, asking questions, and adjusting the variables based on answers received.
This article will show how this method can be used in the job application process’s testing and interview phases.
The use of statistical interrogation in the interviewing process can give more validity to the candidate’s answers. Most candidates will answer questions about their “background,” and most don’t know their “parents” or “grandparents’” answer to any of those questions.
By using statistical interrogation questions, those answers are collected, and other possibilities are explored. This method gives more weight to the candidate’s responses as opposed to the memorized answers given to the standard interview questions.
Asking several statistical interrogation questions will create a diverse list of possibilities to draw on during the interview.
Effective Socratic questions
I decided to create an interview guide based on the Socratic method. It has 20 questions designed to help the interviewer uncover the best possible candidate for the job.
First, I will outline some types of questions that may be used in the interview process, and then I will offer the most effective questions.
Type 1 questions
- Do you have any degrees that you plan to continue?
- Do you have any certifications you plan to continue?
- What is your favorite subject in school?
- When have you been most successful in any of your jobs?
- What experience do you have in previous jobs or other positions?
- Do you have any special talents, talents, or skills that would be valuable to the organization?
- Do you plan to transfer to a similar position at a different company?
- What do you consider the most important and/or significant features of the job?
- Do you have any hobbies?
- How many hours do you typically work in a day?
- What would you most enjoy doing in a job?
Type 2 questions
- When have you ever failed at any part of your career?
- Would you be willing to work any shift schedule possible?
- Do you consider yourself a confident or ambitious person?
- Do you feel that you are a good fit for this position?
- Do you feel that you have enough work experience?
- What do you enjoy most about this position?
- How can you show the ability to meet the objectives of this position?
- How does this position fit into your career goals?
Type 3 questions
- What kind of work do you do?
- Where are you from?
- What are you proud of?
- What do you like to do for fun?
- How many vacations have you taken since you were 21?
- What are your strong personal qualities?
- Do you plan to work for another five years?
Type 4 questions
- What do you like most about your current job?
- What would you like most to change about your current job?
- Would you be willing to do anything to get promoted?
- How do you think this company compares to other companies in the same industry?
- Do you know why people leave this company?
- What is one piece of advice that you would give to an entry-level employee?
- Do you think that you would fit in well with this company’s culture?
Type 5 questions
- How do you think you would manage different personalities on the team?
- Do you have a long-term career goal?
- What do you think is the most important feature of this position?
- What makes this company unique?
- What is your top priority in this position?
- Is there anything else you would like to know about this company?
Type 6 questions
- What would you do differently if you had the opportunity to design this position from the beginning?
- Do you plan to travel internationally this year?
- How many employees do you work with?
- How long do you think it will take for you to become management?
- What does it take to gain the respect of your colleagues?
- How do you think that you would approach the management process of this company?
- What kind of communication and interaction are most common between employees and management?
- What do you like most about this position?
- What is your favorite part of the workday?
- What is your worst part of the workday?
- What did you consider to be the hardest part of your current job?
Type 7 questions
- Would you like to continue working for this company?
- What is the reason that you would like to continue working for this company?
- What is the reason that you are leaving your current job?
- Would you recommend this company to others?
Type 8 questions
- How important is a challenge in your job?
- What has helped you stay motivated in your job?
- What has been the most valuable benefit of your current job?
- How do you evaluate your own performance?
- How would you rate your progress toward your career goals?
- What characteristics have you found to be most useful in dealing with others?
- Do you have any special skills or expertise that you think could benefit this company?
Type 9 questions
- What are the important decisions that are made at this company?
- How do you handle conflict in your job?
- How often do you have to learn about the job you have now from someone else?
- How do you determine which course of action to take when faced with conflict or conflict resolution?
- Do you have any other career goals in mind?
Type 10 questions
- Are there any jobs at this company you have considered?
- How have you approached your career goals in the past?
- What career changes have you considered?
- Do you think that there will be more in the future?
Type 11 questions
- How did you manage your last job?
- How can you get an unfair advantage in your current job?
- How do you approach the issue of discrimination in the workplace?
- Do you think that you would fit in well with the executive management at this company?
- How do you like your supervisor?
Type 12 questions
- What factors make you feel comfortable and motivated in your job?
- Do you have a mentor in this company?
- What opportunities do you have to develop new skills?
- How would you like to spend your day off?
- Do you have a lot of free time to spend in this company?
Conclusion
The use of quantitative reasoning skills is not uncommon in the workplace today.
Whether it be calculating financial profit and loss, evaluating advertising rates, selecting the best buildings to buy, or the most profitable route to fly to, all of these are done tusingnumbers and calculations.
The more analytical you are, the higher the job you are expected to perform in the workforce.
What will this mean for you?
Well, first off, it means that you need to spend time with a tutor to learn how to do these tasks.
That doesn’t mean you can’t learn by yourself. I did it in my university days, and I assure you that it takes longer.
