Is convergent thinking part of your problem-solving process?

Today's employers are always on the lookout for job candidates who can help them overcome challenges with innovative solutions using strong problem-solving skills. To capture their interest, your resume should highlight your own ability to resolve problems – including problem-solving skills that rely on convergent thinking. But what is convergent thinking, and how can it help you in your job search?

In this article, we'll examine convergent thinking and explain how it differs from the divergent thought process. We'll also explore the convergent thought process and consider several examples of this type of thinking. Finally, we'll offer some tips you can use to improve your job search by including convergent thinking in your resume.

What is convergent thinking?

Convergent thinking involves a thought process that focuses on identifying a unique and singular solution by using a logic-based step-by-step process. This process requires you to identify and assess different potential solutions to eliminate nonviable possibilities. This methodical approach to problem-solving is invaluable in any situation in which there is only one acceptable answer to a problem.

Convergent thinking offers a host of benefits for any problem-solving effort. Its focus on finding a singular solution can help expedite any decision-making effort by avoiding needless distractions. Its emphasis on accuracy can help minimize errors and ensure the right solution is found. Meanwhile, critical thinking's reliance on logic and fact can help provide organizational structure to any problem-solving process.

Related reading: 7 Best Problem-Solving Skills for Your Resume + Examples

How does convergent thinking differ from divergent thinking?

To fully understand convergent thinking, it's helpful to consider the difference between convergent and divergent thought processes. While convergent thinkers go through a series of steps to identify a singular solution to a problem, divergent thinkers take a more creative approach to the problem-solving process. Instead of trying to identify a single solution, divergent thinkers brainstorm to identify multiple possible solutions to any challenge. They then focus on identifying the best possible solution from those possible answers.

Related reading: Divergent Thinking: Should You Include this Skill on Your Resume?

The convergent thinking process – step by step

Convergent thinking involves a straightforward thought process involving a series of steps. Below, we've outlined the structured approach that convergent thinkers typically employ in their search for a correct answer or solution:

1.      Identify the issue

The convergent thinking process begins with an effort to identify the problem that needs to be resolved. Whether you're searching for the answer to a question or the solution for a challenge, you'll need to first define the issue so that you have a clear understanding of the task at hand.

2.      Gather information

Once you've identified the problem, you can begin to gather the necessary facts, evidence, and insights you'll need to discover possible solutions. You can gather information by collecting data, conducting research, taking surveys, and speaking with experts, witnesses, and other stakeholders.

3.      Brainstorm possible solutions

Once you've gathered all the available information, you can begin to brainstorm possible solutions. It's important to consider all potential solutions, even those that may seem less likely than others. By keeping an open mind, you can minimize the possibility that you'll miss the answer you're looking for.

4.      Evaluate those possible solutions to find the best option

Once you've created your list of potential solutions, it's time to analyze them to test their viability. You should assess the relative benefits and drawbacks of each possible solution, taking note of their potential effectiveness, disadvantages, cost, etc. The goal here is to eliminate the least viable or effective solutions and identify the best option.

5.      Implementing a plan of action

Once you've identified that best solution, you'll need to create a plan of action you can use to implement it. This often requires consultations with leadership, colleagues, and other stakeholders. Your goal here is to help execute a strategy that implements your solution to resolve the problem. You may also need to monitor the solution's progress, assess the results, and make any changes necessary to improve its impact.

Examples of convergent thinking

The multiple-choice questions you encountered during your time in school are an obvious and familiar example of convergent thinking. Those questions typically provided a series of possible answers to a test question and required you to identify the best possible solution. Some other examples of this type of thought process include:

  • Marketing professionals use convergent thinking to identify the best possible strategy for delivering their message to any given audience. To do that, they typically rely on a host of data about consumer behavior, competitor approaches, and market trends.

  • Finance professionals cannot afford to miss the mark. Budgetary strategy, investment planning, and account management require accurate assessment of data and reasoned analysis that focuses on identifying the right answer to any financial question.

  • Project management is another area in which convergent thinking is essential for success. Project Managers need to be able to quickly assess possible solutions to any project challenge so they can identify the single best solution.

How to include convergent thinking in your resume

Convergent thinking can be an important element of any successful job search – if you understand how to highlight this vital thought process in your resume. The good news is there are ways to incorporate convergent thinking skills into various parts of your resume, including the resume summary, skills section, and work experience section.

The following sections will offer some tips to help you add these skills in each of those sections – with the goal of demonstrating your ability to use convergent thinking to identify the best solutions to any problem you'll encounter.

Related reading: Seven Key Resume Sections and How to Organize Them

Add convergent thinking to your resume summary

When employers review your resume, the summary statement is one of the first things they'll see. By including your convergent thinking problem-solving skills in that section, you can make sure those abilities receive the attention they deserve. One of the easiest ways to highlight these skills is to create a sentence that focuses on how you use your convergent thought process to resolve problems and create real value for employers. For example:

Convergent thinker committed to identifying challenges, analyzing data and facts, and creating effective solutions that positively impact my company, team, and customers.

Related reading: 27 Great Resume Summary Examples to Get Hired

List convergent thinking skills in your skill section

It's also important to showcase convergent thinking abilities in your core competencies or skills section. However, don't just add the words “convergent thinking” to your bulleted list of skills. Instead, focus on highlighting different skills you use as part of the convergent thought process. That will help ensure the employer fully understands how your thought process works to resolve problems and achieve great results. 

For example, you can include skills like:

  • Data analysis

  • Critical thinking

  • Problem-solving

  • Decision-making

  • Research

These types of skills are all commonly used by convergent thinkers as they work through any problem-solving process. Fortunately, they're also abilities that are prized by employers in almost every sector of the economy!

Related reading: What Are Skills? (With Examples and Tips on How to Improve Them)

Highlight convergent thinking examples in your work experience section

You'll also want to showcase these skills in your work experience section. The best way to do that is to incorporate them into several of the measurable achievements you include under each company listing. Below are some examples of potential bullet point achievements that could help you describe how you used these skills to create positive results for previous employers:

  • Incorporated logic-based convergent thought funnel into team problem-solving process that resulted in a 27% reduction in errors

  • Led dynamic 7-person technical assistance team for five years, using superior data analysis and critical thinking to identify and implement solutions that improved employee efficiency by 33%, fueling a 28% boost in sales activity and customer satisfaction

  • As team leader, consistently maintained a 98% success rate in on-site problem resolution, eliminating 21% of system downtime and nonproductivity costs

If you make a list of your previous work achievements, chances are you can come up with similar examples from your own work history. Just select three or four of them and add them to your bullet point accomplishments, using real numbers to demonstrate value.

Related reading: 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

Convergent thinking could help you land your next job!

Companies will always have a need for employees who possess strong problem-solving skills. By highlighting your convergent thinking skills throughout your resume, you can effectively demonstrate your ability to solve any company's problems – which may be just what you need to show that you're the best candidate for the job.

Does your resume showcase your convergent thinking in a way that separates you from the competition? Get your free resume review from our team of experts today!

Recommended reading:

Related Articles: