Divergent thinking: Why It’s Important – And Examples

As the workplace evolves, companies are seeking employees to help fuel innovation. As a job seeker in today’s market, you need to highlight problem-solving skills on your resume to show the type of creative value you can bring to a position. 

• But what if your problem-solving style involves some form of divergent thinking? 

• Should you include divergent thinking skills on your resume? 

Absolutely!

Divergent thinking is a skill for solving problems but there are differences between it and other types of problem-solving skills. With that said, it’s time to learn how to include this exciting and innovative skill on your resume.

What is divergent thinking?

Divergent thinking is a type of problem-solving that relies on a less structured approach to finding solutions. You’ve probably worked with a divergent thinker at some point in your career, even if you didn't recognize it at the time.

You can usually identify this type of problem-solving when you see it in action, since the person using it can typically be seen offering a range of possible solutions to any given challenge. In fact, if you're the type of person who enjoys “brainstorming” to solve problems, then you may be a divergent thinker.

Someone with this type of skill can rapidly generate multiple options for solving any problem, including potential solutions that no one else imagines. Supremely talented divergent thinkers are capable of not only thinking “outside the box,” but also work in collaboration with others to refine ideas, discard those that may be unworkable, and figure out ways to implement the best solutions.

Divergent thinking vs convergent thinking vs lateral thinking

One way to better understand divergent thinking is to compare it to two other types of thought processes: convergent and lateral thinking:

• While divergent thinking is more free form in style and structure, convergent thinking is a more linear type of critical thought that relies on analysis, rules, and a consistent chain of logic.

• Meanwhile, lateral thinking applies both convergent and divergent thinking skills – creativity and analysis – to identify a single solution to any problem.

Why do companies need divergent thinkers?

At first glance, divergent thinking skills might seem too chaotic to be of any real value in a working environment. After all, the drive to find the best solution in the quickest time might seem to leave little room for this type of brainstorming. However, experience has aptly demonstrated the need for divergent thinkers in business.

In fact, the divergent approach to identifying potential solutions can enable organizations to create and implement innovative ideas they might otherwise never consider. Moreover, research has shown that divergent thinking skills like brainstorming continue to produce creative ideas and solutions well beyond most participants expectations

How to include divergent thinking in your resume

Of course, your divergent thinking skills can only work to your benefit if you're able to showcase them in your resume and land a job where you can use them to full effect. Fortunately, there are several places on your resume that can be used to effectively highlight these skills.

You should include references to your divergent thinking style in your resume summary, your skill section, and within your work experience section. The goal should be to use those resume listings to illustrate how your ability to think divergently can provide creative solutions to any potential challenge.

Including divergent thinking in your resume summary

Since the resume summary is the first section most hiring managers see, it's important to emphasize your problem-solving skills there. Try to compose a single sentence that describes your divergent approach to solving problems, focusing on the results you can achieve with this style of brainstorming. 

For example:

Divergent thinker capable of quickly and creatively generating multiple innovative solutions to any challenge and maximizing the effectiveness of team brainstorming exercises to enable faster resolution of problems.

Listing divergent thinking skills in your skill section

You can further emphasize this talent in your resume skills section. Here, you can separate some of the elements of divergent thinking into separate skills if you prefer. That can help ensure your reader appreciates how the core components of your thought process work together to produce superior results. 

Some of those key divergent thinking skills can include:

• Brainstorming solutions

• Questioning preconceptions

• Imagination and creativity 

• Reframing problems

Alternatively, if you already have a full list of divergent thinking skills to highlight in this section, you can simply include an extra bullet point to emphasize your skill as a divergent thinker.

Providing examples of divergent thought in your work experience section

Your work experience section can provide another way to highlight divergent thinking skills. Here, though, you'll want to take a different approach. Instead of simply saying that you're a divergent thinker, you should include several examples of how you used divergent thinking skills to resolve problems and achieve your previous employers' goals. 

Here are some examples of how to list those resume achievements.

• Led 10-person team brainstorming sessions for 4 years, consistently creating out-of-the-box solutions that reduced customer attrition by 27%, increased annual sales by 32%, and improved overall customer satisfaction by 19%

• Implemented divergent thought funnel in team meetings, expediting problem resolution and delivering consistent innovation in processes and customer service

• Developed a fast-track analysis system that enabled the team to generate multiple solutions to any problem while quickly analyzing the potential effectiveness of each option

With a little thought and reflection, you should be able to produce several examples of times when your divergent thinking skills provided measurable benefits for an employer. Pick the best two or three examples and drop them into your work experience section to really illustrate the value of your problem-solving skills.

Let your divergent thinking skills pave the way forward

As companies continue to pursue innovation, divergent thinkers are going to continue to be in high demand. To take advantage of that demand, you should make sure that your resume properly conveys your divergent thinking skills to any prospective employer.

Struggling to use your divergent thinking skills to create a compelling resume and land a great job in today's competitive labor market? Get the help you need by obtaining a free resume review from our experts today!

This article was written and updated by Ken Chase.

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