Inductive Reasoning in the Workplace

By Alison Doyle
Updated September 22, 2017

Inductive reasoning is a type of logical thinking that involves forming generalizations based on

specific incidents you've experienced, observations you've made, or facts you know to be true or
false. 

Inductive reasoning is different from deductive reasoning, in which you start with a

generalization or theory, and then test it by applying it to specific incidents.

Inductive reasoning is an important critical thinking skill that many employers look for in their
employees.

Therefore, it is a useful skill to highlight in your job applications and in your job interviews.

Read below for information on when you might use inductive reasoning in the workplace. Also
see advice on how you can highlight your inductive reasoning skills during the job search
process.

Inductive Reasoning in the Workplace

Employers value workers who can think logically as they solve problems and carry out tasks, and
who can discern patterns and develop strategies, policies, or proposals based on those tendencies.
These employees are practicing inductive reasoning. 

Here are some examples that will enhance your understanding of inductive reasoning. Read them
over, and then reflect on instances of inductive reasoning in your own professional experience. 

1. A teacher notices that his students learned more when hands-on activities were incorporated
into lessons, and then decides to regularly include a hands-on component in his future lessons.

 
2. An architect discerns a pattern of cost overages for plumbing materials in jobs and opts to
increase the estimate for plumbing costs in subsequent proposals.

3. A stock broker observes that Intuit stock increased in value four years in a row during tax
season and recommends a buy to clients in March.

4. A recruiter conducts a study of recent hires who have achieved success and stayed on with the
organization. She finds that they graduated from three local colleges, so she decides to focus
recruiting efforts on those schools.

5. A salesperson presents testimonials of current customers to suggest to prospective clients that

her products are high quality and worth the purchase.

6. A defense attorney reviews the strategy employed by lawyers in similar cases and finds an
approach that has consistently led to acquittals. She then applies this approach to her own case. 

7. A production manager examines cases of injuries on the line and discerns that many injuries
occurred towards the end of long shifts. The manager proposes moving from 10-hour to 8-hour
shifts based on this observation. 

8. A bartender becomes aware that customers give her higher tips when she shares personal
information, so she intentionally starts to divulge personal information when it feels appropriate
to do so.

9. An activities leader at an assisted living facility notices that residents light up when young
people visit. She decides to develop a volunteer initiative with a local high school, connecting
students with residents who need cheering up.

10. A market researcher designs a focus group to assess consumer responses to new packaging
for a snack product. She discovers that participants repeatedly gravitate towards a label stating
“15 grams of protein." The researcher recommends increasing the size and differentiating the
color of that wording.

Highlight Inductive Reasoning in Your Job Search 

If the employer explicitly mentions inductive reasoning in the job listing, or if you know it is
critical to the job, you might mention it in your job application materials. For example, you can
provide an example of successfully using inductive reasoning in your cover letter, or you can
include inductive reasoning in your resume summary or list of skills.

A question about your inductive reasoning skills might come up in a first or second interview.

As a job candidate, you should review your past roles and identify situations in which you have
applied inductive reasoning. Think of times when inductive reasoning resulted in positive
outcomes, as this information can help convince employers that you can independently apply
knowledge learned on the job and pick up the role quickly.

When highlighting your inductive reasoning during an interview, use the STAR interview
response technique. This is an acronym that stands for:

 Situation
 Task
 Action
 Result

First, describe the situation (Where you were working? What project were you working on/).

Then, describe the task (What was your responsibility? What problem did you have to solve?
What observations did you make?).

Next, explain the action you took (What solution did you implement? How did you translate your
observations into a solution or action?).

Finally, explain the result (How did your action help the problem, or help the company more
broadly?). This technique will clearly show the interviewer that you have inductive reasoning
skills that can add value to a company.

Retrieved from: https://www.thebalance.com/inductive-reasoning-definition-with-examples-2059683

Date retrieved: February 10, 2018