Why critical thinking isn't just for college students

What comes to your mind when you hear the words “critical thinking?” Many of us think of a liberal arts student poring over philosophical texts on 19th century literature to write an essay or prepare for an upcoming exam. And while this is true, it’s not all that critical thinking encompasses. Critical thinking is the ability to assess situations, analyze information, and make sound decisions. It involves asking insightful questions, synthesizing data, and evaluating solutions. Since the earliest days of the Socratic method, the promotion and development of critical thinking skills has been the cornerstone of western education. It’s not hard to understand why: by engaging our critical thinking skills we’re forced to interrogate the world around us, to challenge our normal patterns of thought, and to rethink concepts we take for granted.

But that doesn’t mean that critical thinking should end the day we receive our diploma. It’s a skill that can be developed over time, and it matters more now than ever before. Today, information travels faster than it ever has, and data is more abundant than ever before. Critical thinking gives us the tools to make the most of the information at hand. And while it may not be something you can see on a resume– it’s a skill that hiring managers should prioritize and employers should encourage.

Our data driven world

The world is moving at an accelerated pace. Technology has hastened innovation, making yesterday’s cutting-edge feel like today’s status quo. With the proliferation of high-speed internet, connected devices, and always-on culture trends can shift in the blink of an eye, and opportunities can disappear as quickly as they emerge. Our information is more accessible than ever: the same data that was once locked in filing cabinets and archives is now just a quick search away. Anyone with a working internet connection has access to the same market research, competitor analysis, and financial data as everyone else.

We’re swimming in a sea of data. The democratization of information has enabled business leaders of all stripes to equip themselves with the insights they need to make informed decisions in real time. In many ways the playing field has never been more level, and as such the competition has never been more fierce. Staying ahead requires more than just access to information or capital, it demands vision, adaptability, and the ability to leverage resources effectively. That’s where critical thinking comes in.

Why critical thinking matters in hiring

Imagine this: you’re a growth consultant for a B2B SaaS company, and you’re trying to determine the ideal week in June to launch a high cost summer ad campaign. To get a more complete picture of how your audience behaves you look at year over year engagement data for the month of June for the previous few years. You notice a strange anomaly: engagement is incredibly strong in the third week of June, except in the past two years: 2023 and 2024. This raises a question: how can we predict engagement for the third week of June, 2025? Are those two years outliers, or the new normal? Knowing which is true will determine whether you spend money on ads that won’t be seen or opt not to serve ads during a very high engagement period.

If this scenario sounds incredibly specific, that’s because it is: it happened to one of our team members. Luckily for the B2B SaaS company, this team member has very strong critical thinking skills. They quickly found an incredibly simple explanation for this trend that also enabled them to project how June engagement would look until the end of time. In 2021, June 19 became officially observed as the federal holiday Juneteenth. In 2021 and 2022, June 19th fell on weekend days, meaning people took a three day weekend. But in 2023 and 2024, June 19 fell in the middle of the week. Engagement dropped because people were less focused and less productive on the weeks where there’s a holiday in the middle.

Armed with this explanation, our intrepid consultant was able to recommend the client launch the campaign in the first week of June and slow down spending for the third week of June, as June 19, 2025 is a Thursday. The ability to ask the right questions, analyze data, and connect seemingly unrelated dots turned a potential marketing misstep into a calculated, data-driven decision. It highlights the importance of stepping back, examining the bigger picture, and understanding the broader context when making decisions.

Critical thinking doesn’t just prevent costly mistakes; it creates opportunities. By recognizing the pattern caused by a federal holiday and its impact on engagement, the consultant wasn’t just solving a problem—they were proactively optimizing the company’s strategy. This type of forward-thinking approach is invaluable in business, where the ability to anticipate and adapt is often the difference between success and failure.

For hiring managers, identifying critical thinkers can be a game-changer. A candidate with strong critical thinking skills doesn’t just perform the tasks they’re assigned—they elevate the role by questioning assumptions, analyzing outcomes, and finding ways to improve processes. The best employees are those who can combine their experience to solve problems and adapt to unexpected challenges. They are the employees who identify inefficiencies before they become major issues, spot opportunities others might miss, and create solutions that save time, money, or resources.

The bottom line

In a world awash with information, the ability to think critically is a necessity. Hiring managers and employers who prioritize critical thinking will build teams that are not just effective, but resilient and innovative. By identifying and nurturing critical thinking skills in the hiring process and beyond, businesses can position themselves for long-term success. It’s not just about avoiding mistakes—it’s about unlocking potential and seizing opportunities in a rapidly evolving world.For more information on how you can incorporate critical thinking in your recruitment process, download our recent research study.