Critical thinking as an employability skill: How to make better decisions before your first job.

Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate information, consider different perspectives, and make informed decisions when the answer is not immediately obvious.

You use it more often than you might think. Maybe you're deciding between multiple approaches to an assignment, sorting through conflicting information during research, responding to feedback that changes a project's direction, or working with a team to choose the best solution to a problem.

In each of these moments, critical thinking isn't about finding the quickest answer. It's about asking thoughtful questions, analyzing available information, weighing options, and explaining the reasoning behind your decision.

That's why critical thinking is one of the most valuable employability skills you can build before graduation. Employers aren't just looking for people who can solve problems—they're looking for people who can explain how they reached a solution, adapt when new information emerges, and make sound decisions in real-world situations.

The good news is that you can build this skill long before your first full-time role through classroom discussions, group projects, part-time work, volunteer experiences, and real employer projects that challenge you to think critically in authentic settings.

What critical thinking looks like in practice.

Critical thinking can sound academic, but in real situations, it shows up in practical moments.

It is the pause before accepting the first answer. It is the question you ask when something does not quite add up. It is the choice to compare more than one option before deciding what to recommend.

It can look like asking what information is missing, checking whether an assumption is true, noticing patterns, weighing trade-offs, or explaining why one direction makes more sense than another.

These actions help people understand what matters, what needs more thought, and what decision is worth making.

That is the real value of critical thinking: it helps turn information into better questions, better decisions, and better next steps.

In class: Look beyond the first answer.

In class, critical thinking starts when you slow down before choosing an answer or taking a position.

That might mean comparing two perspectives, questioning whether a source is reliable, or explaining why you agree or disagree with an argument. It might also mean noticing when a question has more than one possible answer.

Before your next assignment, discussion, or presentation, ask yourself:

• What is the main question I am trying to answer?
• What information supports my thinking?
• What might I be assuming?
• What is another possible explanation?
• What would make my answer stronger?

Try saying:

“I can see one possible answer, but I want to compare it with another perspective before deciding.”

Or:

“The evidence points in this direction, but I think we should also consider what might be missing.”

Questions like these show that you are not just completing the task; you are engaging with it. You are practicing thinking through information, explaining your reasoning, and making stronger decisions.

In a project: Weigh options with real goals in mind.

Project work is where critical thinking moves from “What is the right answer?” to “What is the best direction for this situation?”

When you are working with a team, employer partner, client, or community organization, there may not be one perfect answer. You may need to understand the goal, sort through information, question assumptions, compare possible solutions, and recommend a direction based on what the project actually needs.

This is why real project experience matters. It gives students a place to practice critical thinking with real goals, real collaborators, real expectations, and real feedback.

For example, a UPEI and RBC collaboration showed how students can apply classroom learning to real-world financial planning scenarios that require analysis, trade-offs, and informed recommendations.

In Riipen’s 2025 Annual Impact Report, 77% of students in project-based coursework reported improvement in critical thinking after Riipen.

As Christopher Morrill, a student at Lakehead University, shared:

“I really liked how it gave me the ability to use my critical thinking skills. Developing these projects kind of opens up a spiderweb of choices, and making the right one counts. [...]”

The takeaway is that critical thinking gets stronger when students have structured opportunities to compare choices and make decisions in context.

During your next project, build critical thinking into the rhythm of the work. Before choosing a direction, ask what the project is really trying to solve. Before making a recommendation, compare at least two possible paths. When you receive feedback, use it to test whether your original thinking still holds.

A useful question can sound like:

“What are the trade-offs between these options, and which one best fits the goal?”

That kind of question helps move the work from opinion to reasoning.

At work: Make informed recommendations.

In professional settings, critical thinking shows up when people need to make decisions with limited time, incomplete information, or competing priorities.

That might mean helping a team compare possible directions, noticing a risk before it becomes a bigger problem, or explaining why one recommendation is stronger than another.

Good critical thinking at work is not about knowing everything. It is about being able to say what you know, what you do not know yet, and what you recommend based on the information available.

Try saying:

“Based on what we know right now, I would recommend this option because it best supports the goal. The main risk is…”

Or:

“Before we decide, I think we should compare the impact, timeline, and resources needed for each option.”

This shows that you are not just sharing an opinion. You are helping others understand the reasoning behind a decision.

For students and early-career talent, that matters. Employers are not only looking for people who can complete tasks. They are looking for people who can think through problems, ask thoughtful questions, and help teams move toward stronger decisions.

Five critical thinking habits to practice this week.

You do not need a formal workplace setting to build critical thinking. Start with small habits you can use in class, on projects, in part-time work, in volunteer roles, or in everyday decisions.

1. Ask what is missing.
Before deciding what to do next, pause and ask, “What information would help me understand this better?” This helps you avoid moving forward with only part of the picture.

2. Check your assumptions.
Notice what you are treating as true. Then ask, “How do I know this?” or “What else could be true?” This helps you separate facts from guesses.

3. Compare more than one option.
The first idea is not always the strongest one. Try listing two or three possible paths, then compare the benefits, limits, and risks of each.

4. Look for trade-offs.
Most decisions involve giving something up. Ask, “What do we gain, what do we risk, and what matters most for this situation?”

5. Explain your reasoning.
Practice saying why you chose a direction. For example: “I recommend this option because it best fits the goal, timeline, and information we have right now.” This helps others understand your thinking and gives them a chance to respond.

How to talk about critical thinking once you have practiced it.

Critical thinking is easier to talk about when you can connect it to a real decision, problem, or recommendation.

Instead of saying:

“I have strong critical thinking skills.”

Try giving a specific example:

“In a recent project, I compared several possible solutions, considered the project goals, and recommended the option that best fit the client’s needs.”

Or:

“During a group assignment, I helped the team question our first idea, review the evidence, and choose a stronger direction.”

This is stronger because it gives evidence. It shows not only that you value critical thinking, but that you have practiced it in a real situation.

As you prepare for a resume, portfolio, or interview, think about a time when you helped make a decision clearer. Did you compare options? Question an assumption? Notice missing information? Help your team choose a direction? Explain the reasoning behind a recommendation?

Those moments are worth remembering because they show how you approach problems, not just what answer you reached.

Build the skill before you need to prove it.

Critical thinking is not just something you use on exams or assignments.

It is an employability skill you can build through everyday behaviors: asking better questions, checking assumptions, comparing options, weighing trade-offs, and explaining your reasoning.

The more you practice, the more evidence you build.

That evidence can help you show future instructors, employers, teammates, and interviewers how you think through information, solve problems, and make thoughtful decisions.

For educators designing project-based learning experiences, Elizabeth Harris, Professor at Canadore College, shares how real employer projects helped students strengthen critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and adaptability through direct employer interaction and feedback.

Explore how Riipen helps connect learning to real project experience.

Learn more about Riipen for students, educators, and employers.

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About the author:

Jennifer Lussier is a Content Marketing Specialist at Riipen with a multidisciplinary background. Wishing to accomplish more for the benefit of society, she joined Riipen in 2019, and is committed to ensuring that postsecondary students gain relevant industry experience through their studies in order to be better prepared for the future of work.

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