Transferable Skills Case Study
Creative Thinking
Creative thinking is the ability to approach problems and situations in new ways, making connections between different ideas and experimenting to find solutions. It involves being curious, being willing to take risks and adapting your approach to the situation.
Where can I find this in the skills language?
Creation > Creative output or approach
Cognition > Solve problems and make decisions
Why does this skill matter?
Creative thinking helps you tackle challenges in university, work and life. It allows you to adapt when things don’t go as planned, find solutions that others may not see and approach problems in flexible ways. This skill also encourages confidence, curiosity, and resilience - helping you succeed academically, professionally and personally.
Where will you use this skill at university and beyond?
… as part of your degree
You develop creative thinking through projects, essays and presentations where you need to analyse problems, propose new solutions, or make complex ideas accessible.
… as part of the wider student experience
In clubs, societies, volunteering or student events, you will often need to work with limited resources, organise tasks innovatively, or engage diverse groups - practising creative thinking in real situations.
… as a professional in the future
Creative thinking is valuable when developing new strategies, solving problems, improving processes or communicating ideas to different audiences. It helps you generate fresh approaches and adapt to changing priorities in the workplace.
Student insight
“Working on group projects in a diverse environment such as university, pushed me to think more creatively about communication. When people come from different parts of the world, you quickly realise that what makes perfect sense to you may not land the same way for someone else. I learned to adapt my language, use examples, visuals, and analogies, and truly listen before responding. Creative thinking, for me, became less about ideas and more about bridging perspectives making sure I not only understand others, but that they genuinely understand me too.”
~ Student from Adam Smith Business School
How can you evidence this skill?
You might be able to evidence this skill through:
- developing and justifying a thesis or research project
- leading discussions in seminars or group settings
- assessed presentations, group work and collaborative projects
- organising events of projects with limited resources
- solving problems or challenges
How else might employers describe this skill?
You might also hear this skill described as…
- problem solving
- analytical thinking
- innovative thinking
- solution-focused
- thinking outside the box
What are some example interview questions that feature this skill?
- Can you describe a time you identified a problem and proposed a unique solution?
- How would you respond if your creative idea was misunderstood or challenged by others?
- How would you make sure your ideas are heard and understood in a team?
- Describe a time when you solved a problem in a new or unexpected way.
What does a good response look like?
Question
Can you describe a time you identified a problem and proposed a unique solution?
Response
Situation: When organising a sixth form ball, we needed to keep the event accessible by hosting it at school and pricing tickets to only cover food costs, leaving almost no budget for decorations, music, or lighting.
Task: My responsibility was to create an engaging and well-presented event atmosphere despite having virtually no budget.
Action: I focused on using creativity rather than spending. I recruited volunteers to support with organisation, supervision, and technical roles such as music and lighting. I reused and repurposed existing decorations and carefully planned how to use the space so that key areas were visually impactful without needing to decorate everything. I also encouraged staff and student involvement to build a sense of shared ownership of the event.
Result: We successfully transformed a 300-person venue with a total spend of just £7 on additional lighting, creating a welcoming and well-organised event. The ball ran smoothly with full volunteer support, demonstrating my ability to think creatively, maximise limited resources and deliver a high-quality outcome under constraints.