Quite a few job applicants prefer to list their professional technical skills on their resume. While employers also prefer to see evidence of conceptual skills. The latter skills are particularly important when a candidate is trying to get a management position and needs to demonstrate to the hiring manager that they are a competent manager. Good conceptual skills can pay off handsomely during the job search and while performing the direct duties of the new position.
If you want to learn more about conceptual abilities, how to develop them, and why they are needed, you should study our article in detail.
Table of Contents
First, starting with the question, “What are conceptual skills?” is more appropriate. Conceptual skills are soft skills that allow critical thinking to see the bigger picture in fairly complex situations. A person with these skills can excel in a variety of areas:
Relevant conceptual skills complement the other “hard skills” types. The latter refers to technical skills, including performing highly specialized tasks like machine welding, working on a PC, etc. Companies need specialists who possess both types of skills to realize complex ideas.
Important conceptual skills are a must for anyone taking up management positions in the future. Presentational skills provide the ability to see the big picture and understand different perspectives on solving a complex problem. These skills are of particular value to team leaders and managers.
Considering conceptual skills in practice, modern companies consist of various departments and divisions. At the same time, the company also has its vision and mission. Management in this situation should push it in a certain direction, regardless of the individual goals of each department. It is abstract thinking that allows us to create innovative solutions. Conceptual skills are important for every specialist. In particular, their importance increases with the length of employment. An organization will develop only if top management sees big picture of what is going on and the likely consequences.
It is worth noting that conceptual skills are useful for almost every employee: low-level managers, a person performing leadership roles, and other company employees.
To hold leadership positions, one must possess conceptual thinking. Hiring managers pay special attention to this issue because potential candidates for a managerial position are likely to face professional problems that will not correspond to the direct duties. At the same time, they will require a quick and competent solution. In complex issues or abnormal situations, the employee should use his leadership capabilities and conceptual thinking to solve problems directly rather than being stumped because he has yet to be trained.
Immediately at the job interview stage, and preferably in the cover letter, mention specific examples of conceptual skills you possess. In this way, you will create a positive impression of yourself in the eyes of the hiring manager. It shows you as someone who cannot lose their balance when faced with a complex problem and that you can quickly adapt to unforeseen situations and solve them to benefit the company.
Improving your conceptual skills can help every person, regardless of what they are doing – searching for a new job, achieving a promotion or self-development. It is worth noting that this topic is only sometimes studied in college courses, but it can significantly positively affect daily working life.
There are specific examples of conceptual skills that best describe what hiring managers require from a job seeker. The abilities presented are important in today’s professional life because they determine whether or not business goals will be met. Combining several conceptual skills creates an innovative approach while performing certain tasks. It is very important for a business that constantly changes to remain relevant and in demand.
If you are seriously considering working on yourself, maximizing your performance in your current position, and even achieving a promotion, you need to learn specific conceptual skills examples first.
The soft skills presented are best started with the issue of effective communication. Certain tasks alone are far from the best solution to move a company forward. If you want to realize your vision, you need to be able to collaborate with other team members. Excellent communication skills will help you in this task.
The presented conceptual skill is very important for managers during their daily tasks. Specialists have to perform data analysis and develop multiple solutions to balance the needs of each competing stakeholder associated with a certain initiative. One of the job roles is to think strategically about how a certain action affects future events. Managerial skills must necessarily include conceptual thinking.
Project management often requires teams to be able to diagnose a problem, using logical thinking to find the best solution. In doing so, they must act with as sober a mind as possible, using a critical approach. Sometimes, it is necessary to go outside the box to formulate ideas to accomplish the task best.
Leadership skills must also include problem-solving skills. It involves making quick and informed decisions. Problem-solving skills most often involve processing quite a lot of information. Based on this, a well-reasoned idea is formed, which will help teammates to follow the right path. It is worth noting that problem-solving skills are important for management positions and employees who want to advance in their positions.
Providing a competitive edge over other job candidates will allow you to approach a task with a modern, out-of-the-box approach. Most employers value innovation as it keeps a company afloat, offering new and better products and services.
In addition, creative solutions are of great importance. Creative thinkers can find non-standard solutions in quite complex situations. Creative thinking makes it possible to go beyond the standard and obvious actions to develop ideas that go against conventional expectations. A creative approach allows you to solve what previously seemed impossible.
The ability to analyze large amounts of information and logical thinking allows you to succeed in various areas, from marketing to accounting. Abstract thinking skills combined with a logical approach allow you to understand how a business works, whether it achieves its goals, and how different departments function. Identifying key strategies and effectively forecasting the future allows you to find opportunities for future improvement.
Leadership is an important conceptual skill. It requires time management skills, emotional intelligence, abstract thinking, understanding how the entire organization works, and combining several initiatives. Leadership skills require constant development and improvement.
A person needs to have the necessary leadership skills that encourage other employees to trust him when he makes a certain decision or proposes a scheme for accomplishing a task to move forward effectively. An effective manager incentivizes team members and their leaders to achieve the set goal. The manager must also delegate responsibilities competently and manage the team so that they share their creative thinking. In the future, it will be possible to motivate the company’s employees through quality and effective realization of the idea.
Conceptual skills in management and other diverse areas of business are important for long-term success in your chosen career path. It is worth noting that these abilities are not given at birth. Decision-making skills, active listening and other abilities can be developed if you constantly work on yourself. In this situation, it is necessary to follow the following recommendations:
In terms of practicing your conceptual skills, you can attend various seminars. To develop your skills, you can go to specialized events related to your work or the topics you are most interested in. In particular, you can look through the offerings of local universities to see if they plan to organize seminars that free students can attend shortly.
Summarizing the above, strong conceptual skills are key for professionals at various levels. With their help, it will be possible to take a non-standard approach to problem-solving, implement new ideas, analyze the problem from a broader perspective, and apply an innovative approach. These skills are actively used by middle managers and employees holding managerial positions. At the same time, the higher an employee’s level in the company hierarchy, the more important it is for them to be a conceptual thinker. If you have the appropriate skill set, it is worth mentioning in your resume so the recruiter can familiarize himself with it.
