Conceptual Skills to Add to Your Resume This Year

Updated June 17, 20221.6k

Conceptual skills are a skill set that not many job seekers will be familiar with. Let’s look into what conceptual skills are and how to add them to a resume.

Conceptual Skills

Many job seekers know that interpersonal skills, technical skills, and soft skills are all valuable to add to the resume. However, conceptual skills are hardly ever discussed in a job search. Good conceptual skills can help you stand out in the job interview and prove that you are qualified for a leadership position. Let’s take a closer look into what conceptual skills are and how you can add them to your next resume.

What are Conceptual Skills?

Conceptual skills involve critical thinking and dealing with complex situations within the workplace. Essentially, these skills can show that you can look at the big picture and often turn abstract concepts into efficient results. According to Granite State College, psychologist Robert Katz identified three key skills that great leaders possess: technical skills, interpersonal skills, and conceptual skills. Technical skills encompass all the skills required to do your daily job duties. Interpersonal skills focus on how you interact with others in the workplace. Conceptual thinking, on the other hand, is a much broader skill set that can transform your inherent creativity and abstract thinking into actionable solutions that can improve productivity.

Five Examples of Conceptual Skills

Conceptual skills can sound like a pretty nebulous concept to those that aren’t used to dealing with big picture ideas. Here are five types of conceptual skills to list in your next resume:

Team-Building
This is an example of a soft skill, but it is also a strong conceptual skill as well. Being able to rally your team members to success can show off your management skills.
In fact, your strong leadership skills can demonstrate to top management that you are qualified to handle a managerial position. Managerial skills are valuable conceptual skills to have, even when you currently don’t hold a management position. These management skills can easily promote you to middle-management or even project management roles in the near future.

Interpersonal Skills
Good communication skills are perhaps one of the most important conceptual skills to have. Effective communication can involve different parts, including:

The ability to convey your ideas as clearly and concisely as possible
Active listening
Conflict management

Getting your ideas across and being able to motivate your fellow team members can boost morale and productivity in the workplace. Additionally, subtle body language such as making direct eye contact or leaning forward can express interest in what someone else is saying, which can make them feel like their needs are being met.
Overall, being able to connect with other people to meet their needs is a very human skill that displays a level of emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills.

Problem-Solving Skills
Problem-solving skills and effective communication often go hand-in-hand. If a client or fellow co-worker is having an issue, then conceptual thinking can help you come up with a good solution.
These skills can also help you plan out an important work project. Strategic planning often involves plenty of decision-making, creativity, and adaptability should something in your initial plan not work out. Thinking on your feet to come up with creative solutions is just one aspect that can make you stand out in the workplace.

Abstract Thinking
Creative thinking skills can help you figure out complex issues within the workplace in fresh ways that can boost productivity and morale around the office. Some abstract ideas can turn into an innovative solution that effectively solves multiple issues with a work project or issue.

Analytical Skills
Analytical skills can tie into problem-solving and critical thinking. Researching how to solve an issue or using data to back up your ideas or claims can be extremely effective.
Logical thinking doesn’t necessarily clash with creativity. Creative solutions can come from analyzing the current data on a project. If you are able to blend the two, then you will definitely be a stand-out candidate in any job field.

FAQs: Conceptual Skills

Do non-manager roles need conceptual skills?

Conceptual skills might sound like managerial skills that other senior staff should have after gaining enough experience. However, conceptual skills aren’t restricted to higher-ups and can be an asset for any job position. These skills can set you apart from other candidates who don’t possess the same abilities.
You should still mention important technical skills, but adding a few conceptual skills to your resume can also show off that you would be a valuable asset to the company you are applying to.

What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills?

Hard skills (or technical skills) are any skills needed to be able to complete your daily duties. This typically means familiarity with specific software, programs, equipment, or tools. Soft skills relate more to a candidate’s overall personality and how they might fit into the company’s culture. Listing the skills most relevant to the job description is often the best practice, as applicant tracking systems (ATS) will scan through dozens of applications every day. If you are able to utilize keywords from the job description to your advantage, then your application will get that much closer to landing in front of a real hiring manager.

Are all conceptual skills soft skills?

All conceptual skills are considered soft skills due to many of these skills relating to how a candidate thinks about abstract concepts. However, not all soft skills qualify as conceptual skills. For instance, stress management is useful for helping you get through a rough day, but it doesn’t exactly focus on big picture ideas. That is what sets apart a conceptual skill from the average soft skill.

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About The Author

Jessie Oleson Moore

Jessie Oleson Moore is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer / ghostwriter and artist. As a writer, she has written extensively on finance, day trading, personal growth, and career development and has extensive experience producing in-depth, research-based articles and guides. In addition, she is an accomplished illustrator and author who has appeared on The Today Show and been featured in Publisher's Weekly. In her free time, she’s an avid traveler, Ashtanga yoga practitioner, and unicorn enthusiast.