Cognitive ability: everything you need to know

We've all heard that playing Sudoku, completing a crossword, or even taking part in aerobics classes can boost the brain. But what is cognitive ability, exactly? While there's no need for long and complicated scientific explanations, be assured that you certainly have plenty of it; proven by the fact that you're reading and taking in this article, for a start!

What does cognitive ability mean?

Let's spell out a cognitive ability definition before we go any further. The Collins English Dictionary defines cognition as “the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired, including perception, intuition, and reasoning.” 

Cognitive ability, also known as “general intelligence,” is how we perceive the world and act within it. Basically, it's the set of mental processes we go through pretty much all the time we're awake, whether we're conscious of them or not.

For example, take the simple act of answering the door – there's perception (you hear the doorbell), making a decision (whether to answer it), use of motor skills (opening the door), language skills (talking to, and understanding, the caller), and social interaction (interpreting the tone of voice and body language of the person standing there and responding).

Is cognitive ability the same as IQ?

According to SharpBrains, your intelligence and cognitive functions are related but not exactly the same. 

Cognitive abilities are skills and mental processes that are generally required to carry out tasks on a daily basis, and are to do with how you learn, pay attention, and remember, rather than any knowledge you've acquired. Your IQ (Intelligence Quotient) measures your ability to understand concepts, resolve problems, and deal with new or difficult situations.

Examples of cognitive ability 

Cognitive abilities pervade your everyday life and, most of the time, they come naturally and you don't even realise you're using them – but it's worth taking a moment to decipher what they are and how they can help in the initial stage of your job search.

• Attention – this is the ability to stay focused on a particular action or thought, while managing competing demands

• Visual and spatial awareness – processing incoming visual stimuli in order to understand the spatial relationship between objects, as well as to visualise images and scenarios

• Memory – incorporates your short-term working memory (with limited storage) and your long-term memory (which has unlimited storage)

• Language skills – these allow us to translate sounds into words and reply accordingly

Executive functions cover a wider range of skills that enable goal-oriented behaviour such as being able to plan and complete targets. These include:

• Flexibility – being able to swiftly change to the appropriate mental mode for the situation

• Decision making – coming to decisions based on problem solving, incomplete information, and the emotions of both ourselves and other people involved

• Problem solving – defining a problem, coming up with appropriate solutions, and then choosing the right one

• Sequencing – breaking down complex actions into bite-sized units and then prioritising them

• Theory of mind – possessing an insight into the inner world of others

• Anticipation – predicting what's going to happen based on pattern recognition

• Self-regulation – identifying and managing your own emotions to achieve a good performance

• Inhibition – withstanding distractions and any internal urges

How cognitive ability can impact your career

You use your cognitive skills every day during a job hunt – whether you’re looking for a new job, aiming to get promoted at work, or have a career change plan in place. 

You also use them to do your job – probably without even realising. Whether you’re making decisions, solving problems, or even just remembering everyone’s coffee orders, your cognitive abilities are working for you. If you have strong cognitive skills, you’ll perform better and, essentially, get ahead in the workplace.

How to improve your cognitive ability

While cognitive ability can decline with age, the great news is that decline can be delayed or slowed down. So how can you improve your cognitive ability? Let's delve into some ideas, then you can work out for yourself which ones are best for you.

Brain training

Training your brain has become so on-trend, with countless brain training exercises available online or in books. There's controversy about whether they do actually make a difference, with some experts suggesting that evidence on efficacy of brain exercises remain limited. However, they aren't going to do any harm and they're fun to do, so why not give it a go?

Physical fitness

This reflects the concept of a healthy mind in a healthy body. Staying physically active not only keeps your heart fit and your muscles in great working order, it can also improve hormone function, which enhances your memory and improves motor skills and coordination.  

Challenge yourself

Boost your reasoning and analytical skills by taking on experiences that are outside of your comfort zone. Exposing yourself to new ideas can spark different ways of thinking and problem solving, and enrich your communication style. This, in turn, can lead to improving your memory and reasoning, while speeding up your ability to process information.

Sleep well

Getting quality sleep every night should never be underestimated. Apart from helping maintain your mental health at work, it gives your brain the time to repair and regenerate by processing all of the information you've learned throughout the day.

Reduce stress

Try meditation and explore ways to work mindfully to reduce stress. This will allow your brain the time and space to perform daily functions more efficiently and effectively. Be kind to yourself by carving out time each day or week to put away work, turn off devices, and truly relax.

Eat healthily

There is some evidence that following a Mediterranean diet, stuffed full of simply cooked plant-based meals, olive oil, and fish, with reduced meat consumption, can help lower the risk of dementia.

Socialise

Forming and retaining connections with other people is vital for keeping your brain active and feeling more engaged with the world around you. Engaging in volunteer work or joining groups of similar minded people helps with cognitive function, with those interacting with others tending to live longer, with enhanced moods and a real sense of purpose.

Here are six ways in which you can improve your cognitive function over time:

1. Learning a new language 

2. Listening to or making music 

3. Playing games, such as cards and board games

4. Travelling to different parts of the world 

5. Becoming a culture vulture

6. Completing puzzles 

How to include cognitive ability traits on your CV

While you can't boast about excelling at brain teasers or answering all the geography questions at the local pub quiz on your CV, there are ways in which you can include cognitive ability and strengths in your job application.

Converting cognitive abilities into CV-friendly words and weaving them into your CV summary or skills section works. Words and key phrases such as “decisive,” “perceptive,” “effective communication,” “problem resolution,” and “relationship building” will all work wonderfully, as long as you can back them up with hard evidence in an interview. 

Expert tip: If it's taking you a long time to find a job, tailoring your CV by including cognitive skills that match the brief can help enormously and should become second nature throughout the job searching process.

Get ahead in the job search

Your cognitive ability plays a key role in finding your dream job, performing well, reaching your professional goals, and progressing your career. Being able to seamlessly insert cognitive ability traits into your CV takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the long run. 

Alternatively, let the professionals handle it with their expertise! Check out our free CV review and see where it takes you.

This article was originally written by Elizabeth Openshaw and has been updated by Jen David.

Recommended reading:

• How to use facts and figures on your CV

• How to repurpose your CV for a new sector in 5 steps

• Interpersonal intelligence: what is it and how can it boost your career