We are in a new age job market which requires job seekers to develop new skills which weren’t required in the past. We’re not talking about the hug a tree and commune with nature type new age, we’re talking about a new age where nationalization and even globalization allows job candidates from various regions to compete for highly sought after opportunities.  Below we explore a few of those skills that job seekers need to develop it they plan to compete effectively:

Connect The Dots

Employers might request an attorney with litigation experience and a history of settling disputes quickly; but what they may really want is someone who has a knack for bringing cases to a close without going to trial.  Job seekers who can identify the real desires of an employer and address those desires in their cover letter, resume and interview can increase their chance of landing the job.  Oftentimes, those desires are not obvious when you read the job description. You may need to do a little more research to find out what an employer really wants and needs.

Exhibit Humanity And Professionalism

In an era where everyone is friends on various social networks, the ability to sound professional without sounding like a robot can go a long way in exhibiting your cultural fit within the organization.  Leverage your cover letter as a tool to show your personality without sounding like your texting or posting your latest status on Facebook.  Avoid text terms and other acronyms; but do inject a little bit of yourself in both your cover letter and resume.

Understand Your Worth

Worth and value is not just measured in money, find out how you can benefit the company in ways that may be more intangible.  This goes back to connecting the dots.  Find out what the company really desires, identify how you can fulfill that desire and then clearly communicate that information to the employer.