GIVEN the growing rate of unemployment in the country, finding a job has become full-time work for some persons who send out hundreds, possibly thousands of resumes in hopes of securing employment.

It doesn’t help matters that companies are laying off employees at rapid rates, even as the country’s universities unleash thousands of graduates on the job market annually. No doubt, in such a job climate, it’s going to take more than experience and academic qualifications to land the job of your dreams. The fact is that there is a wide pool of candidates to choose from with a combination of both, and so employers are looking for something more that puts you above the rest.

“We are facing a global recession, so there are fewer jobs available, both in third world countries such as Jamaica, as well as in wealthier countries such as the United States of America,” said certified professional life and corporate coach Cheryll Messam from YouinmindJamaica.com.

Often, the determining factor for most employees when narrowing down the candidates for a job opening will be the skills these individuals possess.

As such, Messam explains that, “It would be in the best interest of anybody who is serious about getting employed, and getting employed as quickly as possible, to do the kind of research to find out what skills are needed by the various industries, so that their preparations can match the organisation’s needs.”

She said the skill set of potential employees’ are important, because it would result in less spending for the company to get their employees to an acceptable level.

“All organisations will be concerned about maintaining their expenses as low as possible as part of their way of operating their business, and so if someone comes into an organisation and is relatively unskilled, it immediately has an implication for the company’s training budget, because the company would now have to invest in bringing the new recruits up to speed. So a potential job seeker who has taken the time to get the required skills for the kind of job that they want will be more attractive to an employer,” she said.

Here are the skills and attitudes you’ll need if you hope to secure a job in 2014.

1. Networking. You have to possess the ability to meet and greet to win over clients. Social networking skills will be a definite asset, since social media sites are increasing rapidly and companies will want to cash in on any publicity they can achieve through this medium.

2. Commercial awareness. You have to know the ins and outs of the business you are hoping to secure a job in. Companies want to know that you have an awareness of their products and services and how it stacks up against similar products and services on the market. Once you understand this, you will be better able to offer your own suggestions on how they can improve themselves and attract more clients.

3. Communication skills. You might think this is overrated, but don’t underestimate the power of effective communication. This will continue to be one of the top skills to have in 2014 — both written and verbal. Communication doesn’t necessarily mean being able to write or talk, you have to know how to get your messages across.

4. Problem solving skills. You have to be able to solve conflicts and offer solutions for problems that might arise on a day-to-day basis on the job. This skill is especially important if you are going into the service industry. You need to understand that businesses are competing for clients, so if a customer has a problem, you should be able to help solve it in the quickest possible time.

5. Time-management. Time is money, they say. So you not being able to manage your time wisely can cost the company millions of dollars annually. A late delivery of a product or not being punctual for a crucial business meeting can easily discourage a client from doing business with a company again.

6. Multi-tasking. An individual who is able to multi-task will prove to be very valuable for an organisation. Mastering this skill will ensure that you are able to get tasks done on time and fulfil all the requirements of the job without becoming overwhelmed.

7. Ability to work under pressure. Most executives who make it to the top of their businesses will tell you that getting there was no walk in the park. One of the skills that was crucial to their success was the ability to work under pressure. “Things are hard, and you will need to be able to weather disappointment, weather things that are thrown at you that are unexpected in an increasingly tense workplace and tense society,” said Messam.

8. Computers and electronics. An awareness of computer software is important if you hope to land a job in today’s marketplace. At the very least, you should be able to use Microsoft Office Suite. Being able to create apps, software or programme computer, is a definite asset.

9. Sales and marketing. Companies are looking for persons who understand marketing strategies and sales techniques. This is expected even in non-marketing jobs. You have to be able to promote and sell the company’s products and services.