Rapid advances in technology force many businesses to continually adapt how they acquire, service and keep customers. These shifts create the need for new communication tools, ones that address the ever-growing virtual, global face of business. These three must-have technical skills are the new standard in what employers expect from job seekers, just like email and Microsoft Office were before.

• Social Media – While most jobs will not require you to use social media in your day-to-day activities, they will expect you to understand social media tools. Convey your awareness by having a professional page on LinkedIn and a Facebook profile. A recent Jobvite survey reported that 92% of hiring mangers use social media to recruit. You can bet potential employers are looking you up online before calling for the interview!

• Instant Messaging and SMS – The fast-paced business environment of many workplaces creates the demand for text message and instant messaging systems. When a quick, short reply is needed, this form of communication is a great tool. While most people with Smartphones are familiar with SMS, it is wise to also become familiar with the most popular instant messaging programs.

• Online Collaboration – Web-based meeting tools and cloud storage solutions are becoming the norm for interacting with team members and working in real-time. Understanding how to setup, join and track a meeting or share a document in a cloud-environment is essential. There are great tutorials from the most popular providers; seek them out before your next interview.

The most successful companies will continue to adapt their processes as advances in technology make doing business easier. You can review the most popular instant messaging programs, web-based meeting tools and cloud storage solutions through links under the resources section on the right. Need a lesson or skills refresher before your next interview? There are terrific free software tutorials listed there, too. Be sure you continually adapt and grow your skills to maintain a leg-up on the competition.