For young people today, it is more important than ever that they are well-equipped to enter the workforce. Despite being educated, many lack the skills they need to get the jobs they want. On paper, you look perfect for the job — but do you have the soft skills necessary to succeed?

Soft skills are those qualities and attributes, such as communication and teamwork, which help employees work well with others. And they matter to employers because they make you stand out from the crowd.

Below are 5 skills needed by every young professional:

Problem Solving Skills

Perhaps the most important skill young people can develop before entering the workforce is problem-solving skills. Many education systems do not teach these skills as they have chosen to focus on rote learning. Young people need ample practice in being given open-ended, authentic experiences in solving a wide range of problems. Today’s jobs are no longer rote; workers need to be able to adapt to all sorts of problems that may come up.

Communication Skills

Communication skills are perhaps second in importance only to problem-solving skills when it comes to skills needed for jobs in the future. No matter how great a person’s intentions or ideas, if he or she cannot communicate effectively, many other skills will be of no great matter. Young people need to be effective at getting their ideas across both in writing and in speaking. Many employers list writing and speaking skills among the top traits they look for in new hires. Young people should practice writing and speaking until they feel comfortable communicating in the workplace. Communication skills, in general, are important for young professionals. Young Professionals need to be able to craft clearly written, concise emails. Other communication skills include: Advocating for yourself and your causes, Building buy-in to an idea and Managing a positive relationship with an employer.

Organization and Time Management

Organization and time management are important skills, both in and out of the office. In order to maximize your work efficiency, try to master these skills early on. Being organized and managing your time will ensure you keep track of your assignments and projects, and show employers you are capable of leading projects.

Adaptability

The most crucial transferrable work abilities for adventurous young professionals are those that allow them to work anywhere. Employees who are adaptable are highly regarded in today’s industry. Get some overseas work experience on your resume to show employers that you’re global-minded, culturally savvy, and capable of succeeding in any situation.

The modern workforce is continually evolving, and no one can predict how industries will evolve in the coming decades. Young people must be able to quickly adjust to changes in order to be successful. Many businesses are constantly changing how they do business, and employees who can adjust and roll with the changes are in high demand.

Digital Literacy

The capacity to navigate our digital world using reading, writing, technological abilities, and critical thinking is referred to as digital literacy. It finds, evaluates, and communicates information utilizing technology such as a smartphone, PC, e-reader, and other devices.

Digital literacy entails familiarizing young people with a wide range of technology so that they can quickly learn to operate any application or gadget. Young people should continue to broaden their knowledge of emerging technology as they prepare for the job, since this will assist prospective employers regard them as easily trainable.

1. Establish Trust

One of the easiest ways to deliver constructive feedback that will be acceptable and effective is to build a culture of trust within the workplace. Employees need to trust the sincerity of their manager’s intentions; you need to show that you’re not trying to downplay their efforts. To achieve this, you have to be a true leader, one that listens, acknowledges their own mistakes, and carries their employees along.

Once they see these attributes in you, it’s easier for them to see you as a friend that means well for them, thereby making them receptive to your feedback and working on improving themselves where necessary.

2. Be Prepared

Feedback is an essential tool for workplace growth and long-term success. Employees see it as a way to appraise performance and productivity. Therefore, they take it seriously, and so should you. Like any other significant meeting on your schedule, delivering constructive feedback is a task for which you must prepare adequately.

Since it is fact-based and solution-oriented, you’re expected to do your research, align the figures, and check references before concluding. When you do this, you would have no trouble addressing issues and proffering solutions.

3. Avoid Focusing Solely on the Negative

Feedback is an avenue to let employees know what they think about their work, aspects that need improvements, and how they can initiate much-needed changes towards attaining organizational goals. While it’s bound to have a corrective tone to it at some point, you must not make that the sole point of focus.

Avoid stressing too much on tasks they didn’t execute well. Instead, create a balance by acknowledging their good performances and identifying areas where you think they would achieve better results if they revised their strategy.

4. Normalise It as a Continuous Exercise

The frequency of feedback will vary depending on how much interaction you have with the individual you are giving constructive criticism to, but making feedback a regular part of your conversations and meetings will go a long way. That means that you will both be on the same page in terms of expectations and performance and that when something more significant comes up performance-wise, you’ll be better prepared to deliver the necessary feedback, and they’ll be better prepared to receive it.

5. Dwell on the Performance and Not the Personality

Constructive feedback addresses the performance of a worker, not their personality. When reverse is the case, it becomes toxic. Understandably, things can be pretty tense when delivering negative feedback. However, it must remain what it is; feedback, not criticism. What should be a productive discussion about work should not degenerate into a battle of personal issues.

The discussion should be private and targeted at the employee’s professional growth and achievement of organizational goals. Anything short of that can be counterproductive.

6. Give Feedback In Person

Whenever possible, it is almost always better to deliver constructive criticism in face-to-face meetings rather than via email, instant messenger, or phone. All of these technologies, while useful in other situations, are much more open to misinterpretation, because they eliminate important contexts such as vocal tone, body language, and emotional inflection (such as humor or concern). It’s easy to read negativity into a statement that was meant as neutral or to dismiss the importance of an issue that has serious consequences when you’re not talking in person. Face-to-face conversations also are more dynamic, as both parties can ask questions and dig deeper into the issues at hand.

7. Be sincere

If your tone and manner don’t match the context of the feedback itself, you could send out a mixed message that confuses your employee. If the feedback is positive, let your emotions also indicate that you appreciate their efforts. For negative feedback, a more concerned tone will show that you believe the problem should be taken seriously. Most importantly, always try to avoid displaying negative emotions such as anger, sarcasm, or disappointment.

8. Be Timely

Don’t let days or weeks pass by before you give someone feedback on their work, especially when it comes to a specific project. You want the work to be fresh in both their minds and yours so that the conversation will be relevant and actionable, and any context (such as challenges that came up during the work, what the process looked like, and ideas that emerged for future work) will still be top of mind.

1. Identify Your Time Wasters

Many of us are prey to time-wasters that steal time we could be using much more productively. What are your time bandits? Do you spend too much time Internet surfing, reading email, Facebook posting, texting, or making personal calls?

Are you a time-waster? Tracking daily activities helps to form an accurate picture of how much time you spend on various activities, which is the first step to effective time management.

2. Avoid the Urge to Multitask

This is one of the simplest time management tips for work, yet it can be one of the hardest to follow. Focus on the task at hand and block out all distractions. It can be tempting to multitask, but you’re just shooting yourself in the foot when you attempt to do so. You lose time and decrease productivity when switching from one task to another.

3. Create Time Management Goals

The focuses of time management are actually changing your behaviors, not changing time. A good place to start is by eliminating your personal time-wasters. For one week, you can set a goal that you’re not going to take personal phone calls or respond to non-work-related text messages while you’re working.

4. Learn to Say No

You’ll never learn how to manage time at work if you don’t learn how to say no. Only you truly know what you have time for, so if you need to decline a request in order to focus on more important tasks, don’t hesitate to do so. And if you take on a project that is obviously going nowhere, don’t be afraid to let it go.

Rather than doing a lot of tasks that yield little or no value, complete fewer tasks that create more value.

5. Use Time Management Tools

Whether it’s a planner, a software program, or a phone app, the first step to physically managing your time is to know where it’s going now and plan how you’re going to spend your time in the future. A software program such as Outlook, for instance, lets you schedule events easily and can be set to remind you of events in advance, making your time management easier.

6. Group Similar Tasks Together

Save yourself time and mental energy by trying to complete all of one type of to-do before moving on to the next. For example, create separate chunks of time for answering emails, making phone calls, filing, etc. Don’t answer emails and messages as they come in, as doing so is a distraction at its finest. Turn off your phone and email notifications to completely eliminate the temptation to check at an unappointed time.

7. Learn to Delegate Tasks

Delegation is one of the hardest things to learn how to do for many business owners, but no matter how small your business is, there’s no need for you to be a one-person show — you need to let other people carry some of the load. Delegation shares the tasks you’d be better off leaving to someone else, so you can make the most of the time that you have.

8. Establish Routines and Stick to Them as Much as Possible

While crises will arise, you’ll be much more productive if you can follow routines most of the time. For most people, creating and following a routine lets them get right down to the tasks of the day rather than frittering away time getting started.

9. Assign Time Limits to Tasks.

Part of creating your schedule should involve setting time limits on tasks instead of just working until they’re done. To-do lists are great and wonderful, but sometimes you might feel like you never check anything off.

If you’re looking to set a steady pace to your workflow, the Pomodoro Technique can help you check off your to-do list in 25-minute chunks, taking short breaks between each stint and a longer break after completing four. This technique balances a narrow focus with frequent breaks, reducing mental strain and maintaining motivation.

10. Organise Your Computer Files

Are you wasting a lot of time looking for files on your computer? Take the time to organize a file management system. Is your filing system slowing you down? Redo it, so it’s organized to the point that you can quickly lay your hands on what you need.

11. Eliminate Distractions.

Social media, web browsing, co-workers, text messages, instant messaging — the distractions at work can be limitless. A key to personal time management is being proactive about getting rid of them. Shut your door to limit interruptions. Close all tabs except the ones you are currently working on. Turn off messaging notifications and leave your personal phone calls for lunch.

Take baby steps. Identify your top two distractions and focus on conquering those for two weeks. And remember that getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and eating healthily can all help you stay focused during the workday.

1. Set valuable goals

Setting a goal is the first step to career growth. Knowing where you’re going makes the journey easier. And if your goal truly speaks to you, it will probably be more achievable and fulfilling. Surely, we all want a salary increase and a promotion.

But setting an inspiring goal will probably motivate you more than ever. Helping more people, making something that supports others, making a change — these are all goals that will give you a good reason to get up every morning and follow your career path.

2. Build your learning path

Learning is one of the most important things in life. A great way to acquire new skills is to explore lateral moves within your company. Start by picking up a small thing that is not completely familiar to you. Every tiny new responsibility can teach you valuable lessons and push you further up your career path.

If you’re not in a place where you can experiment with lateral moves, try to look for a mentor in a different department. Hang out with them or share an office, ask questions, tips and make conversation — you’d be surprised how many things you can learn casually.

3. Your posture and appearance matters

The power of nonverbal cues is enormous, even for the person executing those cues. Simple changes to your attire, your appearance, your posture, and even your facial expressions can make a big difference in your mentality and your place in the office. Dressing up can make you feel more confident and look more impressive. Smiling can make you more approachable and improve people’s impressions of you. Sitting up straight and making yourself feel big enhances your confidence and leads you to perform better in conversations.

4. Collect feedback and develop your soft skills

More and more data indicate that some jobs will be replaced by technology, especially AI. However, experts agree that there’s something purely human that recruiters will actively look for soft skills. Think of emotional intelligence, empathy, and leadership.

An easy way to develop your soft skills is to constantly ask for feedback, no matter the answer.

5. Work on time management

Ensure to spend one or two average days timing yourself throughout your normal routine. See what tasks and rituals take the longest, and which ones take the least amount of time. Once your results are in, take a critical look at the tasks and behaviours you spend the most time on — are these necessary? What strategies can you use to cut down the amount of time you’re spending? This practice can highlight productivity killers in the daily routine you may never have otherwise suspected.

6. Use tools to increase your development and productivity

Learning, growing, evolving…it’s all hard work, but you don’t have to do it all by yourself. There are plenty of assets that can help you nowadays, from online courses to mentors and classes, the possibilities are endless.

If your company supports your growth through extra activities or dedicated budgets, make use of all resources and opportunities available. At the end of the day, it’s your path and you’re entirely responsible for it, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of all help. You know what they say, work smart, not hard.

7. Engage with people who bring the best in you

Who you surround yourself with is extremely important for your career growth. Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed and always push you to be the best version of yourself. Negativity, toxicity, and judgment, whether at home or at the office, will always negatively affect your career and the choices you make every day.

Choose your tribe wisely, and their psychological support will always help you succeed.

8. Develop mentoring relationships

In the course of your working career, a few people will inevitably stand out because of their network and industry experience. Building key relationships with such people may steer your thoughts and influence your actions towards career growth and development.

The presence of a mentor does not equate to having a personal therapist from whom you would seek advice for every unfortunate case of office politics. Rather, set career goals and ask these mentors for advice on your long-term plans and how they affect your progression.

1. Discuss the Problem

With a workplace bully, it may be necessary to confront the person instead of letting the behavior continue. Having a calm discussion about the problem may have a surprising response. Some people

do not realize the adverse impact their statements and actions have on others and be genuinely surprised and taken aback. Try to talk reasonably and hold your temper, but let the person know that you will take the issue to a superior if the actions continue.

2. Seek Advice From a Friend

A little unbiased opinion is never harmful, so talking over your coworker’s situation with a friend can be a good idea. It not only lets you vent your frustrations but can give you an unbiased opinion of what may be going on and how to handle the situation.

3. Use Humor to Defuse a Situation

While this type of tactic can work for some people, not everyone can make a humorous comment to defuse a situation spontaneously. A light bit of humor might be the tactic for you if you have a funny side.

4. Have an Exit Strategy

Having an excuse to get away from a difficult coworker can help. Whether inventing a phone call you have to make, work you have to do right away, or another excuse, spend as little time with the toxic coworker as possible. When people realize they aren’t being listened to, they give up.

5. Keep Your Co-Worker Problem Private

You don’t want your character questioned, so maintain your cool when faced with a problem co-worker. Complaining to others in the office might get you branded as a problem yourself, so keep any complaining down to those in your family or a close friend outside the office. Going public with grievances is always a bad idea.

6. Be Bigger Than Your Co-Worker

you don’t have to come in every day with a new joke or be the person who organizes birthday parties. However, just being pleasant, smiling and polite can improve another person’s attitude toward you.

7. Predict Certain Behaviours and Counter Them

While it doesn’t work in all cases, being friendly but not overly friendly to a difficult coworker can produce positive results. If the problem is gossip, having a friendly conversation can set things straight. If, on the other hand, the coworker is trying to take credit for work you have done, you can let your boss know beforehand that you are working on a certain aspect of a project, so you will get the credit.

8. Involve and Inform Your Boss

No one likes to do this, but sometimes there is no other choice if your requests to your toxic coworker have fallen on deaf ears. If you do decide to take the matter up with your supervisor, make sure to go armed with the information you need to make your case. Take notes on how this person’s actions are affecting your work and productivity on projects, and write down exactly what that person is doing to adversely affect your work.

1. Be Original and avoid pretense.

Many of us feel insecure when joining a new group, and that can make us try to present ourselves the way we think people want us to be. It costs a lot of energy to pretend to be different than you really are — plus, you’ll have to keep wearing a mask in order to not disappoint. Most people can sense when you’re not being authentic and will avoid you or feel you’re not trustworthy. So relax and remember: you’re fine just the way you are.

2. Observe and find out who the key players are.

Whether the team has a hierarchical structure or not, there are usually one or two members of the group who lead, coordinate or keep the group together. Observe interactions and team dynamics and before long, you’ll see who has the most influence, with this observation you’ll know whose support you need.

3. Connect with your team members.

It’s always good to show an interest in others beyond work. Establishing friendships with your colleagues can make you happier and more engaged. Socialize with other team members during breaks or after work. Just make sure to respect people’s boundaries and always behave professionally.

4. Be confident yet reserved.

Do not focus on showcasing your strengths, You’ve been added to the team for a reason, which means that your co-workers are probably aware of your talents and skills. Even if they aren’t, it’s advisable to be reserved and let the group dynamic lead developments. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t contribute; just make sure that your contributions are delivered in a respectful manner.

5. Deliver on your promises.

Always make sure that if you promise something, you can deliver on it. Give yourself ample time to do a good job: ultimately, the quality of your work is more likely to make a positive impact than the speed at which you finish it. Ask for assistance or guidance if you need it. In most cases, your colleagues will be happy to help you, and collaborating closely can help strengthen your relationships.

1. Select the Right Type of Cover Letter

Several types of cover letters can be sent to employers and contacts. For example, traditional cover letters (also known as application letters) are written to apply for specific job openings. If you know some who can refer you for a job, you’ll want to write a referral cover letter. Pick a letter that is appropriate for its usage

2. Highlight your Potential

Your cover letter should not be just another version of your resume. Instead, this letter should provide specific evidence of your potential and what you can bring to the company. For your letter, pick two to three skills or abilities you want to highlight. Then offer examples of times you demonstrated those traits.

3. Write a Custom Cover Letter for Every Job

A hiring manager can quickly tell if you have written a generic cover letter that you use for every job. That is a quick way to get your application thrown out. Instead, take the time to customize your cover letter so it reflects your interest in the specific position and company you’re applying to.

Target each letter to fit the specific job. The best way to do this is to match your qualifications to the job:

4. Avoid Pointing Out Missing Skills

Generally, don’t apologize for anything in your cover letter. There are some things you don’t need to include in a cover letter. If you lack a required skill or degree, don’t mention it. That will only highlight what you don’t have. Instead, focus on highlighting the skills and experiences you have, and explain how they make you a great fit for the job.

However, when you have recent gaps in your work history your cover letter allows you to explain an employment gap.

5. Properly Format Your Cover Letter

Your first impression needs to be a good one because that’s a step towards getting an interview. You will want your cover letter to include the proper information and look polished and professional. Therefore, be sure to format your cover letter properly. If you are sending a physical letter, use the business letter format. Include your contact information, the date, and the employer’s contact information at the top of the letter. A cover letter should not be longer than a page (three to four paragraphs at most).

6. Use Cover Letter Examples and Templates

Take the time to review cover letter examples before you start writing your letter to apply for a job. Examples can give you an idea of how to structure your letter, and what information to include.

Also check out some cover letter templates, which can help you format your letter. A template also gives you the framework you can personalize for your letters.

7. Proofread and Edit Your Letter

Hiring managers look at hundreds of applicants, a small typo can make or break your chances of getting an interview. Therefore, be sure to thoroughly proofread your cover letter and all of your application materials, for that matter.

Read through your letter, looking for any spelling or grammar errors. Make sure you have the correct company name, hiring manager’s name, date, etc. in your heading.

1. Vague job description

A vague job description should be a major red flag when job seeking. Phrases like ‘must be a team player’ are nothing substantial about the job and signal a lack of clarity that signals an unfocused employer and a job that lacks structured goals.

2. Communication is unclear

Communication is foundational to a good (and functional) workplace. In our experience, the way a company handles the beginning stages with a new employee is 100 percent indicative of the company culture. A company with strong values makes sure that those values are reflected in every aspect of the business. If clarity, promptness, and organization are important, they’ll make sure you see that side of them throughout the interview process.If you’re confused about what time to show up, where to show up, who you’re meeting with, or what the position is, take note. If your point person’s email is poorly written or their email etiquette seems off, it’s okay to use that as a data point.

3. The team is confused upon your arrival

You put the long wait behind you and start prepping for the job interview itself. You arrive punctually for your allotted time only to find that the staff members seem to have no idea who you are or why you’re there. This shows a lack of organization and communication. Without those two key things, how can a workplace run smoothly?

4. The workplace is too quiet for comfort

The atmosphere (or what there is of one) is dead. Whether the staff is too scared to talk or simply cannot stand each other’s company, silence is a troubling sign of a toxic work environment.

5. It all seems scatty and unorganized

Does it feel as though your interviewers are disorganized? Perhaps they are. In a toxic workplace, everything is always up in the air. Results are expected at a moment’s notice and few employees are given clear instructions or schedules. The working day is a haphazard affair at best, and everyone just tries to get by. If that describes the scenario you’ve walked into, you should be concerned about the company’s culture and a toxic workplace environment.

6. The interview was too short and unprofessional

If the interview process lasted mere minutes before the interviewers were saying their goodbyes, there are two possible reasons: Either you weren’t right for the job and they decided that fast, or they are not concerned about who they hire. If it’s the latter, your instincts should tell you to run. If your interviewers failed to take the time to get to know you and your talents, that’s a serious red flag of a toxic work environment.

1. Start a network effect. We’ve all heard advice about how helpful making connections can be for your career, but what’s often left out of the conversation is the power of bonding over emotions and struggles, not just roles and skills. Research has shown that this kind of networking promotes happiness — intuitively, it makes sense: Being yourself and sharing who you are, make you feel less isolated.

2. Show off your shortcomings: Talking about areas you lack in, with colleagues make you human, and potentially offers a bonding experience. When you overcome some of the day-to-day challenges, it also lets your team and your managers know what a victory it is for you. This can be an inspiration or even a point of admiration.

3. Utilize your strengths. Making use of your skills at work develops a sense of self-efficacy, which increases your confidence and self-esteem — two important factors in stabilizing mental health at work.

4. Establish work boundaries. Start small by delegating a task to someone else or practicing assertive delay, which means instead of always saying ‘yes, say you need some time to think about it. Also, take your full lunch break away from your desk.

5. Give and receive positive feedback. This can be super simple: a quick email saying thank you for noticing a job well done is all it takes. And here’s what’s really cool — giving praise makes you feel as good as receiving it. Another plus is that passing along positive reinforcement is contagious

6. Don’t try to keep up with your coworkers. Negative self-comparison is a mental health booby trap. Once you get sucked in, it’s a hard habit to break.

7. Prioritise important tasks. Boil things down and work on the stuff that really counts. That kind of focus and not letting in all the peripheral distractions is especially useful when you have a condition where you struggle with being easily overwhelmed.

8. Break your goals down. Setting manageable goals can help break down big tasks into smaller ones so the work doesn’t feel so exhausting to handle.

9. Be aware of depression and anxiety warning signs. Pay attention to things like unplanned sick days and frequent requests for time off, challenges meeting deadlines, poor work quality, overly emotional responses, and a noticeable increase in coffee, food, or alcohol consumption.

10. Take the lead. Don’t wait for someone else to start an initiative. Send monthly wellness emails to your team or a tight-knit group of co-workers with relevant resources, words of encouragement, and recent mental health news.

Here are 10 informative tips to sharpen any beginner into a master on LinkedIn

1. Add A Proper Photo

You want to seem approachable and professional on LinkedIn. You want to give the impression that you are active and invested in your career and an expert in your field — someone people would want to network with. Not having a photo automatically turns others off from your profile. So, don’t skip it!

2. Join Groups

Groups are how you get things done on LinkedIn. They’re how you build credibility and expand your network as a professional. If you’re also creating content on LinkedIn, groups allow you to distribute that content in a more efficient and targeted way.

By joining groups, people can get to know you and your business. Join as many groups as you can manage, keeping in mind you’ll have to be an active member in them to benefit and be seen as a valuable connection.

3. Participate In Threads

if you’re just a poster and not a participant, it will become clear you are just in it to promote yourself, rather than be a fully participating member of the LinkedIn community.

Participate in threads with useful remarks. Again, no selling! And no “trolling,” either! If you must make political comments, be polite. Don’t attack people. Be civil and professional. Remember, your entire network can see what you post, like, share, and comment.

4. Customize your LinkedIn URL

On your newly created account, you have your own unique URL. This address is what browsers use to find you on the internet out of the other 500M LinkedIn members. Your address is unique to you and if you haven’t customized it will likely consist of your first and last name followed by numbers, letters, and dashes.

5. Become Known As An Open Networker

Here’s the deal. You may have no interest in networking with the individual who invites you. But you might have an interest in someone in his or her network. Connecting gives you access to that network. The more connections, the more likely it is that someone you want to meet will be “in-network.” This makes your life on LinkedIn much easier.

LinkedIn is a very large networking party. Now, at a networking party, you don’t just go up to people you know and talk to them. Or, if you do, you’re a lousy networker. You have an opportunity to meet very interesting and dynamic people on LinkedIn. So, connect and be an open networker!

6. Get Recommendations

Recommendations are essential to your LinkedIn profile. Seek them proactively and seek them passively.

Proactive recommendation seeking involves reaching out and asking someone to recommend you. Passive recommendation seeking involves recommending someone, at which point LinkedIn asks them to recommend you back. The latter is actually a bit more effective.

7. Accept all Connection Requests, But Invite Strategically

What are you trying to accomplish? Are you trying to build your business in a particular city? Then invite people from that city for the most part. Are you trying to go international? Make sure you invite people who can help you internationally.

Don’t just invite everyone who pops up on “people you may know.” Invite them to build your network the way you want to build it.

8. Create Proper Personal Content

Start posting yourself, sharing information on yourself, your business or brand. Also start sharing relevant and interesting business information as well.

Bonus Tip — start posting video content for even greater engagement.

9. Get Familiar With The Searching Function

Get started using LinkedIn’s best feature which I believe is the searching function. LinkedIn is a giant database and search engine amongst other things. But if you just use the search function then I believe endless opportunities will become available. Invisible will become visible

10. Turn ON “Let recruiters know you’re open” Function

If you are creating your LinkedIn profile based on job searching then you want to let recruiters know you are looking. There are many wrong ways to do this like advertising “Currently seeking new