Finding work these days-even for an entry level one-is way different than it was a decade or so ago. The job search process is tougher, longer, and especially for newbie applicants, you’re up against increasingly stiffer competition. Here’s what you need to know about the new realities of job-hunting, and how you can leverage this info to your advantage.

Degree is no guarantee. It used to be that a college diploma in hand was sufficient assurance that you’d land some kind of entry-level position. Today, with millions unemployed and hundreds of thousands of new grads joining the fray every year, a bachelor’s degree is only one of several factors an employer will consider when assessing your candidacy.

Experience needed. You often see ads saying, “Fresh graduates welcome to apply.” That may be so, but you’ll have to prove that you’re no greenhorn to the work world even barely out of your college uniform. While companies of yore took the time to train and ease new workers into their jobs, there’s no such gentle transition from student to worker in this fast-paced age. You’ll have to show you’re quick on the uptake and bring real-world experience to the position.

Tech skills count. If this were 1985, you could get hired without any technical skills whatsoever. Nowadays, even entry-level aspirants are expected to be able to navigate their way expertly through Microsoft Office applications and the Net, at least.

Soft skills gaining ground. The more skills you have in your bag of tricks, the greater your chances of being hired, and we’re not just talking hard skills anymore. The days when brilliant people could be forgiven their eccentricities because they’re geniuses in their fields are fading. With so much talent available for the picking, present-time hiring managers are looking for those extra points that don’t show up in the transcript-interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, written and oral communication abilities, and problem-solving capabilities.

Changing for the better

With the evolving corporate landscape, it will do you well to keep your job-hunting style up to the times. Here are 10 mantras to repeat to yourself.

1. Speak up. If you have poor interpersonal skills, work on them through short-term courses in speech, oral and written communication. Or simply read, read, read and practice, practice, practice on your own with a friend.

2. Show sophistication. Assume a professional image always, from your clothes, to your diction and your demeanor. The trick is to look mature and businesslike, not like you just stepped out of college, even though you just did.

3. Be a self-starter. Show that you’re prepared to take the initiative to learn on your own so that you won’t be a drag to your coworkers.

4. Strut your stuff. Highlight specific school and extracurricular accomplishments, campus activities, practical job and internship experiences and how these will help you in your new job.

5. Go soft. Emphasize the teamwork spirit, leadership traits, and other soft skills you possess.

6. Generate energy. Demonstrate a positive attitude, enthusiasm and an energetic approach. Employers are looking for candidates willing to give 100 percent to the job.

7. Show your creative side. Nurture your creative problem-solving skills, another soft skill that employers value.

8. Be a techie, Become as computer literate as possible by familiarizing yourself with the most widely used computer applications.

9. Be flexible. Be open to new ideas, situations and concepts. Show you can adapt to change in today’s rapidly changing economy.

10. Get results. Acquire a rep as a results-oriented worker-someone who thinks on his or her own and gets things done, rather than someone who merely completes his or her assigned tasks.