Thanks to the pandemic, The Great Resignation is now a very established phenomenon. Bureau of Labor reported that 4 million people gave up their jobs in April. According to a study by Microsoft, 41% of workers are considering leaving their job. 

Many in-demand industries like software, e-commerce and telemedicine are all jobs that lend themselves to remote work and therefore the marketplace for such roles are going to be extra competitive. On the other hand, if you reside in a market where your skills are in demand and there is not much competition, be ready to use that to your advantage during negotiations. 

Regardless if you’re a seasoned professional or a recent college grad looking forward to your first job, now's an excellent time to sharpen your negotiating skills. Here are 3 tips to get ahead in the post pandemic boom.

Research, Research and Research:

Research published by the Society for Human Resource Management suggests that firms are expected to increase compensation in 2021 between 2.6% - 3%, varying across industries. Therefore, the need for research is critical in the post-pandemic economy. Free resources such as glassdoor.com, payscale.com, and salary.com provide relevant data points about title, company culture and salary ranges. Consider factors like geography, experience and education level, when compiling data to ensure apple-to-apple comparison during offer evaluation.

Create a competitive advantage:

Take a step back and analyze how the job market is changing. Acquire the required skill sets that make you standout, and take time to seek out ways that will expand your responsibilities. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy or even Harvard Business school online are a great place to start. Almost everyone in the corporate world is already utilizing online courses, with 98% of U.S. corporations expected to integrate e-learning for employees. By doing this, you are not only growing within your current position, but you'll be setting yourself to maneuver up the corporate ladder.

Know your worth:

At some point, whether applying for a job or vying for a promotion, salary negotiations will come into play. Salary negotiations are  tricky and firms rarely lead with their best offer. Take time, think it over and don’t feel pressured to agree on the first. Also, consider the full package vs just the salary. According to Will Backman, cofounder of Umbrex, “A prospective employee who obtains an extra week of vacation gains an effective 2% increase in the salary per day worked.”

Science suggests that the more you learn, the better learner you become. 2021 is going to be a year of new beginnings, so why not grab the opportunity and take a leap of faith.