The job market is a competitive place, and companies are doing everything they can to attract top talent. Competitive benefits like work from home privileges, dog-friendly offices, and stocked beer fridges are just a few of the things that businesses are implementing to help them stand out in a crowded marketplace. While it can be easy for a company to set itself apart from the competition, what can employees and candidates do to stand out in the crowd?

It can be challenging to make your resume shine brightly in a sea of applicants, especially when the average corporate job opening can receive an average of 250 applications. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to not only make your resume rise above the rest, but to actually help increase your earning potential as well. There are certain hard and soft skills you can learn that are in high-demand, and some general ways you can be proactive that will help you in the long run.

Maximizing your earning potential will allow you not only more financial freedom, but also an opportunity to better budget and save for big life purchases such as a home, saving for your children’s college tuition, or keeping money safe in an emergency fund.

Job requirements are constantly evolving to keep up with modern technologies and platforms. In order to stay relevant in the workforce and to give yourself a better growth opportunity, stay on top of emerging skills that are important in your field. Not only does learning new skills help keep your mind sharp, it gives you a better chance at increasing your salary potential. This increase will not only allow you to save and invest more, but the additional income can help you free yourself of financial stress and set you up for future success.