How to make a career move amid record number of people quitting their jobs

By Katie Kindelan

As we enter 2022 and another year of the coronavirus pandemic, more and more Americans are making career changes.

An unprecedented 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with more people quitting jobs that require them to be in person.

At the same time, the market is booming for job seekers.

With 10.6 million job openings in the U.S., that translates to 1.5 job openings for every unemployed person.

The industries currently hiring the most workers include recreation, travel, software and IT services as well as corporate services and finance.

Rebecca Jarvis, ABC News chief business correspondent, joined "GMA" Wednesday to share tips on how to get the most money in a new job and how to ask for a raise.

To maximize salary in a new job:

In order to get the best salary possible in a new job, Jarvis said it's important to be prepared.

First, know your salary range ahead of time. Jarvis recommends checking websites that list typical salaries for certain roles and reaching out to current or former employees at your prospective employer to gain an understanding of what salary could be expected.

Next, when you're in an interview, it's best to not talk about money right off the bat, according to Jarvis.

"If you’re asked, 'How much money would you like to make?' the best answer you can give is, 'I’d like to make in line with what the industry is paying right now, and I think what I bring to this job is top-of-the-line so you can think about me as a top-of-the-line candidate,'" said Jarvis. "Don’t necessarily go out and be specific with those numbers because you can either set yourself backwards, you set a number out there and maybe they’re willing to pay more, or you can keep yourself out of the pool because you’ve gone too high right off the bat."

To ask for a raise in your current job:

Workers hoping to make more money should negotiate based on their skills and achievements, according to Jarvis.

"When you go to your boss and ask for a raise, you want to go in with facts. What have you done for the business?" she said. "Talk to them about how much you love your job, the things you’ve accomplished in the last year."

Jarvis advises setting up a meeting with your boss to ask for a raise, either by Zoom or, ideally, in person.

And Jarvis said when you have that meeting, make sure to be prepared for all scenarios.

"Unfortunately, you often have to be prepared to leave in order to get the best offer," she said. "But you really do have to be prepared to leave if you put that on the table."