You always seem to need help. You’re making decent money, but you’ll never hit the big, six-figure salary that recruiters love to talk about.

You feel like things are stagnant, and you’re wondering what you can do to jump-start your career. Well, don’t worry; here’s a fantastic list for you.

Become an Expert in Your Niche

Expertise is your greatest asset. It’s what you bring to the table that no one else can offer. It’s how you stand out, make yourself indispensable, and get paid what you’re worth.

But expertise doesn’t happen overnight—it comes from years of hard work and dedication, from a willingness to constantly learn new things and make mistakes.

So if you’re ready to become an expert in your niche, start by reading as much as possible about it!

Read books, listen to podcasts, watch videos or anything that will help expand your knowledge about the topic.

Once you’ve done this for a while, take some time to reflect on what you’ve learned and decide which topics seem most interesting or relevant to what you do every day (or hope to do someday).

Then write everything down! This might seem like a lot of work at first glance, but trust us when we say that once it becomes part of your daily routine, it’ll feel like second nature before long!

Take Classes That Fall Outside Your Discipline

Taking classes outside your discipline can be a great way to make yourself a more well-rounded professional.

It’s also a great way to expand your knowledge, essential for job security.

If you study finance and take an art class, you’ll learn about the artistic process, which will help you understand how artists think and approach their work.

This can help you better relate to them when working with them on projects.

Taking classes outside of your discipline, like this presentations skills course at Acuity Training, also helps you see how other fields operate and what they might need from someone in your field.

For example, taking a business class and learning about marketing will help you understand what marketers do and how they approach their work.

If you’re working with marketers on projects, this could help make it easier for everyone involved because it will show them that you understand what they do and why it matters.

Deliver More Than You Promise

This may seem like an obvious tip, but you’ll want to ensure you follow it closely.

If you’re a new employee, or even if you’ve been at the company for a while and are just starting to work with a new group of people, there’s no doubt that they’ll look up to you as someone who knows what they’re doing.

They will want to see that you can deliver on what you promise. You must do so—and then some! If your boss asks for something by Friday, finish it by Thursday.

Write seven pages if your manager asks for five pages of copy by next week. The more productive and efficient you are, the more people will look after your work.

Self-Educate and Self-Promote Yourself

The business world is constantly changing, and you have to keep up. The best way to do that is by learning new skills and keeping up with industry trends.

You don’t have to spend all your time doing this, but a little bit every week will help you stay relevant in your field and make you more valuable to your company.

If you’re passionate about automotive technology and aspire to become an expert in the field, consider enrolling in an Automotive Service Technician Program.

Through dedicated study and hands-on experience, you can cultivate the expertise needed to excel in this dynamic industry, making yourself invaluable and paving the way for a rewarding career.

You can also help yourself by promoting yourself in other ways, such as through social media.

Post about your accomplishments, share articles about your work and industry, and reach out to people who inspire you.

This will help get your name out there so that when it comes time for promotions or raises, you’re already at the top of your mind!

Think Big

When looking for ways to accelerate your career, it’s essential to think big.

Think about what you want to be doing in five years, and then do everything you can to get there—or at least get closer.

If you want to be an editor-in-chief, start working towards that goal as soon as possible.

If you want to be a marketing manager, start working on your skills now so they are ready when you’re ready.

You’ll have time to figure out the details later—for now, make sure that whatever path you choose leads to where you want your career to be headed.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to accelerate your career, remember these tips throughout your journey.

This isn’t a one-time deal; this is a continuous learning process.

As you progress and work on more projects and gain new skills, there will be times when your career will feel like it’s stagnating.

That’s normal–it happens to everyone.

But with these five things in mind (perhaps add some of your own?), you’ll be well-equipped to continue on the path to success and thriving in your career.