. . . in 2 Years

IMPROVE YOUR VISIBILITY

"Managing your career is separate from doing your job," says Donald Asher, author of Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn't, and Why. Shape your image and then market it effectively to superiors. Pass news of any of your troops' wins right up the food chain.

HIT "EJECT"

Been at your job for a year without being promoted or even snagging an invite to a "training" session on the Gold Coast? Then it's time to bail out, if you feel you're ready for the next step, says executive coach Marty Nemko, author of Cool Careers For Dummies.

BECOME AN OFFSHORE ASSET

Move to the positive side of the corporate ledger by going international. Salaries swell in profit centres, such as sales and new-business development, and shrivel in cost centres, such as human resources, customer service and marketing. "Any boundary-spanning position that takes you offshore is a positive career move right now," says Asher.

STROKE YOUR CONTACTS

A common networking pitfall is contacting business friends only when you need a job, says Asher. Instead, be systematic about it, like the powerful Hollywood producer Asher knows who finds an excuse to contact every business friend every three months.

MAKE 'EM PAY

Squeeze the most out of a job offer by doing groundwork. "How much you earned in the past is irrelevant to the discussion. It's the market rate for the position that matters," says Asher. "Tell them, ‘If you want me to stay in this position, you'll want to bring me in the door at appropriate pay'." A national survey like mycareer.com.au/salary-centre is a start, but dig hard for real-time salary ranges by contacting people in your company and at competing companies.