No matter how frugal you are, or how many side hustles you do, the biggest impact on your finances is more than likely to be your career and work choices.
Some people are on a specific career path from school, for example choosing science based subjects in order to go on to study engineering or medicine. Some, like me, have less career direction and fall into their jobs or careers.
If you want to progress in your career there are plenty of options to move ahead, increase your success and promotion options, which in turn will lead to an improved salary. Here are some of the top ideas:
Training
Ensure that your line manager is aware of your aspirations or knowledge gaps, and will put you forward for any training (internal or external) which may be open to you. Depending on the organisation, there may be a limited budget or chances, in which case it may be worth seeking out opportunities to study for yourself. These do not necessarily have to be expensive such as a degree through the Open University, there are plenty of free courses and training available through sites such as Coursera and Open Learn.
International Internship
An international internship is a great opportunity to develop your career. Well organised internships in London and other cities can offer you a placement in a top organisation of your preferred industry or career path, networking events, training events (online and in person), CV or resume support, local support and socialising from and with peers, and much much more.
Picking a top capital city such as London will open career doors that you may not have come across otherwise. Being such a busy and populous place, almost every industry you can think of is represented in a relatively small space. Hospitality, events, architecture, fashion, marketing, business, PR, consulting and accounts are all massively represented by internationally renowned companies with offices and hubs in London. Living and working in London will be an experience like no other, and depending on where you are from, something which will set you apart from your peers on your return.
Work experience and volunteering
Depending on the area you are working in or trying to break into, it might be worth considering work experience or volunteering. I once helped someone who was working on the housekeeping team at a local charity, but they wanted to break into a more admin centred role. I suggested to her that she try to do some volunteering in one of the admin based teams, around her normal working hours, and that experience might help her get her foot in the door. She volunteered for just a few hours a week, learning the systems, the processes and more about the jobs available, and then when one came up, she had the confidence and skills to go for it. She was delighted to move away from housekeeping and in to a fundraising role. A few years down the line, she is still working there, and now even manages other people.