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This article was first published in the September 2016 international edition of Accounting and Business magazine.

I recently gave a presentation at a conference and met someone I’ll call James, an accountant who became finance director of a mid-sized tech company before he turned 30. 

Why do such individuals get promoted so quickly while others languish in their careers? From my experience, I offer three observations.

Move up or move on. James has worked in five different companies over the course of his 10-year career to date – in consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, fund management, retail and now technology. He has been aggressive in his career moves. However, I recommend to clients as a general principle that they should be moving up the ranks or on to a different employer every two to three years.

Once you have learnt enough about a role or industry, push for further responsibility with that employer. Or at least move on to a new part of the business or a different client group.

Don’t allow your career to stagnate if your current employer is unable to give you the development that you want. Speak to recruiters. Network to find other opportunities. Apply for other roles and move on.

Don’t assume that simply doing a good job will get you promoted. It won’t. Doing what is required of you is just the baseline, the minimum requirement for any role.

To get noticed, aim to work on projects that make a bigger impact. Look around you at the projects the people who have the next job you want are doing. Then make a plan to get involved and grow your skills.

For example, I work with a young lawyer who makes a career plan every New Year for the six months to June. Then she reviews her progress and formulates a plan to the end of the year.

Build your social capital. No doubt you have read about the importance of networking and heard the adage that success is more about who you know than what you know. Or you may have felt bruised when promotions seem to go to colleagues who play office politics.

All these observations point to the fact that relationships really matter. If you know more people within your own organisation, you will hear about exciting projects or worrying developments more quickly. If you meet with more people outside your organisation, you will discover new techniques or technologies too.

So make it a priority to build your social capital – your ability to ask for advice and favours from others. Spend at least a couple of hours every week meeting someone new or reinforcing a relationship. Set up breakfast or lunch meetings. Invite acquaintances to attend conferences and workshops with you. Remember that people can be more of an asset to your career than the knowledge you have in your head.

Dr Rob Yeung is an organisational psychologist and coach at consultancy Talentspace