Phase 1: Market Intelligence (Weeks 1-4)
Week 1: Compensation Research - Analyze 100 job postings in your field - Use Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and Blind - Map salary ranges to requirements - Identify highest-paying segments
Week 2: Competitive Analysis - Study 50 LinkedIn profiles of high earners - Note their positioning and keywords - Analyze their career progressions - Identify patterns and gaps
Week 3: Skill Gap Analysis - List skills commanding highest premiums - Assess your current capabilities - Identify 3-5 skill gaps to close - Prioritize by ROI and effort
Week 4: Positioning Strategy - Define your niche focus - Craft your unique value proposition - Create positioning statement - Plan your visibility campaign
Phase 2: Skill Optimization (Months 2-6)
Month 2-3: Core Skill Enhancement - Focus on highest-ROI skill gap - Dedicate 10 hours weekly to learning - Apply immediately to current work - Document your progress
Month 4-5: Complementary Skills - Add skills that create valuable combinations - Focus on practical application - Build portfolio pieces - Get certifications if valuable
Month 6: Integration and Validation - Combine skills on real projects - Gather metrics and results - Update positioning based on new capabilities - Test market response
Phase 3: Market Entry (Months 7-12)
Month 7-8: Profile Optimization - Rewrite LinkedIn with new positioning - Update resume with market keywords - Create portfolio highlighting specialization - Gather testimonials and recommendations
Month 9-10: Visibility Campaign - Publish weekly on LinkedIn - Submit conference talk proposals - Guest post on industry blogs - Engage with target companies
Month 11-12: Market Testing - Apply to stretch positions - Interview for market feedback - Negotiate from position of strength - Secure premium compensation