From Minimum Wage to Six Figures: How Reputation and Learning Accelerated My Career

From Minimum Wage to Six Figures: How Reputation and Learning Accelerated My Career

📌 This week, I’m sharing my personal story of how I went from minimum wage to a six-figure career, and the six career levers that made it possible. Each day, we’ll look at two parts of that journey: what I got wrong at the start, the shifts that changed everything, and the lessons you can apply to accelerate your own career. Today, we’re focusing on two accelerators: reputation and continuous learning.

3. Network and Reputation: The Hidden Job Market

After stabilising in my first post-maternity role, I noticed something striking. The people who moved into better positions weren’t necessarily the most qualified, they were the most visible. People knew them, trusted them, and recommended them when opportunities appeared.

At that stage, I still believed jobs came from job boards. I’d scroll endlessly, apply for everything, and wait. But here’s the truth: the higher up you go, the less likely it is that jobs are ever advertised.

📊 The research confirms it. Adler Group studies show that 70–80% of senior roles never make it to job ads. Instead, they’re filled through networks, referrals, and reputation. LinkedIn’s data tells a similar story: candidates referred by someone in the company are 4x more likely to be hired.

I learned quickly that my reputation was currency. As colleagues began to trust me, my name started to be mentioned in conversations I wasn’t part of. That visibility led to responsibility, and responsibility led to opportunity.

And here’s the key: this wasn’t about networking in the cheesy, cocktail-party sense. It was about doing excellent work consistently, making sure it was visible, and ensuring others understood the impact I was making.

For women especially, I’ll say this: no, doing good work is not enough. You need to network and ensure people know the value you’re creating. Otherwise, you risk being overlooked.

🔍 Searching question for you: What would people say about you if you weren’t in the room? Would your name come up when an opportunity arose, and if so, would you have anyone on your “team” to speak up for you?

👉 Call to action: If you’re not sure, grab our Professional CV Review Service to stress-test your document.

At any stage of your career, a sponsor who will advocate for you when you’re not in those key decision-making meetings can accelerate your progression faster than almost anything else. Sponsors are your line managers, heads of department, or directors. Make sure they know:
a) the impact you deliver,
b) the direction you want your career to take, and
c) how they can help.

Because if they don’t know you want to progress, why would they think to mention your name at a pivotal moment?

And if you’re already in one of those influential positions, ask yourself: who are you sponsoring? You could be the difference between someone being promoted or walking out the door to find that promotion elsewhere.

4. Learning, Reading, Developing, Mentors: Staying Ahead

The second lever for career acceleration was one I didn’t fully appreciate at the time, but I am now a total convert. And that is: continuous learning.

At first, I resisted. I had years of financial services experience and the qualifications to match. But the truth was, they were outdated. I had a five-year career gap, the market had moved on, and what I knew simply wasn’t enough.

So, I started learning again. I read obsessively; industry journals, business books, micro courses, leadership insights. I signed up for training sessions, attended conferences, and sought out mentors who could help me see what I couldn’t see for myself.

Every time I learned something new, I implemented it at work. Not only did my knowledge (and therefore my value) increase, but so did my results. They say leaders are readers and I couldn’t agree more.

📊 The data is clear. OECD studies show that workers who engage in continuous learning enjoy higher lifetime earnings and are more resilient to market shifts. Harvard Business Review reports that leaders who invest in their own development are significantly more effective in driving team performance.

For me, the real breakthrough came when I began working with mentors. A good mentor doesn’t just share knowledge; they accelerate your thinking, challenge your blind spots, and open doors. Looking back, every leap forward in my career aligned with a moment where I invested in learning: whether through books, training, or guidance from someone further ahead.

🔍 Searching question for you: Are you investing in yourself at the same level you expect your employer to invest in you? Are you being mentored? Are you mentoring others?

👉 Call to action: If you’re not confident in that answer, explore our LinkedIn Review Service to make sure you’re not leaving opportunities on the table.

The Takeaway

Reputation and learning work hand in hand. Reputation gets your name mentioned. Learning ensures you’re ready when opportunity knocks.

For me, these two levers turned stability into momentum. They built credibility, created trust, and positioned me not just as someone who could do the job, but as someone who could grow with the job.

If your career feels stagnant, ask yourself two questions: Who’s talking about me when I’m not in the room? and What am I doing to make sure I’m always ahead of the curve?

Tomorrow, we’ll move to two more game-changers: understanding recruiters and executive search, and using trigger events to create opportunities before they’re advertised. These were the strategies that shifted me from being a passive candidate to actively shaping my own career path.

Because in today’s market, waiting to be found isn’t enough. You have to know how to make yourself unmissable.

Your next career move deserves more than guesswork. At Resume Pilots, we specialise in crafting executive-level CVs and LinkedIn profiles that get results. We showcase your impact and position you for six-figure roles.

If you’re serious about taking control of your career story, let’s talk.

👉 Schedule a call with our team today and take the first step toward your next big opportunity.