Can you talk a bit about how you market yourself? I've fallen into a similar role at my current employer and am enjoying it, but I'm not sure what options I have for growth.
It's very situationally dependent. I don't market myself the same to any two companies, because my value to a company is dependent on the company itself. As a boss early in my career put it, I excel in the role that every company needs but no company hires for. The most successful strategy I've had is the Trojan Horse approach.
If you're looking for W2 work and are on the business side, focus on analyst, specialist, or strategist roles at fast growing small- to mid-sized companies. Too large and the duties will be too defined for you to grow; too small (or not growing) and you'll likely be too expensive for the value you provide. Look for job descriptions that are written as fishing expeditions; these are indicative of an environment that's changing too fast to define precise duties. Which is also indicative of them hiring for general aptitude rather than specific experience, and the role will expand to the extent of your abilities. If there's a particular area you want to grow, find a role that could justifiably expand to include that. Focus on the existing pain points during the interview, resolve those when you get hired, then fill your newly available excess time at work by systematically seeking out and resolving other pain points (this is where you'd try to work you way into the area you want to grow, if there's a specific one). As for salary growth; there are quite a few strategies to getting larger than usual annual raises if you execute well, play to the companies political landscape, and articulate your value in the right way during your reviews.
If you're looking for contract/consulting work, it's essentially the same thing. Advertise for and resolve specific pain points you've solved in the past, get recurring business by fishing for additional pain points once you're in the door. You'll organically grow a portfolio of work that'll make it easier to get in the door at new companies, and you'll have a steady stream of recurring business (once you've demonstrated your competence, companies are more willing to take a chance on engagements outside of your prior experience). In fact, most of my contract work has come from previous W2 employers that got really used to the convenience and flexibility of having me around.
My email's in my profile; feel free to contact me if you want to chat more about it. My approach is optimized around me, but if I know more about your situation I can probably give more relevant advice for you.
If you're looking for W2 work and are on the business side, focus on analyst, specialist, or strategist roles at fast growing small- to mid-sized companies. Too large and the duties will be too defined for you to grow; too small (or not growing) and you'll likely be too expensive for the value you provide. Look for job descriptions that are written as fishing expeditions; these are indicative of an environment that's changing too fast to define precise duties. Which is also indicative of them hiring for general aptitude rather than specific experience, and the role will expand to the extent of your abilities. If there's a particular area you want to grow, find a role that could justifiably expand to include that. Focus on the existing pain points during the interview, resolve those when you get hired, then fill your newly available excess time at work by systematically seeking out and resolving other pain points (this is where you'd try to work you way into the area you want to grow, if there's a specific one). As for salary growth; there are quite a few strategies to getting larger than usual annual raises if you execute well, play to the companies political landscape, and articulate your value in the right way during your reviews.
If you're looking for contract/consulting work, it's essentially the same thing. Advertise for and resolve specific pain points you've solved in the past, get recurring business by fishing for additional pain points once you're in the door. You'll organically grow a portfolio of work that'll make it easier to get in the door at new companies, and you'll have a steady stream of recurring business (once you've demonstrated your competence, companies are more willing to take a chance on engagements outside of your prior experience). In fact, most of my contract work has come from previous W2 employers that got really used to the convenience and flexibility of having me around.
My email's in my profile; feel free to contact me if you want to chat more about it. My approach is optimized around me, but if I know more about your situation I can probably give more relevant advice for you.