Ship 3 concrete portfolio artifacts this year (a case study on a paid campaign you actually ran, a measured A/B test, a self-published newsletter with real subscribers) — moves you from 'outputs: none' to 'portfolio', which is the single biggest mover at this experience band.

Pick one named specialty within marketing (lifecycle, paid social, SEO, marketing analytics) and put 200 hours into a recognized certification — generalist coordinator roles are the most automation-exposed slice of marketing; specializing pushes you into shortage demand within 24 months.

Finish or complete a credential to close the no-degree gap (a part-time bachelor's, a Google/HubSpot/Meta professional certificate stack) — at this career stage the credential gap caps the salary band more than skill does, and closing it unlocks the senior-coordinator → manager promotion path.