Is this a consultant type role? Just wondering when you say the client
In my experience of promotions in that area it will be down to how you sell yourself (I know it’s not the most fair process)
Your length of service will have nothing to do with it. However client feedback will, so make sure you are getting 360s submitted from your client and/or stakeholders
Over and above the job is also as important as doing the job. You also need to make your own opportunities - see where there is a gap and fill it before being asked. Yes you may have to do in your spare time, that’s the way of it, so find “extra things” that you actually enjoy doing so you don’t hate that you may have to do it at night or the weekend
I work in the consultant type field and the year running up to my promotion I never worked harder. It was during lockdown too so the visibility side of things (which is so much more important than you think) was difficult so it was down to volunteering for things, asking what is going on and offering help, basically taking the initiative
Also you likely expect your managers know all the details of what you are doing. They don’t. They have multiple line reports plus their own job to remember the intricate details of. Use your 121s to clearly explain everything you are doing. Keep a diary at the end of each week and use that in your 121s. Share it with your manager so they have it in writing and set up 121s with their manager and/or other managers
You need to make sure they are talking about you when you are not in the room
Once you get the promotion you can take your foot off the gas a bit aa the extras won’t be as important so just remember that
Finally in my experience they won’t promote you unless you are already doing the job so read up on the job description and find examples of when you are delivering at that level
Good luck!