The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Change Analyst / Junior Change Practitioner
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering basic change methodologies, drafting clear communications, supporting workshop logistics, and accurately updating project documentation. Essentially, getting the fundamentals right.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering high-quality, on-time support tasks.
- Proactively identifying minor issues and suggesting solutions.
- Demonstrating a solid understanding of project goals and change impacts.
- Receiving positive feedback on collaboration and communication from project teams.
- 2
Project Coordinator (with Change Exposure)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding project lifecycles, managing project schedules and risks, and taking on specific change-related tasks within projects (e.g., managing training schedules, coordinating comms).
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managing small project workstreams independently.
- Showing initiative in taking on change-related tasks.
- Building good relationships with project managers and team leads.
- A clear desire to specialise more in the 'people side' of projects.
- 3
Internal Communications Specialist (with Project Focus)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Developing strong storytelling abilities, tailoring messages for diverse audiences, using various communication channels effectively, and understanding how comms drive behaviour change.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently producing engaging and effective internal communications.
- Being sought out by project teams for communication advice.
- Demonstrating an understanding of how communications influence adoption.
- A desire to move beyond just 'sending messages' to actively managing the change process.