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
HR Coordinator / HR Administrator
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Employee relations basics, HR systems (HRIS), internal communication, data accuracy, understanding organisational structure. You'll have seen how people react to change in a more general sense.
You're ready to move on when
- You've independently managed internal communications for HR initiatives.
- You've supported employee engagement activities or surveys.
- You're known for your organisational skills and attention to detail in HR processes.
- You've shown a keen interest in the 'people side' of larger company projects.
- 2
Project Support Officer / Project Coordinator
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Project planning basics, managing project documentation, stakeholder communication, risk identification, working with project management tools. You'll understand the project lifecycle.
You're ready to move on when
- You've successfully coordinated project tasks and deadlines for a small project or workstream.
- You've regularly communicated project updates to various stakeholders.
- You're adept at managing project documentation and keeping things organised.
- You've identified and flagged potential people-related risks on projects.
- 3
Internal Communications Specialist (Junior)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Crafting clear and engaging messages, multi-channel communication strategies, audience segmentation, content creation (written and visual), managing communication calendars. You'll be a natural at getting messages out.
You're ready to move on when
- You've drafted and published internal communications for various company initiatives.
- You've managed internal communication channels (intranet, newsletters).
- You're skilled at translating complex information into easy-to-understand messages.
- You've actively sought feedback on the effectiveness of your communications.