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
Project Administrator / Project Support Officer
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Organisation, meeting management, basic reporting, document control, understanding project lifecycles.
You're ready to move on when
- You're consistently delivering accurate project reports and minutes on time.
- You're proactively identifying and resolving minor project issues.
- You're starting to take initiative beyond assigned tasks, looking for ways to improve processes.
- 2
Junior Change Coordinator / Change Analyst
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Basic change management principles, stakeholder identification, supporting communications, understanding change impacts.
You're ready to move on when
- You're comfortable drafting basic change communications and updates.
- You're helping to identify who is impacted by a change and what those impacts are.
- You're showing an understanding of why people might resist change and how to address it.
- 3
Executive Assistant / Office Manager (with project exposure)
3-4 yearsSkills to master
- High-level organisation, managing complex diaries, coordinating events, strong communication, dealing with senior stakeholders.
You're ready to move on when
- You've managed small internal projects or initiatives from start to finish.
- You're adept at anticipating needs and proactively solving problems for senior leaders.
- You've demonstrated exceptional organisational and communication skills in a fast-paced environment.