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
Administrative Assistant / Office Manager
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Organisation, scheduling, basic budgeting, vendor communication, attention to detail, managing multiple small tasks.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the go-to person for keeping things organised in your current role.
- You enjoy coordinating logistics for office events or team outings.
- You're consistently praised for your accuracy and reliability in administrative tasks.
- 2
Retail / Hospitality Assistant
1-3 yearsSkills to master
- Customer service, problem-solving under pressure, managing inventory, working in a fast-paced environment, attention to presentation and detail.
You're ready to move on when
- You thrive in busy customer-facing environments and can handle unexpected issues calmly.
- You're great at ensuring displays are perfect or stock is organised.
- You've shown initiative in resolving customer complaints or operational issues.
- 3
Marketing Intern / Assistant
6 months - 2 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding marketing campaigns, content creation, basic digital tools, working with different teams, supporting event logistics.
You're ready to move on when
- You've already helped out with small events or marketing campaigns.
- You understand the basics of brand guidelines and messaging.
- You're keen to move into a more hands-on, logistical marketing role.