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
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering complex scheduling, managing multiple priorities, high-volume email communication, developing strong organisational systems.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the 'go-to' person for all things admin and logistics in your current role.
- You've regularly coordinated complex meetings or events involving multiple senior stakeholders.
- You're looking for a role with more direct impact on people and process, beyond general office support.
- 2
HR Administrator / HR Assistant
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding HR processes, handling sensitive employee data, exposure to onboarding/offboarding, basic ATS usage.
You're ready to move on when
- You've already had some exposure to recruitment tasks, even if it was just posting jobs or managing basic paperwork.
- You're comfortable with HR systems and data privacy regulations like GDPR.
- You enjoy the 'people' aspect of HR but want to specialise more in the early stages of the employee lifecycle.
- 3
Customer Service / Client Support Specialist
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Exceptional written and verbal communication, problem-solving under pressure, managing difficult conversations with empathy, maintaining high customer satisfaction.
You're ready to move on when
- You consistently get excellent feedback for your communication and problem-solving skills.
- You're used to managing high volumes of queries and providing clear, concise answers.
- You're looking to apply your 'people skills' in a more internal, process-driven context.