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 / People Operations Assistant
1-3 yearsSkills to master
- HR administration, basic data entry and reporting, understanding HR processes, initial employee query handling. You'd move into EX after getting a solid grounding in general HR.
You're ready to move on when
- You're already pulling basic reports from the HRIS and finding insights.
- You've shown a keen interest in employee feedback and improving processes.
- You're known for your attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.
- 2
People Analyst / HR Data Specialist
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Advanced data extraction and manipulation, statistical analysis basics, dashboard creation, understanding HR metrics. This path is for someone who loves the numbers side.
You're ready to move on when
- You're already building dashboards and running basic analyses.
- You're comfortable with tools like Excel (advanced) or a BI tool.
- You're always asking 'what does the data tell us?' about people issues.
- 3
Junior Project Manager (HR/L&D)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Project planning and execution, stakeholder management, communication planning, risk management. You'd bring a structured approach to EX initiatives.
You're ready to move on when
- You've successfully managed small to medium projects from start to finish.
- You're great at coordinating different people and getting things done.
- You can clearly articulate project goals and keep everyone on track.