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 Coordinator / Administrator
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Organisation, scheduling, document management, basic communication drafting, stakeholder liaison.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers tasks on time and with high accuracy.
- Proactively identifies and resolves minor logistical issues.
- Receives positive feedback on communication and support from project teams.
- Shows initiative by taking on tasks beyond their immediate remit.
- 2
Internal Communications Assistant
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Drafting internal messages, managing communication channels (intranet, email), understanding audience segmentation, event support.
You're ready to move on when
- Can draft clear, concise, and engaging internal communications.
- Understands the importance of tone and audience in messaging.
- Has experience coordinating communication campaigns or events.
- Shows an interest in the 'why' behind organisational changes.
- 3
HR Administrator / Assistant
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Employee support, policy communication, training logistics, data management, understanding employee lifecycle.
You're ready to move on when
- Strong empathy and ability to handle sensitive employee queries.
- Experience with organising training or onboarding programmes.
- Understands HR processes and how changes impact employees.
- Demonstrates discretion and attention to detail with confidential information.