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 / Programme Assistant
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Organisational skills, task management, stakeholder communication, basic project tracking, attention to detail.
You're ready to move on when
- You've successfully managed multiple small projects or supported a larger programme, keeping everything on track.
- You're the person who always knows where the latest version of a document is or what the next deadline is.
- You're comfortable communicating with different internal teams and chasing information when needed.
- 2
Executive Assistant / Administrator (with project exposure)
3-4 yearsSkills to master
- Advanced organisational skills, managing complex schedules, discreet communication, problem-solving under pressure, supporting senior leaders.
You're ready to move on when
- You've not just managed diaries, but you've also helped coordinate projects or events from start to finish.
- You're great at anticipating needs and proactively solving problems before they escalate.
- You've shown initiative in improving processes or taking on new responsibilities beyond your core admin tasks.
- 3
Customer Support Specialist (with process focus)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Strong communication, problem diagnosis, user empathy, clear documentation, understanding of customer journeys.
You're ready to move on when
- You're excellent at listening to customer problems and guiding them to solutions, often through complex systems.
- You've contributed to improving support processes or creating clearer help documentation.
- You're able to handle difficult conversations with empathy and maintain customer satisfaction.