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, communication, managing multiple priorities, basic budget tracking. Essentially, showing you can keep a busy office running smoothly.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the 'go-to' person for organising complex schedules or events.
- You've successfully managed office supplies or a small departmental budget.
- You're consistently praised for your attention to detail and proactive support.
- 2
Marketing Assistant / Communications Assistant
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding creative workflows, managing content, coordinating campaigns, basic digital asset management, working with designers or copywriters.
You're ready to move on when
- You've supported the delivery of small marketing campaigns from start to finish.
- You're comfortable with digital tools for content creation or management.
- You've successfully coordinated inputs from multiple team members for a project.
- 3
Recent Graduate (relevant degree)
0 years (direct entry)Skills to master
- Academic project management (e.g., dissertation planning), research, presentation skills, teamwork in group projects, quick learning of new software.
You're ready to move on when
- You've successfully managed complex academic projects with strict deadlines.
- You've demonstrated strong organisational and research skills in your studies.
- You're eager to apply your academic learning in a practical, fast-paced environment.