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
L&D Coordinator / Training Administrator
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- LMS administration, scheduling, logistics management, basic content uploading, learner support, attention to detail.
You're ready to move on when
- You've mastered all the administrative aspects of L&D and can run the 'back end' smoothly.
- You're proactively identifying small improvements to processes and suggesting solutions.
- You're starting to get curious about the 'why' behind the training, not just the 'how' of delivery.
- You've taken initiative to learn basic e-learning authoring or content design in your own time.
- 2
Junior Instructional Designer
1-3 yearsSkills to master
- E-learning authoring (Articulate Rise/Storyline), basic instructional design principles, content writing, visual design for learning, basic project management.
You're ready to move on when
- You can independently design and build simple e-learning modules from a clear brief.
- You're getting positive feedback on the clarity and engagement of your learning content.
- You're comfortable working with SMEs to extract information and turn it into learning materials.
- You're keen to learn more about adult learning theories and evaluation methods.
- 3
HR Generalist with L&D Focus
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding of HR processes, employee relations, basic training delivery, talent management principles, communication skills, business partnering.
You're ready to move on when
- You've taken on all L&D-related tasks within your HR role and genuinely enjoy them.
- You're passionate about employee development and can link it to business outcomes.
- You've delivered some internal training programmes and received good feedback.
- You're looking to specialise purely in learning and development rather than broader HR.