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
Marketing Internship / Graduate Scheme
6-12 monthsSkills to master
- Basic campaign setup, reporting, data entry accuracy, understanding of core marketing metrics, professional communication.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully completed multiple campaign setup tasks with minimal errors.
- Consistently delivered timely and accurate reports.
- Demonstrated proactive learning and application of feedback.
- Received positive feedback from managers and team members on reliability and attitude.
- 2
Digital Marketing Assistant (Agency or In-house)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Hands-on experience with at least one major ad platform (Google Ads or Meta Ads), creative trafficking, basic budget monitoring, client communication (if agency-side).
You're ready to move on when
- Managed small-scale campaigns end-to-end (under supervision).
- Proficient in pulling and interpreting standard platform reports.
- Ability to troubleshoot common campaign issues independently.
- Strong understanding of the advertising lifecycle from brief to report.
- 3
Personal Projects / Freelance Work
Variable (demonstrable portfolio)Skills to master
- Practical experience running ads for personal projects, small businesses, or non-profits. This includes budget management, ad creation, audience targeting, and performance analysis.
You're ready to move on when
- A portfolio showcasing successful ad campaigns (even with small budgets).
- Clear understanding of campaign objectives, targeting, and measurement.
- Ability to articulate learnings and results from your projects.
- Demonstrated passion and self-motivation to learn digital advertising.


