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 Assistant / Coordinator
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Content creation, social media scheduling, basic analytics reporting, understanding brand guidelines, supporting marketing campaigns.
You're ready to move on when
- You've independently managed social media channels for a brand.
- You've written blog posts or website copy that generated engagement.
- You're comfortable pulling basic reports from Google Analytics or social media platforms.
- You've collaborated with different teams to get content approved.
- 2
Social Media Specialist
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Platform-specific content strategy, community management, social listening, influencer engagement, basic paid social campaigns.
You're ready to move on when
- You've grown a brand's social media presence and engagement.
- You're adept at creating platform-specific content (e.g., Instagram Reels, LinkedIn articles).
- You've handled community management and responded to comments/messages effectively.
- You understand social media metrics beyond just follower counts.
- 3
Junior Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Coordinator
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding candidate experience, recruitment lifecycle, sourcing techniques, basic candidate communication, applicant tracking systems.
You're ready to move on when
- You've managed a pipeline of candidates and understand their journey.
- You've written compelling outreach messages to potential hires.
- You're familiar with an ATS and how candidates move through it.
- You've developed a good 'feel' for what candidates are looking for in a role/company.