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
Graduate Scheme / Internship Programme
6-12 monthsSkills to master
- Foundational research methods, data cleaning, basic reporting, understanding of business context.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering accurate work on time.
- Proactively seeking out learning opportunities.
- Demonstrating a solid grasp of basic research terminology and processes.
- 2
Data Entry / Administrative Assistant (with analytical focus)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Meticulous data handling, strong Excel skills, exposure to database concepts, organisational skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managing and organising large datasets.
- Automating repetitive tasks using spreadsheet functions.
- Taking initiative to understand the 'why' behind the data you're handling.
- 3
Customer Service / Call Centre (with feedback analysis)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding customer pain points, active listening, basic qualitative data categorisation, communication skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Effectively identifying and categorising customer feedback themes.
- Demonstrating empathy and understanding of customer behaviour.
- Articulating customer insights clearly to internal teams.


