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
Office Administrator / Executive Assistant
1-3 years in an admin roleSkills to master
- Organisation, scheduling, communication, basic tech support, managing multiple stakeholders.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the go-to person for keeping things organised in your current role.
- You enjoy supporting a team and making their lives easier.
- You've handled scheduling, event coordination, or logistics in the past.
- You're keen to learn about sales and training.
- 2
Customer Service Representative
1-2 years in customer-facing rolesSkills to master
- Problem-solving, communication (especially clear instructions), managing expectations, patience, using CRM systems.
You're ready to move on when
- You're excellent at explaining complex information simply.
- You've dealt with a variety of customer queries and resolved issues effectively.
- You're comfortable with using software systems to track interactions.
- You're interested in moving from reactive support to proactive enablement.
- 3
Retail Assistant / Team Leader
2-4 years in a retail environmentSkills to master
- Organisation (stock, displays), customer interaction, basic training of new staff, time management in a fast-paced setting.
You're ready to move on when
- You've been responsible for organising a section of a store or managing rotas.
- You've helped train new team members on product knowledge or store processes.
- You thrive in a busy environment and can juggle multiple demands.
- You're looking for a career that uses your organisational and people skills in a different way.