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
Promotion from Junior International Data Assistant (L1)
1.5 - 2.5 yearsSkills to master
- Independent execution of routine tasks, proactive problem-solving, basic data storytelling, and a solid grasp of core SQL and Python for data manipulation.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering accurate work with minimal supervision.
- Proactively identifying and resolving minor data issues.
- Taking initiative to learn new tools or techniques.
- Effectively communicating findings to immediate team members.
- 2
Graduate Scheme / Entry-Level Data Role at another company
2 - 3 years post-graduationSkills to master
- Practical application of academic knowledge, experience with real-world messy data, proficiency in at least one BI tool, and strong SQL skills.
You're ready to move on when
- A portfolio of data projects (academic or professional) demonstrating practical skills.
- Experience working in a team environment.
- Ability to articulate how you've solved data problems in previous roles.
- Comfortable with the full data cleaning and preparation lifecycle.
- 3
Career Changer (e.g., from Business Analyst, Reporting Analyst)
3 - 5 years in previous role + self-study/bootcampSkills to master
- Strong domain knowledge from previous role, combined with newly acquired technical skills in Python/SQL, and a clear understanding of data science principles.
You're ready to move on when
- Demonstrable proficiency in Python (pandas) and SQL through personal projects or certifications.
- Ability to connect business problems to data solutions.
- Strong motivation and aptitude for continuous technical learning.
- Experience working with data in a business context, even if not explicitly a 'data' role.