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
Recent Graduate (Technical Degree)
0-1 yearSkills to master
- SQL proficiency, understanding of data lifecycle, basic data governance concepts, strong documentation skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently accurate and timely completion of assigned tasks.
- Proactive in asking questions and seeking to understand underlying processes.
- Demonstrates initiative in learning new tools and concepts beyond direct assignments.
- 2
Data Entry Specialist / Data Administrator
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Transitioning from data entry to data quality analysis, understanding data relationships, basic SQL for validation.
You're ready to move on when
- Identifies and escalates data inconsistencies proactively.
- Shows a desire to understand the 'why' behind data issues, not just fix them.
- Has started to learn SQL or other data querying languages in their own time.
- 3
IT Support / Junior Business Analyst
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Translating business needs into data requirements, understanding system integrations, basic data modelling concepts.
You're ready to move on when
- Can clearly articulate data-related problems from a user's perspective.
- Has experience working with different business systems and understanding their data outputs.
- Demonstrates a methodical approach to problem-solving and root cause analysis.


