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
From Senior Desktop Support Technician / EUC Engineer
3-5 years as a Senior/LeadSkills to master
- Project management, advanced troubleshooting, mentoring junior staff, contributing to knowledge base, understanding of ITIL Problem Management, initial budget exposure.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led 2-3 significant IT projects (e.g., OS migration, software rollout).
- Consistently acted as a go-to escalation point for complex issues, demonstrating strong problem-solving.
- Actively mentored junior technicians, helping them grow their skills.
- Demonstrated initiative in improving processes or contributing to strategic discussions.
- 2
From IT Team Lead (Small to Medium Business)
2-4 years as a Team LeadSkills to master
- Direct line management, performance reviews, resource allocation, vendor coordination, basic budget oversight, incident management leadership.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed a team of 3-5 technicians, conducting regular 1:1s and performance reviews.
- Successfully managed the day-to-day operations of an IT support function.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate with vendors and other IT teams.
- Proven ability to de-escalate critical incidents and communicate effectively during outages.
- 3
From Technical Project Manager (IT Infrastructure)
4-6 years in Project ManagementSkills to master
- Deep understanding of end-user technologies, IT service delivery, team leadership, operational management, ITIL principles.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully delivered multiple IT infrastructure projects, with a focus on end-user impact.
- Developed a strong understanding of desktop support operations and challenges.
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities, even if not in a direct line management role.
- Proven ability to manage budgets and timelines effectively.