To ask any ex PA's or EA's what they do now and how they transitioned?

[Keke94LND]

Sorry to post here but .. I wanted traffic 😬 also FYI PA stands for personal assistant and EA stands for executive assistant.

I'm an EA and have been for 6 years and I want OUT.. but how and to what?

Any ex PA's/EA's able to share their experiences? Please 😁

@Zitouna

Hi OP - will stop banging on about civil service I promise, but if you’re really into HR, the HR fast stream might be worth a look www.faststream.gov.uk/human-resources/index.html

It’s a 3 year on-the-job training programme. Only £28k but c.£55k when you’ve qualified.

Thanks so much :) I'm gonna take a look, I was looking at civil service all last night and very interested!

I was an EA in the city for 12 years, retrained and am now a psychotherapist.

@AmanitaRubescens

How much does an EA get paid?

PA work is like a lot of jobs where you can really make it what you want it to be.. so for example, if you want a quiet life clocking in at 9 and finishing at 5, you can find a job that is like that, my old job was like that, but if you want to really make a career out of it, you also can do that.. I earn £35k which is on the lower end but I am only on my second job, if I wanted to though I could move on and get a job for £45k or £50k or £60k, it's just that it really isn't what I want to do, it's also actually a really stressful job. I think unfortunately society looks down on it, I don't know why.. but I suspect it is because of the word assistant and because it is mainly females that do it.. sometimes I don't think PA is even a good term for what we do, I think business manager is more fitting because we literally do everything and know all sorts about the businesses we work in

Long ago and far away (I'm retired now), I got more and more bored with my PA role. I eventually moved into training. Training wasn't something I had even recognised as something I already did and had the skills for until an HR manager pointed it out to me.

It's difficult to stand outside yourself; we take so many things for granted. It may well be worth getting some outside help. Otherwise, you could try listing everything you do in your job both the formal parts of it and those that have just grown to be part of it. I doubt that any two PA/EA jobs are exactly the same. I think the easiest transition is expanding on what you already do and enjoy.

I think unfortunately society looks down on it, I don't know why.. but I suspect it is because of the word assistant and because it is mainly females that do it.

I know this is off subject but it is important to women. I was listening to a programme, about the code breakers during the war, the other day. Apparently, the same jobs during and after the war, done by women were "administrative" and when done by men were "technical". I fear little has changed.

I was an EA in my late 20s. I’m now in my early 50s and I am Chief Executive of a £12 million turnover charity.

I am a graduate and I leveraged my networking skills to move into fundraising and then progressed through the department up to Director and then CEO. I moved organisations each time I made a significant step up.

I went from reception, to admin to PA
PA make good money why don’t you like it? Although I am doing a course in CCTV they also make good money

@IalwayswantedtobeBeth

I think unfortunately society looks down on it, I don't know why.. but I suspect it is because of the word assistant and because it is mainly females that do it.

I know this is off subject but it is important to women. I was listening to a programme, about the code breakers during the war, the other day. Apparently, the same jobs during and after the war, done by women were "administrative" and when done by men were "technical". I fear little has changed.

Very interesting, definitely little has changed! In the past PA work was a male dominated career (because women couldn't work I think?) but it was a very well respected career.. the respect for it went down once women joined the work force.. shock!

I was an EA in the City for ten years or so. Left when I became a Mum (no idea how you successfully combine the two roles without masses of back up!) and discovered that being an EA was great prep for motherhood. Looking after senior execs is very like looking after small children at times; both need their days scheduled carefully and everything organised for them, both need feeding regularly and given clean clothes when they make a mess and you are on-call 24/7 🙄

I'm a TA with SEN children now. Natural progression...

Oh I see that it was you @AmanitaRubescens who made that claim

No, I didn't make that claim. I was responding to someone who said many PAs did that.

back at you!

Some of you are on excellent salaries (albeit in London/SE I assume) so I'm surprised you feel undervalued but I guess your bosses/colleagues are on considerably more.

I was a PA for 10 years in various London City financial institutions (Director level then Chief Executive level) before I became a SAHM. I found it impossible to move out of the role because I fell into it after doing Business Admin at college (started as secretary/admin) and didn’t have any other qualifications or have time to get them.

I have just started a 2 year Business Management Foundation degree before I go back to work as I don’t want to be stuck in that role again. It includes Accounting, Economics, Law, Marketing and HR and you can choose which area you want to specialise in. I fancy HR as would like to get into HR Management which I think would suit me as an older person getting back into work and I’m more interested in people now than the business side of work.

I’m the oldest student on the course (49) but I’m finding it quite easy obviously having previous business experience. It’s only 2 days a week of class work and I’ve just been offered a part time admin job 2 days a week as well to increase income from the maintenance loan so it is doable.

Another similar aged lady on the course works but has agreed with her employers to reduce her hours so she can attend.

Could you look into something like that if you have a Uni or college within commuting distance?

Mine is 20 minutes drive away and is actually a college which offers degree courses overseen by a Uni another 15 mins away and which we have to attend for the 3rd year to convert the foundation to a full degree if we want to.

You could try and get on a course now. Mine will take students on until the end of October depending on numbers.

Sorry just seen you’ve already done a Business degree. Ignore me!

@AmanitaRubescens

Oh I see that it was you @AmanitaRubescens who made that claim

No, I didn't make that claim. I was responding to someone who said many PAs did that.

back at you!

Some of you are on excellent salaries (albeit in London/SE I assume) so I'm surprised you feel undervalued but I guess your bosses/colleagues are on considerably more.

Here's your post:

I think many people are happy to do a 9-5 (or 6pm) job, switch off their computers and switch off from work. PA/EA work sounds ideal for them. Obviously, not for OP as she clearly has drive

Where on the thread has anyone said that many PAs only do standard hours and it's basically a brainless walk in the park? OP has said she does 40 hours a week, which is a lot, but she has also mentioned it's her second job, it's not a senior role.

I'm not sure why you are on this thread, you know zero about what an EA/PA does and even when countless people had outlined how complex it can be, you still dive in with your irrelevant opinion.

@AmanitaRubescens

Oh I see that it was you @AmanitaRubescens who made that claim

No, I didn't make that claim. I was responding to someone who said many PAs did that.

back at you!

Some of you are on excellent salaries (albeit in London/SE I assume) so I'm surprised you feel undervalued but I guess your bosses/colleagues are on considerably more.

Your exact words

I think many people are happy to do a 9-5 (or 6pm) job, switch off their computers and switch off from work. PA/EA work sounds ideal for them. Obviously, not for OP as she clearly has drive

Wind your neck in

Wind your neck in

You're awfully chippy ...

If I could be bothered (and I can't) I'd quote parts of OP's posts where she talked about some PAs not being graduates and switching off at 5pm (or 6pm) - that's what I was responding to.

I think many a PA/EA role would suit that type of person especially if the salary is £35k which is low for London 6 years post grad.

However, lots of you are earning tens of thousands more so clearly your roles would not suit a 9-5er

@AmanitaRubescens

Wind your neck in

You're awfully chippy ...

If I could be bothered (and I can't) I'd quote parts of OP's posts where she talked about some PAs not being graduates and switching off at 5pm (or 6pm) - that's what I was responding to.

I think many a PA/EA role would suit that type of person especially if the salary is £35k which is low for London 6 years post grad.

However, lots of you are earning tens of thousands more so clearly your roles would not suit a 9-5er

Hmm is it that low 6 years post grad? I started on £21k at 21 and am now on £35k and 27, I feel like I've done quite well 🤷🏼‍♀️ it is low compared to some EA jobs you can get mind you

@AmanitaRubescens

Wind your neck in

You're awfully chippy ...

If I could be bothered (and I can't) I'd quote parts of OP's posts where she talked about some PAs not being graduates and switching off at 5pm (or 6pm) - that's what I was responding to.

I think many a PA/EA role would suit that type of person especially if the salary is £35k which is low for London 6 years post grad.

However, lots of you are earning tens of thousands more so clearly your roles would not suit a 9-5er

Also to note, I never said anything about some PA's not being graduates and switching off at 5 or 6pm .. maybe it was someone else? Having said that, I don't think there's anything wrong with switching off at the end of your work day

I was a legal PA - definitely scope to become a paralegal at least there. My first child was born disabled, so I didn't go back. I now do admin for a charity and love it - I work with the nicest people.

Also to note, I never said anything about some PA's not being graduates and switching off at 5 or 6pm .. maybe it was someone else?
Probably, I can't be bothered going back but someone did. Anyway, you sound lovely OP and bright and ambitious and I hope you find something more fulfilling.

@AmanitaRubescens

Also to note, I never said anything about some PA's not being graduates and switching off at 5 or 6pm .. maybe it was someone else? Probably, I can't be bothered going back but someone did. Anyway, you sound lovely OP and bright and ambitious and I hope you find something more fulfilling.

Thank you :)

I agree with the other posters who've felt pigeon holed - it's very difficult for colleagues to think about you as anything other than the servant and it's really hard to stop yourself thinking you are. I did 9 years as a PA after university and side stepped into a call centre role after maternity leave,
then progressed into managing the team. Accidentally fell into project work during an office move and ended up with a career in project management which I love! Even all these years later I still have to stop myself from agreeing to typing up stuff ("because you're so much faster, Piddle") and offering to clear up after meetings.

@sansucre

Oh, and I worked in the charity sector for a while. Fucking nightmare. They really expected way more than they were willing to pay for. Never again.

To add, I have office management experience and project management experience too. I am great at getting things done and understanding (and anticipating) the needs of others', have wonderful soft skills, am highly personable and am a great networker. In fact, all these things are why I get hired and why my bosses always end up feeling highly competitive as I'm more liked than they are. Sigh.

Like you OP, I feel stuck, hell, I am stuck. I am in no way living up to my potential, possibly because I have no idea what that is. No-one dreams of being a PA or EA, it's a role most fall into.

I don't want to work in an office any more. I don't want to be anyone's assistant. I have zero interest in HR, working at. a GP's surgery/medical receptionist. These are just variations on the same things anyway. None of the suggestions in this thread appeal to me. I want to retrain as a counsellor but with no savings (thanks pandemic) and no support at home, I don't have the finances in place. So I'm stuck.

I feel a bit better for this rant now. Thanks OP for being a catalyst.

@sansucre

I'm sorry you're feeling like that.

I'm an EA (accounts executive?) I hope this is what everyone is talking about...

I'm beyond disillusioned ...I love how at my company everything is dressed up as a 'project' ...no, it's just a task...collating bits of information from other spreadsheets isn't a 'project' it's a 'silly' task at best....

I have no answers... I'm regretful for not having a professional degree with actual skills like nursing ....where there is hierarchy and progression and knowledge acquisition that's relevant and meaningful... I'm escaping on maternity leave soon....

And I don't have the money/time to retrain... It's depressing

Another PA who moved into project/programme management (though being a PA was a second career after having kids, I was initially working in advertising).

I made a strategic move to get into project management after getting utterly disillusioned in a PA role with no career progression (where it wasn't even considered for me) at a company that I found really boring. I had utter faith in myself and my abilities though, maybe to do with my previous career.

So I got a project management qualification in my own time. Moved to an office manager/pa role at a new company that was quite small/a start up but ran lots of interesting projects. Went in offering to get involved in helping with the projects as much as I could/took on extra responsibility quickly.

Then I was really honest about wanting to work in projects and my boss was receptive to working out a plan for me to move roles.

I'm now a programme manager across a number of different projects, managing my own team, and I love it. Took 3 years for me to progress to this role from starting at the company.

So from my experience: take any courses you can that will help your move; think about taking a job (even if not the role you initially want) at a company you want to work for that has the career path you want; then be pushy/make yourself invaluable!

Ex-PA in media (glossy lifestyle magazines) I started writing and writing and basically wrote my way out - which had always been my plan. I was lucky in that my boss then encouraged me. Do you like the industry you are in? Can you see yourself doing a different role within it?

Our admin staff sometimes move to be project assistants and then up the project management route.