After being a teacher, will I be able to do this job?

[Alwaysinastripedtop]

Anybody a PA or know much about the role?

I’ve been in childcare & teaching for over twenty years, I went part time when pregnant and now wouldn’t ever want to return to *Proper teaching with a class etc.
I saw an advert for a Personal assistant for the owner of a high end real estate company (I live abroad)
I emailed to enquire, just out of curiosity really. I told them my background was teaching/education and that I have some copywriting experience, so I wasn’t sure if my qualifications/experience were matched for the position. She emailed back that it sounded perfect.
I’m due to have an interview next week, but I’m very nervous as this is out of my comfort zone 😬What are the main duties carried out and what is the pay like in general?

Are you sure it’s not a scam? Seems very unlikely that you’ve applied for a job and got an interview without actually knowing the duties expected or anything.

I have worked mainly in corporate and now work in schools (non-teaching staff). I reckon you'll be fine. How are your IT skills?

@Albiboba 🤷🏻‍♀️Definitely not a scam, I know the company etc, I’m abroad and it’s much more relaxed where I am. I just enquired on the spur of the moment and was honest about my background

@WhatFreshHeckle They’re ok, but to what extent will I need to be skilled in this area?
I’m wondering if I’ve been a bit stupid and will look ridiculous as it isn’t my expertise

I don’t know anything about being a PA, but rather than thinking of yourself as an ex-teacher, think of yourself as someone with a proven track record with working under pressure, fabulous communication skills, being flexible, being organised, excellent at planning etc etc

I've been a PA and at that time, just having decent MS Office skills was enough. Especially Outlook and Excel in my industry (which was not real estate).

My job was mainly diary management, proof reading outgoing mail and bringing it to the director to sign, fielding emails, booking travel. It's all fairly straightforward if you're organised, which you will be - I honestly have so much respect for teachers and could not do their job. I have done a bit of classroom work just to see (now on business side of school) and it is so hard. Especially primary imo, but any teaching. I find corporate work much easier, but that may be personality

Have you got a job spec? And did they specify if it was a business/corporate PA or a private PA? Sometimes you get Private PA roles where you’re supporting the person themselves rather than their work, so helping to manage their household and personal errands etc. Often for HNWIs.

If it’s for the business side - organisation and attitude are the biggest aspects, staying a step ahead of what they need and making their job easier. Being proactive, but also reactive and adjusting if things change or their priorities shift. Staying calm and bringing solutions to problems, communicating clearly and ensuring you’re on the same page. Salary can really vary across the board, Private PAs are often paid more because you’ll work longer hours and may need to travel.

May sound ridiculous, but is appearance a factor? I’m ok looking, but having looked at the info on the team, they are pretty much all good looking and/or glamorous

I used to be a PA while saving up for my PGCE, and am now a teacher. Being a teacher is considerably harder, infinitely more pressure and plates in the air. So long as your IT skills are up to scratch you’ll be fine.

I used to be a PA, you need to be well organised, have the ability to plan ahead, sort travel schedules, occasionally organising events/conferences/celebrations depending on the industry.

Ability to stay calm under pressure, problem solve and find solutions to diary/travel issues etc.

Pay can be good depending on the industry, a friend of mine is an EA now and earns £55k + in a tech company.

Good luck!

I would say after teaching you can manage bring a PA! Good luck!

I’m guessing that they want someone organised, who’ll work hard without whinging or suing over an incorrect pronoun, who can keep track of lots of different projects, and who knows how to manage the moods of unreasonable clients. I can see why they might think a teacher sounds perfect because a teaching career shows you can mnage people, have stamina, presentation skills, managed parents, kids, and staff politics, don’t pull random sick days etc etc.

They’re interested enough in you to meet you, and after that it’s all about whether they like you enough to bother training you up. They’ll give you whatever training you need, what they’re looking for is a colleague they can stand to talk to 50 times a day who won’t piss off clients.

And yes make an effort with your appearance for the interview.

Main duties are probably diary management, meeting notes and unfortunately any old still whenever and whatever you're given. There are some PAs at work, depends who the director is but some of them are really taken advantage of. You mentioned whether there could be alterior motives too with wanting an attractive PA. That's also a thing too. Seems strange to not have a job spec and list of duties but I think the comparison with teaching in terms of reliability will help, being around 8-6pm, evenings, weekends. Could be a misconception so watch out like with any job, you have to make sure it works for you.