I never intended to become a PA, it all came about by accident.  I went to college to study secretarial and business studies because, frankly, I hadn't a clue what I wanted to do and it seemed like a sensible option to be able to get a "good office job" which was pretty important in my day.  I came out of this course as a highly qualified private secretary, and worked for a few years in the role quite happily.  But I never really considered it to be my career, I always felt it was a bit of a stop gap until my real career fell into my lap.

After a few years I decided the time was right to go back to university to study for a business degree - all my friends had degrees and were managers, and I was "just a secretary" - surely I could do much more than this?  Well, after I graduated I ended up in a junior management role and absolutely hated it!  I could stand the pressure and stress (anyone who says being a top level PA isn't stressful doesn't know the half of it!), it was the people management that was a nightmare.  So I left that role and started working as a PA - working for an entrepreneur in a demanding role in a start up company that went on to become massive (that entrepreneur is now on the Times rich list!).  That was the beginning of things falling into place for me, but it wasn't until seven years ago when I changed job and started working for another entrepreneur in what I call a plum PA role - total autonomy, managing big company-wide projects, and having a massive impact on the company - that I finally realised that this was my career, and something I was really good at. I stopped being embarrassed about describing myself as a PA.  I think it's all about perception - if you consider your role to be low level and unimportant, that's the image you project.  I'm extremely proud to be PA to my boss (he's well known and respected in our industry), and I'm very comfortable and confident that very few people could do my job.

Some graduates take on a PA role as a stepping stone and move onto other roles.  I don't see it as a stepping stone because I've been lucky enough to find exactly the role I was looking for.  I was once asked why I had chosen to be a PA when my qualifications surely would have taken me into management - my answer is that I am far closer to the heart of the business now than if I were managing a department.  I am right in the thick of things, I know more about and have more direct involvement in the future strategy of the business than most of our senior managers, and I'm one of only two people who know the entire big picture.  I don't think I could ask for a more rewarding career.

Times are certainly changing, and the professional PA or admin is now seen as a desirable career, but only you will know if it's right for you, or if it's simply paying the bills until you can get your other career off the ground.

QB