Qualifications to become a PA?

Question

I am 20 years old and have been working at a well known building society for 9 months as an assistant. I hold 12 GCSE passes.

I am interested in becoming a PA and would like to know the skills and qualifications that you would need to pursue this career?

Would a diploma in legal secretaries be related to this?

Many Thanks,

Hayley

Answer 1

I'm a PA and knowing what I know now if I was your age again (i'm 35) I'd be anything but a PA.  Its a soul-destroying and demeaning job and its the equivalent of working in McD's except that you are in an office.  There is hardly any progression and you don't want to spend the rest of your working days just typing and answering the phone believe me.  Please please please do something else more worthwhile.  

A perfect example.  When you tell people you work in a law firm they automatically assume you are a lawyer.  When you tell them you are a PA their eyes glaze over and their estimation of you as a fellow human being, worthy of note plummets instantly.!!!

With you there Kboo78.  The only reason why I got into it is because I didn't know what I wanted to do when I grow up!!!  I still don't thats why I'm doing such a rubbish job!!!

Answer 2

You could study a with ILEX to get a legal secretary diploma and then apply for jobs as a legal secretary/PA

or go to souters which run PA courses. They do them online and face to face

Another option is to apply for admin jobs and work your way up you could still apply for an admin job (for experience) whilst doing your course.

Temping is a quick way of building up your experience, try Select or Reed agencies

Answer 3

just have mug wrote on your forehead and your in! why would anyone want to be a personal assistant for someone else?!?! i dont understand it myself, but maybe thats because i dont like running around after someone else for 37.5 hours a week!