Working Mums Find A New Career
My Life
I am the mother of three and I have just returned to work in London, after my having my last child. This time I decided not to return to my old job and to find a more family friendly career.
Going Back to work
After my first two children, I had kept the same job, but it was difficult to manage being a working mum and a high pressured job. When I started my third pregnancy, I realised that there was no chance that I could continue to work long hours. However, if I was going to change my career, I needed to ensure that I could earn a decent wage in order to pay the mortgage.
I looked at the job market with an open mind. I looked for good salary, reasonable hours and most importantly areas that I could use my transferrable skills. When you are older and looking to change roles, you need to ensure that there is a synergy between the skills required and the work experience you possess.
PA Courses
Becoming a Personal Assistant
I happened to read about becoming a Personal Assistant and an Executive Assistant. The job seemed interesting and I had relevant administrative and Microsoft Office skills. What was most attractive was that the pay was reasonable and the hours could be shorter, if I could find an appropriate role.
My Barrier to Changing Jobs
I failed to pass the recruiters IT and Keyboard test, I suspected my typing was a little bit slow, but the lack of IT skills was a surprise. I realised that the transition into a new career was not to be taken lightly.
Breaking through the Barrier
I found a course which encompassed on the job tuition, with IT and Typing. Within a month, I was through the course and ready to take on job applications.
I was able to get through my third interview and make it to the final stage of the process. I was very happy with the role, as it was at a company not far from where I lived. They allowed me to work from home twice a week, which is a great for my situation. I also can alternate collecting my children from nursery with my husband. Overall, the job is ideal for me and I am glad that I decided to make a career change, as it has been a great fit for the demands of my lifestyle.
- Executive PA Course
Executive PA Diplomas and a range of PA Training
- An Explanation of the role of the minute taker for a...
Covering the vital role of the minute taker in a meeting, delivering a clear explanation of this function. A good basic undertsanding of minute taking for someone new to the role. - Touch Typing Skills: Expert PA explains how to impro...
An experienced PA explains how to improve touch typing skills. This is a fundamental skill in the workplace. - Job Advice to PAs in dealing with recruitment agents
PA searching for jobs often use agents. This provides advice on how to get the most out the relationship with recruiters. - An Introduction to Financial Analysis
Ratios enable us to compare one figure in the financial accounts to another in order to gain a financial indicator. - Dos and Donts For Business Writing
PA guide to business writing, to help further your career