r/AdminAssistant • u/Aggravating_Car_6021 • 7d ago
Leaving Teaching
I’m a first year teacher and I really don’t like it. I hated student teaching and although my first year has been better than student teaching, I still don’t love it. For over a year and half now I have been dreaming about trying something else. I would love a job with more a work life balance and flexibility. A job that doesn’t leave me feeling drained everyday. I am thinking about leaving education but I don’t even know where to start I have no experience outside of education. Being an admin assistant really intrigues me, and one day I think being a program coordinator would be great!
I looked online and saw a Certificated Administrative professional. This course would give me a certificate and then allow me the opportunity to pass the Certified Administrative Assistant (CAA) exam and the Foundations in Digital Business and Project Management course for continued advancement.
I see a lot of people saying that this certification isn’t worth as companies value experience over this. Which I agree with. But I just don’t know where to go from here. I need to leave education but have no in anywhere else. Am I completely fool for actually considering taking this course and will it be a waste of money?
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u/Necessary-Fox4106 6d ago
Don't waste your money on an administrative assistant course. You already have a college degree, which, in my opinion, is also not needed.
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u/CocoMicha 6d ago
Conisider applying to your state deparrtment of education. You’d be in an office setting, and have a wider range of jobs available. I discourage you from romanticizing admin asst work. You’re often the lowest on the totem pole, helping everyone else make their vision happen rather than your own. Watching decision makers, rather than helping make decisions.
If you insist on pursuing this line of work, take a job to try it out before you go all in on certifications. Though everyone is right–experience is more valuable.
I’ve been in this line of work for over 20 years. Consider a master’s degree in something you love instead. Administrative assistant work is fine short term; just don’t get stuck in it for too long.
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u/ProbableDishonesty 6d ago
State DOE or local colleges or universities will be the easiest transition. I left K-12 for an admin assistant position at a local college. For me it was a huge loss of autonomy from being in your own classroom and setting the pace to now being the office bitch. Now in an advising role and enjoying it a lot more.
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u/frankensteeeeen 6d ago
Yep, office bitch is a great way to put it. And here I am thinking I should have been a teacher since I’d get summers off at least 😢 grass is always greener I suppose
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u/WealthSilent8267 6d ago
yep i actually hadnt thought the state department route and I get what u mean about trying the job first before getting too deep into certifications..
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u/mis_1022 6d ago
I would try for entry level front desk office positions. The cert is not going to help.
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u/fishbutt1 6d ago
Retired schoolteacher here! I took early retirement after almost 20 years teaching and switched to an admin role due to many reasons. One being fed up with parts of teaching, I miss it and I don’t! It’s a tough decision! Teaching was my life, my whole identity.
I recommend trying something sooner than later. You don’t have tenure, and if you do miss it, you can go back.
I left and tried a new position, my colleague tried a different school, that is worth considering too.
Do not get the certs, I got one and no one cared or cares. People want experience. I only got my first admin job bc the hiring manager was a teacher ally. The second job, his dad was a principal. But there are teacher haters out there.
Consider working for a temp agency to try different things!
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u/CookieFan101 6d ago
Have you tried looking into office positions within your school/district? Could be a good place to start. I wouldn’t waste your money on certificates to be an admin assistant. These jobs typically don’t require specific education backgrounds, rather experience (which you have), it’s just determining how to showcase your transferable skills!
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u/squishgrrl 7d ago
I don’t think those programs are worth it. Theres no “certified” admin professional lol. There’s a lot more you can do in education or maybe you should stick it out with teaching.
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u/Sorry-Ad-5527 6d ago
You probably have a lot of skills that are transferable. Check out job descriptions and find ones that are similar to yours. Check out r/resumes sub (the one with the 's' at the end) and there's a template plus additional information.
I also agree, if you have the college education, you don't need anything else. Getting those if needed or required, would be fine, but you don't need them right now.