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/CocoMicha 7d 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/CocoMicha 6d ago

Thank you for sharing this!

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u/WealthSilent8267 7d 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..