Why be an Assistant When You Can be More?

One of my readers, Kristina, asked a question of how to let interviewers know that you want to be an assistant, even knowing that you have experience in higher positions.

 

Here’s what she wrote?

 

I'm searching for a job as an administrative/executive assistant. I have about 6 years experience as an assistant.  While supporting myself as an assistant I went back to school in the evenings for a 3 year program to be an interior designer and worked as a designer for about 6 years. I then went to a sales assistant position selling lighting to designers/architects and then moved to a job as project manager for a general contractor. This last job as a project manager has only been for about 6 months. It is very stressful and does not give me any free time.

 

My significant other and I have plans to start our own business one day. This means that I need my evenings and weekends free to pursue that avenue. My current job does not give me much free time or energy to fully utilize any free time I do get.  We understand that it can take years to get something off the ground, that can support us 100% without the need for a "full-time job" to sustain us.

 

Personally I love to organize, help others stay organized and I was great as an assistant.  I have the necessary computer skills, people skills etc. to be an assistant, perhaps even an executive assistant. I know that some good executive assistant jobs pay up to 60K a year.

 

So, to make my long story a bit shorter, my question is this: when applying for a job as an executive assistant and the interviewer asks me, "Why be an assistant when you have this type of background?  Why don't you pursue another interior design or project manager position?"  How do I explain this abrupt change in career choice without making it sound like, "I want a job that I can leave at the end of the day so I can go home and focus on my side business?"  How do I say, “I like being someone’s assistant, like keeping them focused, organized and running efficiently" without sounding like I'm taking a step backwards in my life's goals?

 

Even my boyfriend doesn't understand the appeal of being someone’s assistant. I don't see it as a step down at all.  I got real satisfaction when helping others and supporting them in their jobs. I just don't know how to explain this to anyone without sounding like a phoney.

  

My response to this was:

 

I actually was in this same predicament when I found my current job about 2 1/2 years ago.  I worked mainly in the financial field and was thinking about becoming an Investment Advisor.  I even completed my Canadian Securities Course, which was the first step towards this.

 

Half way through my course, I started to think to myself, "Is this what I really want to do with the rest of my life?"  The answer just sprung on me.  I was happy with being an Investment Advisor Assistant and really preferred the role of "Administrative Assistant" rather than being the advisor.

 

When I went to the interview of my current job, they asked me the same question.  I responded with:

 

I understand that I have been in parts of my career where I was in higher ranking positions.  I thought about what I truly want to do in my life and have realized that money isn't everything - happiness is.  What truly makes me happy is being able to help others and coming to work knowing that each day will be different, since there are always different tasks given to me from various people.

 Keep in mind that at this point, I was going to work for a staff of about 30, which included 6 managers.

 

This helped me win them over!

 

 If you like this post, please subscribe to my feeds or get posts e-mailed directly to you.

Until next time,

Take care - of your clutter!


Post from: Administrative Assistant