pa

[missylu]

what qualifications does it take to be a PA? please help....xx

[saxy_jag]

Theoretically, none. However you will be expected to have a good general standard of education, which means the equivalent to GCSEs.

A qualification such as ECDL or a higer level CLAIT (not sure what CLAIT's known as these days), and perhaps a business qualification are all useful.

Coupled with that is an interest in and prefereably some knowledge of whichever specialist area you intend to work in.

[angeldraws]

As a former PA to a Medical Director, you will need the ability to wipe the a$$ of your superior, know what they want before they even know themselves, be telepathic regarding files required 3 months after you've been told to shred them, take the blame for your superiors inadequacies...pretty simple really - you just need to be able to take any sh1te without getting stressed out, yes sir, no sir.....good luck - believe me, you'll need it.

[saxy_jag]

Angel, don't forget the circus skills - jumping through hoops, juggling three reams of paper and a luncheon buffet for six, swinging from the ceiling with a phone in one hand and three diaries in the other ...

As you can see, missylu, it's really more about abilities and coping with stress than with any qualifications. Do the job well enough for one person and your reference will be your qualification for the next job - that's if the boss knows how to write one!

I've worked as PA for a couple of really good bosses - "What do you need me to sign? ... OK, there you are ... I'll go away now and let you get on ..." - but also for a woman who'd walk further to find me, in order to ask me to photocopy one sheet of paper, than she would have walked in the opposite direction to do it herself! It's no exaggeration, Missy, they really can be that lazy/stupid/ignorant.