I'm 45 and so sick of working as an Admin. Assistant/Secretary?

Question

The older I get it seems the more I'm treated with less respect but I am a great Office Manager/Admin. I'm working for a jerk who has no respect for me. I'm finding it very hard to find another job that pays a decent salary. The job interviews I've gone on have been awful. I'm amazed at what people want and expect but don't want to pay more than $10/hr. I'm depressed - I've got a teenager I need to put thru college before I can go back to college and get a degree. If I applied for financial aid I'm afraid it would ruin my son's chances for aid. I'm widowed with no other living family so I've got no emotional or financial support. I'm tired of being treated like dirt while I am 100% dependable and loyal to my employer. I don't expect a perfect job - just one that pays decent and I get a little respect - or does that exist. Why are secretaries treated so badly when they're the heart of a company?

Answer 1

Sister, I TRULY understand your state.....years ago while I was still younger I put myself thru tradeschool to get away from that non-respecting secretarial job. But wound up back at it after a separation w/child. I also had no family support. Hung in there and switched to just another job/ same **** with the boss from HELL. While there I got let go and it was then that I really changed my work with someone who was willing to take me on and show me new ropes. For the next four years things were great, but an industry slowdown forced a layoff. Now I'm back to Ad Asst but in a much cooler envir/better boss. I have to also agree with you that we ARE the wheel that makes the business turn. I think the reason we get no respect goes back a generation when women started learning/working these skills until something better (read: husband/child) came along. So it was like a temporary position. Before women had these positions, MEN had them. I not sure there was any respect, because this is a position similar to a servant. If you're a great Off Mgr. and you want to stay in this type of job then go for that position somewhere else. I don't know how long you've been where you are, but YES co.'s nowadays want you to do 2/3 ppl's job in one, and not give fair pay. with your background, you should be able to get $15/20--maybe 25/30 per hr. I guess it depends on yr location.
BTW I worked at getting MY degree along the way. You don't have to pay for your child's college, but you can help out. Let him work and go to school, but please advise him to NOT take any loans until the VERY LAST RESORT. There is PLENTY of $ our there with GRANTS, Scholarships, etc. College & trade associations also might have $. Lots of corporations have funds they give away---check them out. There are books in the library that show this. And if his father was a military/police/fire guy there's $. I wish I'd known that when I was getting out of H.S. b/c my dad was a vet. I went to school for years with fin aid and NEVER had a loan. Unfortunately I wasn't eligible for any corporate or scholarship stuff.
Well I've over-talked, but write again if this doesn't help.
GOOD LUCK SISTER AND HANG IN THERE!!

Answer 2

Last time when I was working in a factory (not at the desk), I never had a single pain in the neck and upper back. My pain is at my lower back due to the lifting of heavy objects. Now I am desk bound and I often had pain in the neck and upper back. I found yoga very useful. The exercise from this book help to solve the pain instantaneously. The book is "Yoga for Common Aches and Pains". This will solve your future pains. As for your work issue, I think you should go to work even in pain. Take a half day off after the meeting. My experience is that the pain will not go away so fast so better do something to keep your job.

Answer 3

Keep your chin up. Here's an idea. Look into warehouse supervisor as a change of pace. Your organizational skills just need to be sold on your search. I think the most important things to keep in mind are a positive outlook and an ability to adapt to new challenges. Contact your local community college or unemployment office to see if there are resume writing seminars. Administrative assistants tend to get placed in a box, but their skills are invaluable to the success of most organizations. Remove the stigma with spin.

Answer 4

A lot of places, secretaries/admin assts are treated with respect, and their bosses and coworkers realize how valuable they are. Sorry you have found a jerk to work for. Good luck in finding a better situation soon.