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La'Kayla
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
3
Questions
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What should I look into if I want to be a professor or a secretary, and which is a better option?
I've wanted to have a very professional job and I wouldn't be unhappy with either of these options I just kind of wanted to know more about both of these jobs.
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Terri R
Professor
22
Answers
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Updated
Terri’s Answer
Hi, La’Kayla! These are both good jobs, but very different.
Being a professor generally requires many years of school after high school including college and graduate school. To become a full-time professor usually requires a “terminal” degree (often a doctorate) in your field, which can take ten years after you finish high school. But you can also work at a college while you are finishing your degree. You have to be dedicated to writing and teaching to be a good professor. As a professor, you have a lot of ability to decide how to structure your own job. The school will tell you what to teach, but how you teach it and the type of writing you work on is up to you.
Being a secretary (usually called an administrative assistant today) requires fewer years in college. You might not need a college degree at all, though having at least an associate’s degree will probably help you in the job market. Being an administrative assistant requires being organized and detail-oriented. You should also be very comfortable with Word, Excel, and other computer programs. As an assistant, you won’t have as much ability to decide how you structure your job; decisions will be made by the person you assist. But you are still integral to helping the workplace succeed.
Good luck as you prepare for either career!
Being a professor generally requires many years of school after high school including college and graduate school. To become a full-time professor usually requires a “terminal” degree (often a doctorate) in your field, which can take ten years after you finish high school. But you can also work at a college while you are finishing your degree. You have to be dedicated to writing and teaching to be a good professor. As a professor, you have a lot of ability to decide how to structure your own job. The school will tell you what to teach, but how you teach it and the type of writing you work on is up to you.
Being a secretary (usually called an administrative assistant today) requires fewer years in college. You might not need a college degree at all, though having at least an associate’s degree will probably help you in the job market. Being an administrative assistant requires being organized and detail-oriented. You should also be very comfortable with Word, Excel, and other computer programs. As an assistant, you won’t have as much ability to decide how you structure your job; decisions will be made by the person you assist. But you are still integral to helping the workplace succeed.
Good luck as you prepare for either career!
Thank you for taking the time to help.
La'Kayla