I just finished reading all the applications for the Canadian Administrative Professional of the Year, and I am blown away by the quality of the administrative professionals nominated. I can clearly see that for each and every one of them, this role is a career.
Yet, I don’t see that everywhere. I see many people who consider this role a stepping stone to other things. I see many who take it because it pays the bills, but their heart isn’t in it.
And that is 100% okay.
There is nothing wrong with a job being a stepping stone. Many careers are built that way. But if you have no idea where that next step might lead, the work can start to feel frustrating or repetitive. That is often when people begin to feel stuck and unhappy in their jobs.
Every once in a while, it is worth asking yourself a simple but important question.
Do you have a job? Or, do you have a career?
Neither answer is wrong. Truly.
But the confusion happens when we think we have one when we actually have the other.
A job is something you do primarily to earn a paycheck. A career is something you intentionally build, invest in, and grow over time.
Both are valid choices. Not everyone wants their work to define them. Some people simply want reliable work that allows them to live the rest of their lives outside the office.
The key is being honest with yourself about which one you have. Most people actually live somewhere in between, which can cause frustration and job unhappiness.
Many administrative professionals sit comfortably in that overlap. They do their work well, take pride in it, and occasionally learn new skills, but they may not be intentionally building a long-term professional path. And that is perfectly okay. But do you know where you sit? Is it a job or a career, or is it something in between?
Ask yourself the following five questions. Answer honestly..
- Do I actively look for ways to improve my skills?
Do you attend webinars, read articles, learn new software, or seek training even when it is not required? - Do I think about where this profession could take me?
Do you ever consider what your role might look like in a few years or how you might grow within the profession? - Do I volunteer for opportunities or projects?
When something new comes up at work, do you raise your hand or wait to see who gets assigned? - Do I see myself as part of the administrative profession?
Do you identify with the profession, connect with other admins, or follow developments in the field? - Do I invest time in my professional development?
This could be conferences, workshops, networking, certifications, or learning from other professionals.
Your Results
Give yourself one point for each “yes.”
0 to 1 Yes
You likely have a job, and there is nothing wrong with that. Work may simply be something that supports the rest of your life. As long as you are satisfied with that arrangement, you are exactly where you want to be.
2 to 3 Yeses
You are probably living in the middle of the Venn diagram. You care about your work and occasionally invest in it, but it may not be something you are intentionally building as a long-term career. Are you comfortable with the in-between phase? Did you think you were building a career, only to realize you haven’t been?
4 to 5 Yeses
You likely see administrative work as a career. You are investing in your growth, thinking about the future, and actively building your professional value.
It isn’t my goal to convince everyone to turn their job into a career. My goal is awareness.
If you want a career, you need to nurture it. Careers grow through learning, networking, training, and sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone.
If you are happy having a job that allows you to support the life you want outside of work, that is also a perfectly respectable choice.
But knowing the difference helps you make intentional decisions about your time, your energy, and your future.
So take a moment and ask yourself:
Is this a job?
Or is this a career?
Once you know the answer, you can decide what you want to do next. I know that, over the years we have been awarding the Canadian Administrative Professional of the Year, each of our winners has had a career. And they are proud and happy in it!