Admin jobs - qualifications?

spikeycat

Hello!

I have been working as a temp since November after graduating from a fine art degree in the Summer. Whilst studying I worked as a sales assistant, and before I started my degree I worked for agencies as an admin temp for a couple of years.

I am not having any luck in getting a permanent job in admin at all! One agency had the cheek to turn me down for temp work saying I had no experience of working in local government/social services etc when that's all I had done... one of my references is even a head of social services!

So my qualifications are 11 GCSEs (A*, 2 As and the rest AS physics, A level Maths, A level Art (all top marks!), a foundation in art and design and a degree in Painting. I've got a GCSE in IT, but no ECDL or RSA etc so I don't know if that overides that at all?!

So with my 3 years experience of temping/working in offices and social services and good grades at school... where am I going wrong? I'm applying for admin jobs as I have no idea what else I might be qualified for.

Frustrated to say the least. Any advice welcome.

wontfallforit

spikeycat wrote: »

Hello!

I have been working as a temp since November after graduating from a fine art degree in the Summer. Whilst studying I worked as a sales assistant, and before I started my degree I worked for agencies as an admin temp for a couple of years.

I am not having any luck in getting a permanent job in admin at all! One agency had the cheek to turn me down for temp work saying I had no experience of working in local government/social services etc when that's all I had done... one of my references is even a head of social services!

So my qualifications are 11 GCSEs (A*, 2 As and the rest AS physics, A level Maths, A level Art (all top marks!), a foundation in art and design and a degree in Painting. I've got a GCSE in IT, but no ECDL or RSA etc so I don't know if that overides that at all?!

So with my 3 years experience of temping/working in offices and social services and good grades at school... where am I going wrong? I'm applying for admin jobs as I have no idea what else I might be qualified for.

Frustrated to say the least. Any advice welcome.

If you have a few months of recent temping experience, it might be worth getting a bit more, and then aiming a little higher. You may be - rightly or wrongly - considered too highly qualified for permanent admin jobs (especially those paying in the region of £12-15k).

The thing that scares employers off is the idea that you might work for them for a few months, and then up sticks and leave. They're likely looking for a 'stayer'.

spikeycat

wontfallforit wrote: »

If you have a few months of recent temping experience, it might be worth getting a bit more, and then aiming a little higher. You may be - rightly or wrongly - considered too highly qualified for permanent admin jobs (especially those paying in the region of £12-15k).

The thing that scares employers off is the idea that you might work for them for a few months, and then up sticks and leave. They're likely looking for a 'stayer'.

That's what upsets me, I'm in it for the long haul, I want a steady job where I know I'm going to be paid every month, and be able to start realistically paying of debts and things, and I just can't do that as a temp. At least I'm lucky to be having some money coming in...

I'll keep applying, and keep looking into training I think. Does anyone have any recommendations for courses I could do?

GemmaB78

Can you use SAGE? My Mum does admin-type work, and was unemployed about a year ago. She struggled to find a new job, as many of the admin roles advertised required the applicant to be proficient in SAGE software.

How's your Powerpoint? Excel? Access? If you're a bit sketchy in any of those packages, so training may help.

BligBlag

To be honest, it sounds to me as though you're far too over qualified for basic Admin Jobs. Have you tried getting into a career of art/design or do you not wish to pursue that anymore?

If you're adamant that you want and need to get an Admin Job asap, I would underplay your qualifications a bit and make sure your CV states that you're competent with PC's, Microsoft Office, E-mail, have a good typing speed etc and that you have a GCSE in IT.

solodanceparty

You have to bear in mind there are hundreds of other admin workers who are also applying for the same job, some who have years of experience.

I applied for a reception job and the lady who beat me was in admin longer than I've been alive.

KarrieBee

This may sound odd but you could be aimign too low. I was in a similar position, good educational background temp experience etc and when I applied for lower level admin jobs the feedback I often got was "you are overqualified" or "we think you'll move on to something better". This was very frustrating but ultimately probably true - employers aren;t daft!
Anyway I applied for and got a very specialised admin role in science communication (I did an English degree and worked as a researcher for a while) and I love it. When I saw the job ad I was reluctant to go for it as it was a higher grade than any of the work I had done previously.

Are there skills you learned at Uni/in volunary work such as events management, web development which you could offer to employers as well as admin skills?
I would also strongly recommend getting ECDL or CLAIT - some colleges offer it for very minimal fees and it is concrete proof that you are computer literate.
And most of all don't get downhearted, the right job is out there!

Dizzy_Ditzy

my story is completely the opposite- i dont have any forma qualifications like gcse's etc, but i have got where i am now because I found an agency that had confidence in me :-) I started off doing police admin, then to local government until the agency contract ran out. With expeience gained, I got a job with the NHS, and although my job role has changed for the better (i am now a secretary) I am still there.

Keep trying. I know only too well how disheartening it is when agencies faff you about, but you will find one that will take you on, and you can go from there

Good luck :-)

allydowd

I work in a large Admin dept. At the moment there are about 50 Admin temps. Of those I would say there are maybe 10 people who do not have Admin qualifications. They agency just quickly tested them for numeracy, literacy and IT skills before hiring them.

Apolonation

Admin qualification? what is that a test at shuffling paper... ?

brightonman123

might be worth getting the ECDL or whatever its called nowadays, and some experience of Sage, though in my career most systems are (should!) be user friendly enough..