Admin jobs - qualifications?

spikeycat

LondonDiva wrote: »

Will you stay?

Just spent two days interviewing for an admin job & the biggest reason for not shortlisting or making the final cut, was thinking 's/he's movign on in 3-6 months or so and I'm going to have to go through this nightmare over again'.

Convince me you're here for at least a year and you've got a shot.

I want to stay in a job for at least 2 years before moving on. I don't know if I should say this in a covering letter somehow? How do you think I should word it?

I want to be able to settle in to having a regular income, as well has having a bit of security that I'm not going to get booted out at the end of the week (my temp contract is on a weekly basis, so they could decide this week that they won't need me anymore...) I also want to be able to learn new skills, do some training courses, and feel a bit more like I'm part of a team (I've never felt like a valued member of staff as a temp, which really upsets me!)

6 months ago I had to make the decision whether I would move home to North Wales to live with my parents rent-free or work a temp job until something better came up and struggle in London. I decided to stay here, so I could prove to myself that I can be independent and work hard. It's just a shame that I don't really have to work hard in my job at the moment (tough going for someone who's used to doing so much... I've been spending all day here entering comps!!)

Hopefully I can move on to something better soon... I'll keep applying for jobs, and thank you to all who have posted advice here.

Savvy_Sue

spikeycat wrote: »

I know... I would say my Fine Art degree has a lot of transferrable skills, it annoys me that employers might think that I spent 3 years painting pretty pictures! I would say I have gained excellent research skills (from researching artists and media for my practice and my dissertation), constructive criticism skills (means I can present my work to people and take on board suggestions and criticisms as well as being able to criticise someone else's work without offending them...), I can build artificial walls, plaster and paint them, make canvas stretchers, and all kinds of problem solving things involving DIY and hanging paintings etc. I can write quite well, as I had to present a lot of essays about my work, and other artists work. Not all painting pretty pictures

I feel really frustrated and stuck in a rut...

You really have to present those transferrable skills, because they sound FAB! I'd look slightly wider than 'admin' though, and think of the kind of jobs where you have to be able to do a bit of everything - caretaker, receptionist, front of house roles in small organisations.

My job's one where I'm the first person to look at any problem - intercom / cooker / washing machine / tumble drier / central heating / phone / computer / printer / fax / photocopier not working? talk to me. And with a mixture of common sense, MSE searches and a very very basic toolkit, I have 'fixed' most of those in my time. It helps when you have people around who don't know where to look for the thermostat we turned down over Christmas, of course, but even so!

And where I can't fix it, I'm the one to call out the experts.

gwyne

Apply for all sorts of jobs, especially if you are interested in them. I have a degree and work experience in media, and in the depths of the recession applied to admin jobs only to be told I wasnt qualified? It's a strange world.

santacruz_2

spikeycat wrote: »

I know... I would say my Fine Art degree has a lot of transferrable skills, it annoys me that employers might think that I spent 3 years painting pretty pictures! I would say I have gained excellent research skills (from researching artists and media for my practice and my dissertation), constructive criticism skills (means I can present my work to people and take on board suggestions and criticisms as well as being able to criticise someone else's work without offending them...), I can build artificial walls, plaster and paint them, make canvas stretchers, and all kinds of problem solving things involving DIY and hanging paintings etc. I can write quite well, as I had to present a lot of essays about my work, and other artists work. Not all painting pretty pictures

I feel really frustrated and stuck in a rut...

Exactly, me too, my degree taught me a multitude of things...including working in teams, cultural learning, marketing, writing skills, i learnt about economics/society, and i think most of all it made me a very motivated and understanding person. I would go as far as saying art is an incredible all-round subject where you learn about all aspects of life, as long as you are a good student and make the most of your degree.

The question which always stumps me if i manage to get an interview is when they ask about my art degree and why I'm not pursuing it! In the old days you could go and get a part time job and the other time you would be an artist and you could be honest about it to employers...but nowadays companies don't want that, they want you to live for that job and that job only, even if its just part time.

I know I'm employable and i must be someone companies want to hire as i got offered a christmas temp job at every company i interviewed at....but for companies wanting perm staff i don't get a look in.

spikeycat

I have been applying for a few jobs again this week, some FOH management jobs, because I feel I've got skills transferrable to doing that sort of role.

I'm feeling quite desperate and depressed about my situation at the moment, and guilty about feeling that way because at least I've got more money coming in than I would have if I were to quit and claim JSA somehow. Just a little bit more money anyway.

I can't think of any jobs I'd actually like to be doing, apart from running my own business, but I need to be able to pay off my debts first and then save some money up to run a business. It's definitely what you'd call a vicious circle.

Any tips on filling out the personal statement bits of an application form?

Savvy_Sue

Target the personal statement to the job you're applying for. Sounds obvious, but takes a lot of thought and crafting.

Also do you know what kind of business you'd like to set up eventually? Does it need a lot of up-front capital? Either way, are there openings in similar businesses? I'm thinking you could really show some enthusiasm and fire in the right line of work.

santacruz_2

I think you're reading my mind OP! I'm exactly the same...need a 'normal' job until debts are paid off and then once that's off your back you can concentrate on your actual chosen career.

I'm not sure about spikeycat but my ideal job is to be a freelance illustrator, because there is no illustrator job that exists, its pretty much all freelance. So theres not that much up front capitol, just the weight on your shoulders of the debt and parents/partners. Ive been told by successful illustrators that it can 2 years to build up enough jobs and experience to make a full time living out of it so they all got PT jobs.....if only i could!

Apolonation

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Not quite: there are NVQs, and the ECDL already mentioned, and I have an RSA certificate for audio typing, which just shows my age ...

I thought I was making a witty remark there, didn't think of potential adminstrators reading ! Some of which I know from past experience can be very well paid! ;-)

Didn't mean it seriously, any administrators out there forgive me!

Savvy_Sue

Apolonation wrote: »

I thought I was making a witty remark there, didn't think of potential adminstrators reading ! Some of which I know from past experience can be very well paid! ;-)

Didn't mean it seriously, any administrators out there forgive me!

Oh, we forgive you all. We KNOW you couldn't do without us, you have no idea ... :rotfl:

I keep trying to get through to my boys that in a school or university, the people who know EVERYTHING are not the teaching staff, but the office staff.