O/t Should i give it a go?

chunky79

I am a qualified secretary working as a cleaner. I am currently on maternity leave but i am covering at work this week. I mentioned to one of the solicitors that io would llike to go back into day working. He said can you type. Yes i am a bit rusty now but would soon get back into it. I siad i take there are some jobs available, his reply yes but fulltime but they are very desperate now.

My dilemma, do i go to my manager and offer my services. Never done legal work before and my confidence is rock bottom as i have been out of it for 3 years now. Should i say give me a month trial see what you think i can work 9:30 till 3 and i know i was very good in my previous job. Now i know they can only say no but how do i go about it? It feels as if i am begging for a job by saying give me a months trial, if your not happy then put me back on cleaning duties.

The money for training is £2 an hour more and it wil be in the day which will be a bonus. I have 4 children one that needs alot of attention with his literacy as he is dyslexic to fit this in and work in the evenings is going to be almost impossible so this is the reason i want my day job.

I feel really silly but i guess i need an outsider looking in to give me a few ideas.

Softstuff

Everyone is new to something at some stage or another, and the legal side is nothing to be afraid of. Go for it, you can do it.

chunky79

I have days where i think yeah you go girl! but then i get to work and see how b*tchy and mean the other secretaries are thats what helps with screwing my confidence. The solicitors are fab i get on with eveyr single one of them.

Oh what the heck i think i may see my manager tomorrow. He may say no but if they are so desperate he may very well come back too! (wishful thinking)

KellsBells

Oh, absolutely, go for it - you never know unless you try!!

Good luck!! Let us know how you get on.xx

Seaxwyn

Definitely go for it Chunky.

You have nothing to lose by asking and that solicitor wouldn't have asked if he didn't think you were capable of doing the job.

Asking for a month's trial doesn't sound like begging, it sounds like making a serious business proposition.

Talk to your manager, and let us know how it goes.

Sea78

Oh good luck - let us know how it goes. It sounds like the other women are the ones with the problem, and if you can do the job then go for it!

chunky79

The very thought is quite exciting (how sad) but scary. I am supposed to be a grown women for goodness sakes. I think i may have spent so long in mummy mode and locked in my bubble.

The solicitor i spoke does have a fondness for me in a kind way he is a good genuine guy so i am hoping he may say something too, he has in the past!

Very true Sea78 the women are awful there are 3 out of 50 that are really nice and one new one that seems real sweet.

southernscouser

chunky79 wrote: »

Should i say give me a month trial see what you think i can work 9:30 till 3 and i know i was very good in my previous job.

i'm no expert but I think thats a good idea. He doesn't have to commit to anything long term and you sound keen yet confident.

If it's what you want to do then go for it. Life is to short for "what if's".

wherediditallgo

Don't worry about the other women - if you ask for a month's trial, it sounds like you're offering you & your employer a chance to test the water without a big commitment on either side, & if it doesn't suit you (for whatever reason), you can walk away knowing at least you tried & there's no loss of face on either side as well. You've got a good opportunity to get your foot in the door, doing a job you're probably more capable of than you think. If I were you, I'd take the chance & do the job - the worst that can happen is that you earn a bit more money for a month, so you've got nothing to lose.

Karmacat

Hi there, just want to stick my oar in - I agree with what people have been saying, your suggestion of a month's trial is a great one - I understand you don't feel confident right now, but in a whole month you've got time to get your feet under the table, I bet you'll do fine. Not quite sure what to do about the !!!!!iness - but you know, you can find it anywhere, amongst cleaners or secretaries or managers, please don't let that put you off.

chunky79

I have spoke to one of my friends who is a legal secretary at my place of work this morning and she has told me they are really desperate and to go for it. Apparently they are more than willing to train people up as no one is applying with the money they are offering.

Also i am going to get my typing back up to speed at home, i will need it sooner or later anyway.