Changing careers at 25

DanS1

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some advice. I'm 25, and currently work in retail, having done so for the last 8 years since leaving school. However, I've now reached the stage I feel there really isn't much of a future for me there and have done my time there, and feel the time has come for me to move into something else, and one career I would like is office administration. Being an introvert, I feel I would be more comfortable and suited to something like this.


Any ideas on how I could go about landing a position? Would I be considered too old now for an apprenticeship (I heard the funding stops at 24)? I want to do other things, such as buy my own flat, but with my current wage being approx. £700 a month this would be nigh on impossible, and I need to get another job first.


Any suggestions welcome.

Masomnia

Nah, people change careers all the time

An apprenticeship may not be your best route as you are a bit older. The wages aren't always great, but I guess it depends.

If you work for a large retailer do they have any positions in office admin? It may be easier to land a role where you are if you already have a foot in the door there.

I'd check out local agencies and see what they have to offer in terms of admin; probably quite a lot. Get a CV put together and get it sent to as many agencies as you can and see what you can find. Think about how the skills you have from your current role would fit into new roles that you are going for.

Good luck!

[Deleted User]

Have you thought about 'low skill' temping? Well it starts out like this but off course you can build up from there.

Only this Christmas there has been a load of these Admin/Call positions from the Council even for anything up to 6 months worth of work. There was an initial assessment held at a job centre, all that was required was a grammer test and Excel spreadsheet exercise along with an informal interview, couldn't believe it but it's true so don't be put of applying if you see something similar yourself.

World be your oyster.

paddyrg

Temp-to-perm is a great route for you. Most important is to be reliable and organised, ideally also with some proficiency in MS Office. That really is the crux of most office-based jobs. Go temping, and if you're good and have the right attitude then you'll eventually get an offer to go permanent. Reception jobs are a good step to office manager for instance.

Andrew_Ryan_89

Which part of the country do you live in?

Good thing you posted on this forum because the biggest sin of a lot of people in retail (those who are looking for a "career job") is thinking that you are not experienced enough to apply for roles in Professional Services or other industries. A lot of people get stuck in retail thinking they need a Masters Degree or industry experience to apply for even junior level roles.

In regards to next steps -

1. Get your CV in order. Your 8 years in retail has given you a lot of experiences, most of which you probably won't even think to write down on your CV. Get a good CV (I am happy to help, just PM me), send it out to a few people and judge the replies. No replies? Tweek and go through the process again

2. Have an idea of what you want to do

3. Don't doubt yourself. Similar to the first point, you have more experience than you realise.

4. Be prepared to work hard. Not just for the job, but finding the damn thing in the first place!

Funny enough, I am not too much older than you and in a similar position. I came from retail and in the last 5 years have more than tripled my salary but now looking to switch roles, get out of sales, but somehow keep the same salary!

Fireflyaway

Have a read of the person specifications of the jobs you like and then go and get the skills you don't currently have. You might able able to study for free / cheap with your councils adult learning provider. Computer skills etc.
I think its great you are making a change. So many people moan but do nothing. Once you have your first admin job on your CV it will get easier. Temping is a great suggestion or even volunteering for a short while.

missbiggles1

DanS1 wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some advice. I'm 25, and currently work in retail, having done so for the last 8 years since leaving school. However, I've now reached the stage I feel there really isn't much of a future for me there and have done my time there, and feel the time has come for me to move into something else, and one career I would like is office administration. Being an introvert, I feel I would be more comfortable and suited to something like this.


Any ideas on how I could go about landing a position? Would I be considered too old now for an apprenticeship (I heard the funding stops at 24)? I want to do other things, such as buy my own flat, but with my current wage being approx. £700 a month this would be nigh on impossible, and I need to get another job first.


Any suggestions welcome.

Surely working full time would increase your chances of career development and your ability to buy a flat.

You can't expect to get very far in life by working part time.