How long is it taking you to get an Office/Admin job?

Dilynnio

Hey,

I have been looking for a PA/Secretary/Admin/Receptionist/Legal Secretary role for over 3 months now!

In my opinion my CV is good(so I have been told!) and I have nearly 10 years of experience working within an office environment.

Are other people in the same situation?

Thanks

miami365

I've five yrs accountancy experience and have been applying for admin roles aswell with no luck either.
Think the way the market is at the moment employers can be more picky and will always find someone with more relevant experience.
Just hoping perseverance will eventually payoff.

jkmanc1974

Looks like wages are going down for admin roles as well looking at some of the adverts in the last few days....would say the amount of applicants for some of the jobs advertised by Adecco is unreal!

Brgds
Johnny

miec

Hi Op

Like you I have been applying for admin jobs on an almost daily basis since April, although I was only registered as unemployed since May. It is extremely competitive, you have bags of experience and its hard to know exactly what they are looking for. Like you I have eight years experience in admin overall and did a number of different roles, but I was in college for four years and didn't work in the last two years and I've wondered if that has gone against me. I just think there are so many people going for the one job that it is extremely stiff competion and I am guessing that employers are looking for ways to get rid of the huge pile of CVs, so if the criteria is not exact, then in the bin it goes, that's what I believe, but like you, I have to keep trying and know that someday I'll get a job.

chris85

The GF started looking for admin roles at end of July and got one in three weeks with big company, it was through an agency and is month to month contracts but the money is better than the admin role she was in last year. Also they tend to offer longer contracts after a few months...

She has one years admin experience but is always jammy with these things.

doolox

If you were in College for 4 years then you are probably overqualified for most PA jobs and this is putting employers off. They don't want to hire someone who will move away to a more senior job when the good times roll again.
Also the 2 year hiatus needs to be accounted for.....HR types always look for gaps in the CV to find out any skeletons in the closet, health, relationships at work etc.
It is best to have all gaps closed off with "useful" activity such as study or training so as to ward off questions regarding the 2 year gap.

As time goes by and the recession deepens 1 or 2 year gaps will become less questionable as more people find themselves unable to secure employment quicker than that.

Dilynnio

Thanks for the replies!

miec

If you were in College for 4 years then you are probably overqualified for most PA jobs and this is putting employers off. They don't want to hire someone who will move away to a more senior job when the good times roll again.
Also the 2 year hiatus needs to be accounted for.....HR types always look for gaps in the CV to find out any skeletons in the closet, health, relationships at work etc.
It is best to have all gaps closed off with "useful" activity such as study or training so as to ward off questions regarding the 2 year gap.

Hi Doolox

Many thanks for your response, I did wonder that myself, I should have said that the two year gap was me concentrating solely on my studies, which is shown in the CV. I worked part time for the first two years of my studies but found it was too much on top of my studies, commuting 50km every day and raising a child alone, so I dropped the working. I was told from the one interview that I had was there was a concern that I was out of touch with the working world because I had not worked for two years whilst studying. Anyhow much appreciated for the info, I'll just keep trying though and keep the faith

BlankaV

hi. i was just wondering what qualifications are required for admin jobs? im looking to change career and get into admin / an office based role but with no success so far. is there a course or something that could help me get in the door?

3greenrizla's

i've been looking for office work for the last 3 months, I have 7 years experience and i'm not even getting many rejection letters

>to BlankaV..... I would suggest doing courses such as ECDL & courses in the MS Office applications, Fás offer these online... oh, & welcome to boards.

BlankaV

thanks 3greenrizla's! god if people with experience aren't even getting jobs, i haven't a hope!! il give the ECDL a go though as i could prob do the exam without even doing the course. was looking at the syllabus and it seems (famous last words) pretty standard. thanks again