Need advice - older SAHM going back to work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- Admin assistant is not a job with no skills. As you have seen on this thread, actually it's a lot of skills and you seem to think an employer should train you to do them. Why? There are hundreds of applicants who already know how to do this.

This is it in a nutshell.

[Anonymous]

Take a few classes to get up to speed on the tech skills you need - you can even find them online. Knowing these skills before the interview, will go a long way in helping you secure the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked as an admin a few years ago right after college.

An implicit part of the job was always being tech savvy. For example, I could talk about creating email merges to streamline customer communications. I used constant contact for event planning, etc. I also talked about existing relationships with vendors/caterers/venues for event planning. None of these things are hard, but if you've been out of the workforce for a long time, it's just a matter of lack of exposure.

If someone else is throwing out ideas of how to streamline the company's processes in an interview, youre going to look a lot less attractive by simply being smart and enthusiastic. They probably view you as needing training whereas someone else can step in and go from day one. If the only computer skills you have is Microsoft office, that's pretty much nothing.

Here's the thing though. Even though I could easily get hired for these jobs, I absolutely hated them, and I would quit the minute something better came along. These jobs are notorious for high turnover. Since this is something that you're actually interested in doing, that is a major asset and I don't think you're effectively communicating this.

You absolutely need to address your PhD and tell a compelling story about how you got from there to here. Not sure how, but definitely practice your pitch with friends/family and ask for honest feedback.

OP here. Thank you for this helpful post. I was asked about a mail merge, and I told them honestly that I'd never done one. They looked askance at me after that. I don't understand why that's a big deal, though. How long can it take to learn? And how and what do I need to learn to get up to speed.? All I know is MS Office, that's it. I've used lots of different computer program in the past. So many are obsolete now, but they weren't difficult to learn. I've never used constant contact, but how do I learn that? I'm not clear how I'm supposed to learn this stuff. Do I take classes? Don't most people acquire these comptuer skills on the job? And I have no existing relationship with vendors/caterers/venues. But I'm eager and trainable. I'm not trying to be condescending at all, but honestly, how long can it take to learn these things? Am I being arrogant in assuming I could be up to speed in a week?

In the past I've been praised for getting work done very well and quickly. I don't waste time. I'm not sure how to communicate this to an employer though. They'd have to see me in action. I'm good at simplifying complex tasks. In one of the interviews, an employer described a task she'd asked an existing employee to do, but that employee wasn't able to manage it. It was a task I could do in my sleep. I told her I'd be able to handle it easily. I wasn't sure if that was the correct answer, though. Perhaps I ought to have kept my mouth shut?

Yes, you need to take some computer classes. Take up to the intermediate classes for MS Office.

For an admin position, where there are hundreds of applicants, getting an admin up to speed on basic duties like mail merges isn't realistic. Why would the employer spend the time waiting for you to get up to speed when other applicants can already do the core job? Fortunately most of these functions can easily be learned in a couple of classes that you can take in the next two weeks or so.

Excuse my ignorance, but where? What classes in particular? Thanks!

Try Learning Tree or even NOVA's non-credit department. There are also lots of other vendors that may be more convienient to you by doing a quick google search.

Ok, I looked on Learning Tree International, and there are so many courses, I am clueless what to take. There are 14 or so classes on MS office. Power Pivot? VBA Programming? MS Access? What are the basic skills I need?

I clearly understand that an admin job requires skills. I have loads of skills, but I'm like a master plumber applying for an electrician's job.

So, what computer skills exactly must an admin have in this day and age? What courses can I take that will bring me up to speed in a couple weeks? The courses on LT are only a few days, so that's perfectly manageable, but I have zero idea what to choose. Can anyone help me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a few classes to get up to speed on the tech skills you need - you can even find them online. Knowing these skills before the interview, will go a long way in helping you secure the job.

I beg of you, please spell out what skills you are referring to? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Almost all the adminis at my company started as temps. Consider that route.

[Anonymous]

The admins where I work need to know how to run a webinar using Adobe Connect, Zoom, or one other one I can't remember right now. They are also wizards with Word, mail merges, and especially excel. They can set up powerpoints and make spreadsheets in Google sheets that we all edit collectively. They also manage our newsletters, listservs, and email groups. At least one of them updates our websites. There's probably other stuff I'm forgetting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a few classes to get up to speed on the tech skills you need - you can even find them online. Knowing these skills before the interview, will go a long way in helping you secure the job.

I beg of you, please spell out what skills you are referring to? Thanks!

I posted the Learning Tree example and looking at their site, I think you need more basic classes. So instead I would try this vendors and take classes 1 -3 for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. I would also take at least the basic Outlook class and if they have a Sharepoint class I would take that as well.

https://www.newhorizons.com/courses-and-certifications/microsoft-office/excel

Taking those courses will allow you to score well enough on the tests at the temp agencies to be placed in a decent temp job to give yourself some experience. Keep applying and interviewing though. Something WILL happen but it will take time.

[Anonymous]

Try this.

https://aceclasses.fcps.edu/CategorySubjectListing.aspx?ProgramID=CPG&ProgramName=Certificate+Programs&IsCourse=1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked as an admin a few years ago right after college.

An implicit part of the job was always being tech savvy. For example, I could talk about creating email merges to streamline customer communications. I used constant contact for event planning, etc. I also talked about existing relationships with vendors/caterers/venues for event planning. None of these things are hard, but if you've been out of the workforce for a long time, it's just a matter of lack of exposure.

If someone else is throwing out ideas of how to streamline the company's processes in an interview, youre going to look a lot less attractive by simply being smart and enthusiastic. They probably view you as needing training whereas someone else can step in and go from day one. If the only computer skills you have is Microsoft office, that's pretty much nothing.

Here's the thing though. Even though I could easily get hired for these jobs, I absolutely hated them, and I would quit the minute something better came along. These jobs are notorious for high turnover. Since this is something that you're actually interested in doing, that is a major asset and I don't think you're effectively communicating this.

You absolutely need to address your PhD and tell a compelling story about how you got from there to here. Not sure how, but definitely practice your pitch with friends/family and ask for honest feedback.

OP here. Thank you for this helpful post. I was asked about a mail merge, and I told them honestly that I'd never done one. They looked askance at me after that. I don't understand why that's a big deal, though. How long can it take to learn? And how and what do I need to learn to get up to speed.? All I know is MS Office, that's it. I've used lots of different computer program in the past. So many are obsolete now, but they weren't difficult to learn. I've never used constant contact, but how do I learn that? I'm not clear how I'm supposed to learn this stuff. Do I take classes? Don't most people acquire these comptuer skills on the job? And I have no existing relationship with vendors/caterers/venues. But I'm eager and trainable. I'm not trying to be condescending at all, but honestly, how long can it take to learn these things? Am I being arrogant in assuming I could be up to speed in a week?

In the past I've been praised for getting work done very well and quickly. I don't waste time. I'm not sure how to communicate this to an employer though. They'd have to see me in action. I'm good at simplifying complex tasks. In one of the interviews, an employer described a task she'd asked an existing employee to do, but that employee wasn't able to manage it. It was a task I could do in my sleep. I told her I'd be able to handle it easily. I wasn't sure if that was the correct answer, though. Perhaps I ought to have kept my mouth shut?

Hi OP,
I'm the PP. I don't think taking classes would be very beneficial to you. It also sends the wrong message - that you needed a class to be able to use computers... As I said, none of these things are particularly difficult, they just require some practice. Here's some concrete advice; This year, for your holiday cards, do a mail merge for the envelopes! (I no longer work as an admin and I still do this because it saves so much time!) From a skills standpoint, it's the same thing if you're preparing 50 or 500. Plus, it's a story that will go over really well at the next interview.

Also, send out a personalized email Thanksgiving or Christmas letter this year using an email merge. Just google how to do email and mail merges. If it's easy for you, I think it would make for a great story at your next interview. Plus, this will convince people that you're comfortable with technology, even if you're not familiar with every single program that they use. Look, they already know you're smart, this shows them that you're able to apply yourself in ways that are relevant to the job.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP, why are you begging internet strangers to tell you what skills you need? Is this information not in any of the job ads?

[Anonymous]

I really hope you take the PPs advice about trying out the mail merge for your Christmas cards this year.

If all goes smoothly, it will be a great talking point. If you end up having to spend tons of time working out glitches, maybe you'll start to understand why your interviewees prefer to hire someone who knows what they are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked as an admin a few years ago right after college.

An implicit part of the job was always being tech savvy. For example, I could talk about creating email merges to streamline customer communications. I used constant contact for event planning, etc. I also talked about existing relationships with vendors/caterers/venues for event planning. None of these things are hard, but if you've been out of the workforce for a long time, it's just a matter of lack of exposure.

If someone else is throwing out ideas of how to streamline the company's processes in an interview, youre going to look a lot less attractive by simply being smart and enthusiastic. They probably view you as needing training whereas someone else can step in and go from day one. If the only computer skills you have is Microsoft office, that's pretty much nothing.

Here's the thing though. Even though I could easily get hired for these jobs, I absolutely hated them, and I would quit the minute something better came along. These jobs are notorious for high turnover. Since this is something that you're actually interested in doing, that is a major asset and I don't think you're effectively communicating this.

You absolutely need to address your PhD and tell a compelling story about how you got from there to here. Not sure how, but definitely practice your pitch with friends/family and ask for honest feedback.

OP here. Thank you for this helpful post. I was asked about a mail merge, and I told them honestly that I'd never done one. They looked askance at me after that. I don't understand why that's a big deal, though. How long can it take to learn? And how and what do I need to learn to get up to speed.? All I know is MS Office, that's it. I've used lots of different computer program in the past. So many are obsolete now, but they weren't difficult to learn. I've never used constant contact, but how do I learn that? I'm not clear how I'm supposed to learn this stuff. Do I take classes? Don't most people acquire these comptuer skills on the job? And I have no existing relationship with vendors/caterers/venues. But I'm eager and trainable. I'm not trying to be condescending at all, but honestly, how long can it take to learn these things? Am I being arrogant in assuming I could be up to speed in a week?

In the past I've been praised for getting work done very well and quickly. I don't waste time. I'm not sure how to communicate this to an employer though. They'd have to see me in action. I'm good at simplifying complex tasks. In one of the interviews, an employer described a task she'd asked an existing employee to do, but that employee wasn't able to manage it. It was a task I could do in my sleep. I told her I'd be able to handle it easily. I wasn't sure if that was the correct answer, though. Perhaps I ought to have kept my mouth shut?

Hi OP,
I'm the PP. I don't think taking classes would be very beneficial to you. It also sends the wrong message - that you needed a class to be able to use computers... As I said, none of these things are particularly difficult, they just require some practice. Here's some concrete advice; This year, for your holiday cards, do a mail merge for the envelopes! (I no longer work as an admin and I still do this because it saves so much time!) From a skills standpoint, it's the same thing if you're preparing 50 or 500. Plus, it's a story that will go over really well at the next interview.

Also, send out a personalized email Thanksgiving or Christmas letter this year using an email merge. Just google how to do email and mail merges. If it's easy for you, I think it would make for a great story at your next interview. Plus, this will convince people that you're comfortable with technology, even if you're not familiar with every single program that they use. Look, they already know you're smart, this shows them that you're able to apply yourself in ways that are relevant to the job.

Good luck!

Thanks very much for this post, PP. I will try to brush up my skills, and yes, I'll learn how to do a mail merge.

I'm applying for adjunct teaching jobs now, even though I find teaching stressful, but I'm starting to wonder if I can actually manage get hired as an admin.

I appreciate PPs listing the computer skills I'd need, but I am not sure I want to learn all that stuff when I don't know if I'd actually be using it. I just want a low-stress job!

For admin jobs, I've taken my PhD off my resume and yes, I'm going to break down and dye my hair. I don't think people want to know their admin has a PhD, and I think everyone wants younger-looking employees. They are viewed as more energetic. My grayish hair makes me look tired and old, I think. Plus, everyone my age dyes her hair! I look older than my age because my hair isn't dyed.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice.

[Anonymous]

OP, there were several PPs suggesting non-profits. I think it is the way to go - try to find non-profits in-line with your degree, see what they have available, and do look beyond admin positions: program assistant, membership assistant, education/outreach specialist etc. NPO can't pay a lot, and it's not uncommon to have extremely overqualified people working on entry level positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's probably your age/image. They most likely want someone young and fresh. I say this since your resume gets through and you get interviewed.

Why is this acceptable? You would never say "It's because of your race" or "they likely want someone white." Why is ageism socially acceptable and racism is abhorrent? Last I checked, both were illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's probably your age/image. They most likely want someone young and fresh. I say this since your resume gets through and you get interviewed.

Why is this acceptable? You would never say "It's because of your race" or "they likely want someone white." Why is ageism socially acceptable and racism is abhorrent? Last I checked, both were illegal.

Agree with you PP, but that's life. Trust me, as a person of color I am careful to act as "white" as possible. I've had some crazy interviews with people asking me bizarre things like "do you like cooking? I love Mexican food!" (I'm not Mexican) or "you'd probably love Jorge- he's in accounting but he seems like someone you'd click with" (why in an organization of hundreds of people would I click with the 50 year old accountant when I was in my 20s?). These are just real examples but are indicative of a greater problem. The show insecure has a storyline right now about acting as "white" as possible at work. That's just the way it is. Everyone needs to pretend to be young, everyone needs to pretend to be white.