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I will ring to have informal chat with the advertisers. But in case I don't ask right questions or they aren't forthcoming...

is it more of a glorified secretary who knows her way around the computer, or more of a dogsbody who does a bit of everything for everyone?

Even applying for jobs makes me into a nervous wreck, can you tell?

It really depends on the context - are you able to give any more info?

It's the person everyone screams for when the photocopier goes ping when it should go beep.

Yes depends very much on context of job. Lots of engineering/planning teams have tech admin assistants who do admin work, but need to have some specialist knowledge pertinent to the work of their team...

Local government, maternity cover for 9-12 months, 2 days/week, waste management/recycling department.

Nothing about photocopiers in the job descrip!

Some blurb about QMS: I don't know if they have specific management software for QMS or if they just mean their own QMS procedure (make note to self to ask that question).

Shall I ask these here or elsewhere...

1) when the job blurb says things like "Must manage heavy workload" and "Must have field experience in busy admin office environment": does that mean it's a very stressful hectic workplace?

2) Is it worth me applying (do you think) even if I can't tick every box in the "essential attributes the applicant should have" column?

ps: thx 4 replies.

Funnily enough I work in local gov in a directorate that includes waste management, although that's not where I work! As I said above, I bet it'll be predominantly admin, but with some specialist knowledge required on top. We have pure admin people, who do mainly typing, room bookings, filing etc etc and then technical assistants who do lots of admin work, but it requires an understanding of, for example highways development control procedures, or using databases doing land searches. It's all stuff you'll be able to learn on the job I guess, but it'll be a step beyond pure admin. hope that helps? And good luck!

Sorry should have also said, if you meet the essential criteria, definitely apply! And if you meet most of them, definitely apply!
My best advice would be to work through the criteria in the JD and person spec and literally say what experience/skills you have for each element that is listed.
Best of luck!

God sorry, I should really read things properly before replying!
I think even if you don't meet all the essential criteria, it's worth a good go as you don't know who you'll be up against and how many criteria they can meet.
Would imagine in waste management it'll be a busy office, but don't let that put you off.

Thanks for encouragement. Why am I such a nervous wreck about this?? Is that normal, do you suppose, especially after a long time out of workplace?

I spoke to the Team Head yesterday who sounded nice, sharp, on the ball, approachable.

Then bumped into a friend today who turns out that she works for same organisation, she had good things to say about it.

Realised that one of my job references (who I know thru voluntary work) is part of the same extended Team as I have applied to (good, eh?)

All good omens. Am terribly superstitious about Omens. Not that I have any confidence I'll even get an interview, but must learn to just get on with it.

So calmed my nerves, stopped procrastinating, and just finished & emailed in my App.

Never sure with Email applications if they REALLY get taken seriously, but we shall see.

We get more online/emailed apps than paper versions now.

Good luck!

I didn't even get an interview. But it's a GOOD thing, sort of, because they actually wrote to say I wouldn't. I am used to hearing nothing back, so my estimation of them as quality employer just went up sharply.