to ask for tips and advice on getting into administration? Job related.

[Psychopsilocybin]

I really want a career change. I've worked in child care for years but would love to get in to admin/receptionist/secretarial work.

I've enrolled myself on a Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Business and Administration course. I have the transferable skills of communication, organisation etc but no admin experience (except mumsnet :o and email). Is this course enough or could i do more? I don't have the money to pay for an actual college or OU course, although when I do have enough, I want to get an AAT qualification.

Could anyone who does admin work guide me in the right direction ? All advice and recommendations would be gratefully received!

Hi psycho I only know a couple of people with secretarial certificates, most just get a foot in the door then work from there. I got into being a personal assistant by starting off taking any temp admin work I could, then progressed to "Senior Administrator", then took a two week temp job as an Executive Assistant, proved my worth and ended up permanent. I worked my way up to being PA at board level.

We used to have temp assistants at my old work who had no admin/executive assistant work experience whatsoever. I think as long as you can use a computer, have a good phone manner and some common sense, you can just jump in the deep end (but don't complain if your first job is just filing - it will lead somewhere!)

Good luck

Whereabouts are you located? If you're in London, secsinthecity is a good specialised jobs site. Also some agencies have standby temp jobs i.e. you go into the agency in the morning and wait to be sent off on jobs - I think these tend to be more receptionist cover roles.

Agree that temping is a good way in. Lots of the permanent admin staff in my team started off by temping with us first. :)

The course on its own might not be quite enough to get you the ideal job but it's a very good start and shows you are serious about the career change. You'll have a head start on those withought any prior work experience because of your work with kids, but would it be possible for you to find the time to volunteer in the office of a local charity admin or finance department on a regular basis? That would stand you in the best light. I'm thinking a few hours once a week. It will be enough to show you're not only serious but that you're actively working to get the experience you need. Write yourself a really good letter to accompany your cv explaining why you're interested in the career change too. When I'm hiring people, I always want to know not just that they need a job, but what their motivations are for applying.

I'm in the South West, but admin jobs are frequently advertised, especially with the council. I'd love to stay in care sectors such as Education, Healthcare etc but I don't mind starting in basic offices. I'll research some temp admin agencies down here, thanks very much. I don't mind learning from the bottom, we all did at some point!

feedmecake - I've thought about volunteering but my only day off in the week is spent with my DS and I don't have the spare money for childcare whilst I do it. I might look in the local paper for volunteering on a Saturday, there are always advert asking for volunteers.

I've just looked at 3 temp agencies in my area and all temp contract office jobs (range from 1 day a week to 6week contracts) require experience. :( This might be tougher than the original 'I'll find this tough' thought!

Can you type? If not, get the Mavis Beacon typing tutor CD thingummy and teach yourself. It's quick and easy. Then get your bum down to a temping agency and sign up - if you can type then there should be something for you I would think. Then once your foot's in the door, you'll be fine (and you'll get your experience quick sticks).

In my experience (admittedly this was a few years ago), you will be given a typing test by the agency but as long as you can type they can send you on jobs.

I'll test my typing skills tomorrow, i don't think I'm too bad! If I am I'll look into the CD thingummy :)

I used to work in a supermarket and got into admin by doing temping work and being in the right place at the right time. I paid someone to rewrite my CV to highlight all the paperwork and admin type stuff I did in my retail job. (I was a supervisor so did lots of paperwork) I then walked into my local temping agency and when they asked if I had any admin experience I lied said yes. So I got invited in to do the computer and typing tests while they looked over my CV properly, and they realised that I hadn't actually worked in an office! While I was doing the tests they were turning all the 18 year olds who came in with their mums away, with the "all our jobs are on our website" line.

Anyway, I got sent to the local magistrates court and spend a week there doing horrible filing. Then I got sent to my my current job doing admin and reception in a brand new children's centre. The permanent job position came up, I applied, and got the job. Doing the job for the previous 6 months did wonders for my answers in the job interview. Most of my admin colleagues starting off as temps.

Good luck with the job hunting.

BTW My typing speed was 40 words a minute when I got the job.

40 words a min!? How do you test? Thanks, it seems temp is the way to go.

www.typeonline.co.uk/typingspeed.php I've just did this one and got 45 wpm! I don't do copy typing in my job though. I'm much quicker at typing emails and minute notes that I have written.

I taught myself from scratch with Mavis Beacon and can do 70wpm - it's not hard, just takes a bit of practice. Posting lengthy threads on here helps!

Hi Psychopsilocybin good luck with the course and career change sorry I can't offer any advice.

I'm starting a secretarial course tomorrow in the hope of getting a job and establishing some sort of career lol so i'll be watching this thread with interest.

Emsyj 70wpm that's amazing I really need to increase my speed how much did you pay if you don't mind me asking and did you learn quite quickly?

Do you help out with running of any groups you/DCs/partner are involved in? Go on a committee - that's admin. You might be taking minute at meetings, or writing to the council, or organising a fund-raising event: it's all admin! Do you use Microsoft Office at home, eg Word, Excel, Outlook? Then you are half way there. If not - time to learn! Whether it's your weekly expenditure or working out your gas & electricity bill, it's all useful. Combined with your actual work experience you should be onto a winner. Good luck.

I didn't pay anything, it was my mum's CD rom and I just used it for a couple of weeks - did some exercises each day and it was quite fun (and addictive!) I don't know exactly which version my DMum has/had but the most expensive version on amazon is less than £20 here.

I would say it took about 2 weeks of doing it for a couple of hours a day to get reasonably competent.

Thanks emsyj i'm gonna have a look at it.

Thank you for the positivity! I do use MS, although I haven't touched Outlook for a while. Peppermint, I'll go on that website tomorrow and see how I do!

Good luck Choccie, may I ask which course you are doing?

Aww thankyou Psychop i'm just doing a Level 2 Certificate in Secretarial Administration

Yes, I would second the suggestion to brush up on your MS word, excel + outlook, plus powerpoint is also handy. I have been tested on use of word + excel before when registering at temp agencies. I would also highly recommend registering with a temp agency, and then following up with them regularly to remind them that you're available. It never hurts to make a quick call in the morning just to say 'hi, got anything in today?'. Often once you've proved your reliability on some short/boring jobs they'll start offering better stuff quite quickly.