To ask what office skills i need to work after being SAHM for too long

[MeetMeAtTheMuseum]

Been a SAHM for 18 years.

Please let's not debate the rights and wrongs of being a SAHM - it wasn't entirely my decision. Life happens and it's led to many years of depression and loss of confidence.

Anyway, I'm late 50s now and need to return to work- for money and my sanity.

Please could you advise what basic office/IT skills are needed for an admin job. The NHS is quite a big employer round here but am happy to take anything.

TIA

@MrsColinRobinson

Have you considered becoming a doctor's receptionist? You won't need much additional training

Thank you. My DH is a GP and his receptionists are professional and lovely. They do have to deal with some challenging patients but do so with aplomb.

Pitman training is very good, they do a medical administration diploma. Even starting it will look good on your cv.

Might sound daft but you need to learn how to email. Not just the technical side of Outlook, but all the etiquette that goes with it.

Why are loads of people chiming in to tell OP how difficult it will be for her to get a job?! MN has gotten insanely bitchy as of late...

I actually don't think op is being rude here. She is obviously a bit apprehensive about returning after 18 years not working out of the home. She just wants to remain positive as much as she can! Totally understandable.

I have an NHS Band 3 admin job and I use outlook, word and occasionally excel for data entry. I also use the NHS systems but these were all learnt of the job. It is very very easy and much of it is audio typing. If you can find an NHS Band 3 secretary job you should apply. My title is 'support secretary' but I imagine it varies by trust.

@MeetMeAtTheMuseum

That wasn't my question. I was asking about office skills. Please don't post negativity.

A good attitude?

@LondonJax - that's an inspiring post - thank you for sharing

I’m sorry you find people patronising OP, but from the attitude you’ve shown in the half dozen posts you’ve made I wouldn’t employ you, and if I inherited you as an admin assistant/secretary would fine a way to manage you out. You are coming across as deliberately contrary, rude, not collaborative and frankly quite patronising yourself (shooting down those who have useful advise you have actually asked for). I get you probably feel nervous getting back into the workforce after so many years, but defensiveness will do you no favour- try an enthusiastic attitude & a willingness to learn and be useful, after all in the main people want to work with people they like.

Good luck, I think you’re going to need it- especially if you choose to piss on my post as you have others.

Why are loads of people chiming in to tell OP how difficult it will be for her to get a job?! MN has gotten insanely bitchy as of late...

It's not bitchiness, it's realistic. The OP has no prior experience, no relevant skills or qualifications, and has been out of the workplace for nearly twenty years. She will be competing with people who have the skills and experience and are currently working in the same role. She can go for it, but I think she would be better off looking for something that uses the skillset and experience she already has.

MN gives the worst advice on how to get a job if you have been a SAHM. Being on here really knocked my confidence about work after leaving a DV relationship. It was just another voice making out I was seen as useless.

It always over exaggerates the difficulties and over estimates the competence of 21 year graduates.

It doesn’t seem to have any relationship to attitudes in actual workplaces.

Just do some volunteering to get your foot in the door, register with an agency and see how you get on.

People learn to code on line, so using Microsoft office is hardly going to be a massive challenge. Skype, zoom etc are a piece of piss. Using CRM systems is a minimum wage job that people with no qualifications or experience get employed to do.

Good luck OP. You will be fine.

@Embracingthechaos

Might sound daft but you need to learn how to email. Not just the technical side of Outlook, but all the etiquette that goes with it.

Why are loads of people chiming in to tell OP how difficult it will be for her to get a job?! MN has gotten insanely bitchy as of late...

Because it will be so we are trying to help with suggestions of skills that will help her stand out? I can't see anyone who has said don't bother you've got no chance. Everyone has highlighted skills she will need as far as I can tell. It will be hard, it's hard for everyone.

Our county council advertises apprenticeships.

Why are people being so rude?

I have secretarial support at work and it's vital to me that person has high levels of discretion, self motivation, and common sense. These are not always found amongst 'young bright things '. The other thing is I assume that you would like a role that you can do for a while - that's super helpful as it's a real bind getting someone up to speed for them to move on.
You sound like you could be a real asset to a team somewhere so brush up your skills - as others have said - MS office ,teams etc and then get your confidence up !!

Good luck and come back and let us know when you get something X

Those of you who are piling on ... stop cluttering up a useful thread and maybe look at your own attitudes

Office skills? Well, one of them is being able to work well in a team and not be rude, even when you think team members are being foolish (especially when they aren’t) You can be as proficient as you like in IT skills but if the way you react to people here exemplifies how you deal with adults generally, you’ll struggle in an office environment.

I’m sure you won’t like my comment nor think it helpful as you’ll perceive it as negative, but people skills are vital.

I actually agree with @LibertyMole
I don't think OP is less employable than a graduate with no work experience whatsoever!

I do think temp work or education related (but not necessarily teaching roles) will be easier to get initially.

I also think any title with sahm brings out negativity on MN. Yes, it's a tough job market right now..but people are being hired! It might just take a bit longer than usual.

Some jobs value age though. In a solicitors firm new receptionist/admin was a lady who had previously been retired. Clients were mostly older (wills/power of attorney) She had a good manner with clients in person and on phone which was more important than extensive IT skills.

@MeetMeAtTheMuseum

You sound lovely, I’m sure you will leapfrog ahead of all the younger better qualified candidates

Thank you.

I feel like PP was being sarcastic?

Good luck OP. You will be fine

Thank you. I'm feeling much more positive after starting this thread. I knew there would be some who would try to bring me down under the guise of being realistic and helpful but I've been lucky to get lots of encouragement and constructive advice.

I'm also sceptical about these bright young things - I haven't come across them in my multiple dealings with NHS and various customer services.

Are you in Scotland OP?

This is free and is a series of 5 workshops for returners who are over 50 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/still-ready-for-work-helping-you-identify-and-assess-your-skillset-tickets-152980102605?aff=erelexpmlt

OP I do an element of recruitment in my role and a good CV can make all the difference in being considered. You can actually get a service to help with this, especially for your circumstances.

Although you've been out of paid work, as such, some help in articulating how you've spent this time, skills you gained because of it will help. Recruiters will likely ignore your last employment (if it's so long ago) in favour of reviewing your recent history.
Also a personal recommendation, from a friend who is working goes a long way too if their work is recruiting.
Good luck

Your thoughts competition is those people with recent admin experience. Doesn't mean it is impossible. Get as much feedback as you can on interviews and applications and learn from it.

@MeetMeAtTheMuseum

Wow, that was really rude

Not at all. I'm just asking for no negativity - that should have been apparent from my OP. Now stop patronising me. I'm getting a lot of useful info from this thread and will ignore those who are here for a pile on.

You sound exactly like someone I WOULDN'T employ. Someone offered you practical advice and support and you were rude. It's a no from me.

Our team admin in the NHS is in her sixties and an absolute star compared to the graduates we used to have. She's fast, responsive, incredibly accurate and doesn't think her job is her identity, so doesn't weep if something goes wrong. She's also stuck around for longer than a year.

I think for you op I would look for opportunities where you can call a contact before interview. Chat to the person involved and find out what is key in that particular job. In ours, Excel is huge because we have a big group who aren't very good at it so the administrator does most of it and we collect a lot of data. PowerPoint is hardly needed because everyone does their own. Minute taking is very important. We also need people who can deal with learning new systems because the NHS patient systems are multiple and specialised. Accuracy and confidentiality are vital at least in theory.

I'm also sceptical about these bright young things - I haven't come across them in my multiple dealings with NHS and various customer services

It's not just them. Its the people who've been doing the job already for 5 or 10 or 15 years. And the people who were doing more senior professional jobs until 6-12 months ago and would now happily settle for an admin job.

I would like to see OP make a successful return to the workforce, and I think she's best equipped to do that by having an accurate view of the current hiring market and how she might therefore smartly position herself in it.

Office software is a minimum requirement but what makes you stand out are your people skills. Even ‘bright young things’ who get hired aren’t those with zero experience but have had part-time jobs, internships etc.

Have a google for ‘competency based questions and answers’ and match these to the required behaviours stated in the job description. If you can give detailed answers to these then you’ll be well suited!

Also I suggest finding a CV editor specialising in returnees - they’ll be able to beat advise how to present your experience