How does one get School Office Admin experience if you've never been employed in a school office?

[ColdCrumpetsandButter]

I'm having very little success regarding interviews/job offers for school office/admin/secretary positions. I've been told my admin experience to date is really good, strong and solid yet keep being overlooked by candidates who already have the school office/admin skills and experience.

Is there anything I can do?

Thank you.

Primary school admin. I have lots of admin experience. Years and years. Big companies. Maybe that's the off putting bit.

Don’t be put off, just keep applying. I work in a secondary support role but started back to work in school admin after a seven year break from work. I’d never worked in a school before but did get some experience in the office of DS’s primary - I helped out a bit in the school and then volunteered when the school secretary needed time off.

SIMS is easy enough if you are IT literate. I’ve never had formal training, just learned as I went along.

Good luck!

Lots of applicants is the problem. Some will be doing the same job in another schools, others will be TAs at the school wanting to move into the office. It's tough to break into. Sounds like you may be overqualified. First aid training good idea. Other jobs in a school such as cover supervisor/exam officer/finance assistant can be easier. It's quite dull work working in a school I've been doing it for a few years and it's getting very repetitive although I have a more senior non teaching position. I'm trying to get out of the sector as my youngest is near secondary age.

It's a really competitive job and will have loads of applicants
If it's in a school office in the reception you will be dealing with parents a lot and are the first in the firing line for complaints , angry and disgruntled parents , people who live near the school and have a complaint etc which is a side of the job I think a lot of applicants may not consider
I agree with previous poster that first aid training would be a good addition to your CV though bear in mind this can be quite stressful and is a big responsibility when working with children

A few friends have suggested TA roles but its just not me.

I'll look into the First Aid training. That's a great idea.

I guess a fair amount of applicants will already be dbs checked which I'm not.

I could look at schools further away but that brings others difficulties with my own family logistics.

DBS check doesn't matter all schools will require a new one for a member of staff unless they have a portable DBS.