Anyone work in an admin capacity in Higher Education

[gettingridiculous]

Am applying for jobs left right and centre at local University that advertises all the time it seems. Am not getting any interviews. I have all the administrative experience they require except I have never worked in a school or further/higher education institution so have not used their particular databases and software systems (Campus, virtual learning environments like Moodle, PAS, Agresso etc.)

I apply anyway and say that I am quick to pick up different systems blah, blah but I just get the feeling I'm up against a brick wall. It would appear that until I have worked in a Uni/College/School, I won't be able to work in a Uni/College/School - familiar Catch 22 situation.

I volunteer at my child's school in the office but it's all photocopying, laminating, mounting artwork etc. They won't let me near the computers!

If there's anyone on here that works in a similar role? I would love to hear how you got into it.

(there is also the teeny, tiny matter that I haven't been in paid employment for a decade that could also be going against me?!!)

Do you have a recent reference, perhaps for volunteer work & with an admin element?

I really think that's the big problem. Unis are usually brilliant at equal ops type employment, follow all the rules.

Recent references are a problem. I'm just one of many volunteers in the charity shop I work in and I think they are reluctant to give out references unless you've been there a really long time or done something special. I do a 5 hour shift once a week and there's about 3 different managers that I work with.

Could get a reference from the school I guess but I haven't done much in the way of proper admin for them.

Seem to be spending as much time sorting out working for free as I do trying to get a paid job!

Higher Education is under a lot of financial pressure at the moment. A lot of universities are having to cut back and often do this by constantly "re-organising" (combining departments and sections and asking staff to do more and more - sometimes regrading their posts at the same time so they are on lower bands of pay ( even though their higher pay may be protected for a while)) . It may well be that a lot of university admin staff are in the position of needing to be redeployed and the university may be giving higher priority to those people even though they are still advertising externally.

If it is anything like my local university ( not saying which one) the atmosphere can be very stressful and unsettling a lot of the time too.

I'm sure you're facing an enormous amount of competition - universities are seen as good employers and there's a lot of unemployment at the moment. May need to lower your sights for the moment, or get in on something more menial and impress them with your work ethic etc.

Don't get me wrong Swannery I'm applying for shop jobs in places like Aldi and Tesco and night shift data entry jobs. The only line I'm drawing is at care worker jobs because I know that I can't face the personal care aspect. And I can't work in sales jobs that are target driven and cut throat either.

educatingarti I think you are right. I sense that the university is just recirculating existing employees throughout their campuses and that fresh blood is rarely admitted. Still have to keep applying though just in case they decide to let an outsider in and train them up - would imagine that you would have to be pretty exceptional though.

(there is also the teeny, tiny matter that I haven't been in paid employment for a decade that could also be going against me?!!)

Honestly speaking, I think this is the problem, not your lack of experience of admin in HE. Have you tried temping? Lots of people get a step in the door that way - if you're good, then you stand a reasonable chance of being offered something on a longer term.

I work in a university research services team - I moved there from another sector recently. I think the systems are very university specific, and also there is a particular culture of acronyms and heirarchies that is difficult to pick up.

Could you find anyway to get experience at the uni, even if it's unpaid? Is there a temporary staff agency or pool? There are people in my team who started as a holiday cover receptionist or temporary filing support who were then taken on and trained up. It definitely helps to make contacts so you are 'known', there is a lot of suspicion of complete newcomers.

Agree with comments above - get in the admin door by temping - its terrifying but invaluable experience AND its paid, usually just higher than minimum wage.
If you've worked even one day in an admin role then you will have greater confidence in promoting yourself if a similar job comes up.
Register today with an agency and never say no! My agent once told me that you only have a couple of chances to turn down jobs and then they just stop calling you for work. The employers give feedback to the agency so you will do really well quickly if you have the right attitude.
Universities are difficult to get into for the reasons mentioned above. I've worked on the non-acadmic side but never managed to get into an admin job. I've now been in secondary education admin for 6 years and love it! I've had to find employees for admin positions and the competition is very high - I always looked for a good standard of admin experience and lots of energy - yes, this does come across in cvs!
Let us know how you get on!

Thanks all. Think the consensus is to get some serious and recent admin experience under my belt. I'll keep at it and have a look at some good temping agencies. There are so many out there - I've applied for tons of jobs that have been advertised THROUGH agencies but they're usually the ones that don't even have the courtesy to call or email me back. I find them intimidating to be honest and know the last time I went through them they needed good work references from the past 5 years. Obviously I'm not able to give such fresh references. But need to try.

I'm waiting to hear back from 10 applications I have out there...