Voluntary admin roles?

[AvoidingRealHumans]

I currently have an ok job but am on furlough.
I really want to get into an admin role but have no experience, I've started an online office and admin skills course to keep me busy whilst on furlough but previous to this job I have a big employment gap.
Someone I know said a job had come up at their work place and they showed their boss my cv but she said she was concerned about the gap (have been in my current job 2+ years), I have a job before this of a couple of months and a voluntary role on there too.
I wondered if anyone knew where I could begin with doing some voluntary admin work , maybe for a charity, just to gain some experience in this field which would hopefully go in my favour whilst applying for admin jobs.
I know its not the best time right now to be looking for a new job and I am very fortunate and grateful to even have a job at the moment but I'm thinking of the future too, I would hate to be stuck in my current job forever with no scope for progression. Thanks for any advice

voluntary work is a great way to get into the workplace, where abouts do you live, there are websites that advertise local volunteering opportunities.

what office skills do you have at the moment, what is your current job?
do you know what sort of admin job you would like eventually and what sort of place you'd like to work in, healthcare, animals, charities, finance, all sorts of places need administrators.

Try the do- it website for opportunities to volunteer.

NHS Trusts have volunteer teams and they are very much needed right now - it might not be pure admin work, but could be an 'in' to NHS admin work?

You mention a big employment gap - was this to raise DC? Apologies if not, but if it was, why not join the pta at DC's school. You could get involved with organising events, budgeting, taking the minutes at meetings, designing posters, coordinating event diaries with school office/head, etc.
Or what about brownies, scouts and they always need help in doing the paperwork for new joiners, courses, badge ordering etc.

We certainly take on volunteers to assist with admin (hospice) so definitely roles out there.

do-it.org/

Or google volunteering in (your local area) there will probably be a few organisations you can contact for advice and guidance.

We normally have volunteers work with us in admin roles and other roles. But due to covid we are not able to have them in the buildings with the reduced staffing levels for safety reasons.

Be aware that whilst it might be a good time for you to look for volunteer roles that it might be one of the sectors that is hard hit by the circumstances.

A lot of our volunteers use their position with us for the training, experience and confidence so that they can move on to paid roles in similar roles so it is definitely a route that can be taken.

Good luck with your search for you volunteer role. Hope you find something that can help you achieve your goal

If you have a big employment gap it's only concerning if you can't explain why. If it's because you were looking after your kids then state that - it's better than leaving it blank and hoping that no one will notice.

Thank you for all the replies and suggestions, all really helpful. I'm going to look into the suggestions and I'm thinking of asking people who I know who work in office based roles if I can do some sort of work experience- obviously when this whole covid lark dies down a bit.
Yes I should have said, the gap was due to raising children so I was a bit gutted to hear this may go against me - I did joke to my mum that it will look like I've been in prison but didn't actually think it could go against me.
Hopefully if I'm considered for anything I can explain.

Have a look for virtual volunteering on do it too. Also look at other free courses on coursera or futurelearn, or google/ Microsoft do free courses too.

@AvoidingRealHumans

Thank you for all the replies and suggestions, all really helpful. I'm going to look into the suggestions and I'm thinking of asking people who I know who work in office based roles if I can do some sort of work experience- obviously when this whole covid lark dies down a bit. Yes I should have said, the gap was due to raising children so I was a bit gutted to hear this may go against me - I did joke to my mum that it will look like I've been in prison but didn't actually think it could go against me. Hopefully if I'm considered for anything I can explain.

It may go against you if the recruiter doesn't agree with women doing this. But that certainly isn't everyone - as I said unexplained gaps are worse.