Tips for Entry Level Admin

[Leigh 87]

But that wasn't my question. What do you do with chemistry now? in your spare time? Or what are your hobbies? what do you enjoy doing?

 

Well.

 

I enjoy being part of medical online forums. I only really talk about diseases.

 

I also frequent the surgery section. Surgery interests me. I just like hearing about their operations they undergo.

 

I like giving relationship advised to misinformed women.

 

I like typing all day.

 

I like reading non fiction. About people particularly.

 

Like many people, I love watching documentaries on murderers and serial killers. Lol.

 

I am obsessed with geography and weather documentaries.

 

 

Thats about it.

[Leigh 87]

I am not gifted in any one area. I just do well in things I enjoy and therefore, apply myself to.

 

I am not intellectual enough to be a hard core science nerd. But once I enjoy an area of science, I do get quiet into it.

[Leigh 87]

If you read through four years' worth of Leigh's postings, you will realize this is her pattern.

 

Much of the difficulty we have had is the consistency in her lack of consistency; in relationships, careers, life-choices, etc. She has posted how she hates ONS, yet bragged about those she encountered on a trip to Europe. This math thing is yet another example of how she has changed her tune.

 

We call her on it to try and illustrate that if she were to actually hone her energies

in one direction, she might actually succeed. In four years, it has yet to happen.

 

I hate ONS. I didn't enjoy them.

 

I didn't brag. I thought it was funny and alarming that I would do something very out of character for me.

 

I didn't derive any sexually pleasure from them.

[todreaminblue]

Because you can apply them practically to people.

 

My podiatry friend can look at a person's foot as she has my own foot, and manipulate it around to find the cause of problems.

 

It would be very rewarding to have that expertise.

 

You can also help people walk again as well as save diabetics from loosing their feet through educating them of how to manage their condition.

 

Podiatrist learn a lot about diabetes which I like since my dad has horrible diabetes.

 

 

becoming an expert at anything is rewarding when you are helping others feel better.....doesn't take a medical degree to do so..

 

i didn't know podiatrists were responsible for managing a persons diabetes or educating them on diabetes...wouldn't that be more a nutritionist and or clinical doctor.................deb

[Leigh 87]

I feel admin is a.good job to go after. I don't want to go.back to areas I hated. Makes no sense.

 

Even if I ended up having admin I will still stick it out because I need to work during college.

[Leigh 87]

becoming an expert at anything is rewarding when you are helping others feel better.....doesn't take a medical degree to do so..

 

i didn't know podiatrists were responsible for managing a persons diabetes or educating them on diabetes...wouldn't that be more a nutritionist and or clinical doctor.................deb

 

 

 

Podiatrists are really specialised in their job.

 

 

Diabetic patients are at risk of having poor circulation which in turn, can result in lower limbs being amputated if it goes unchecked for years.

 

You would be surprised by the amount of people who aren't proactive about their disease or disorders.

 

 

My father is very afraid of his lower extremities being amputated. His circulation is poor as he is 60 and has diabetes......

 

 

Podiatrist are taught how to educated people with diabetes in how to better manage their condition.

 

Best of all, podiatrists learn chemistry and pharmacology as they prescribe medication to their patients.

 

 

I feel podiatry balances chemistry, medical science and biomedical science nicely. Given that I am not gifted in any one science discipline, the balance that podiatry allows for, intellectually speaking, really appeals to me.

 

My podiatrist friend is good for people who enjoyed chemistry, the idea of pharmacology and prescribing / learning about drugs, and also for those who enjoy anatomy and physiology.

 

 

I was a personal trainer for a few years.I did enjoy the anatomy and physiology and seems to " get it" rather swiftly.

[jellybean89]

You keep insisting that admin work is what you want.

 

By what you are typing here, you would not be a good admin. You lack grammar skills, you lack being able to properly express yourself and your incredibly defensive. Those 'skills' are not good for an office environment. You come off like you are top of the line because of some test you passed 4 years ago. Employers do not care what score you got on a test 4 years ago. Some people test better than others.

 

Employers care about how you are perceived and how you handle yourself. You seem hell bent on proving to a bunch of internet people that because of some test 4 years ago, you are top of the line and should be paid better than your friend.

 

I'd suggest you start focusing on how you handle yourself and how you deal with people. Anyone can type and answer a phone; but it takes a professional to represent your boss in an office environment. I'd be lost without my assistant and she doesn't have any college background.

 

Hear about people are saying here - take the time to really read what is being written, think about it and then respond in well thought out, well written comments...not long diatribes of how great you did years ago, how this is better than that and how smart you are. Book smarts and street smarts are totally different. To work with people, you need street smarts. Anyone can get book smarts.

[Leigh 87]

My friends and parents who know me best feel admin work during a podiatry degree is the direction I have to go in and stick to long term.

 

My parents have long told me that I should just do receptionist jobs and they offered to outbreak through experience receptionist courses because they urged me to steer clear of hospitality and retail roles. They felt I was not very adept.

 

I assumed my unusual looks and slightly crooked nose would not lend well to reception wince receptionist are generally attractive. I didn't think I was good looking enough.

 

Over the years my parents have not been happy about most of my choices. They were happy about the food science degree as that is where they feel my talent lies...in the sciences, to do with food, anatomy and physiology or anything to do with exercise science or the human body.

 

They thought it was a mistake to do social work and social science. They though it was a mistake to do childcare and aged care. And everything else I tried.

 

The are now finally happy about my discovery of podiatry. My family also commented that it " suits me".

 

 

 

I am really realllllly excited about college next year. I am thrilled and excited.

 

 

 

 

 

I pray that if I stick with admin and reception unpaid work that I will get a job I can do during college.

 

 

 

 

Even if I end up having admin work I am still going to stick with it.

 

 

I recently tried aged care but just couldn't see myself wiping bums even day. Although I volunteer with frail aged Australians, I only enjoy lending companionship.

 

I enjoy looking after my friends kids but I didnt like doing it for work as I don't find toddlers pleasant and you don't get a say in childcare as to what age the clients kids are.

 

 

 

I just want a basic job that will serve me well during college. I think basic admin skills are great to have as a college student because you learn great organisational skillsz.your typing improves, and you learn how to effectively multi task.

 

 

If i am successful at podiatry, I will need to learn basic admin skills as podiatrists do paper work, file things away and need to be adept with Microsoft.

 

Successful podiatrists open their own clinics with a few partnered and rather than employ their own receptionist, it would pay to be able to handle admin work themselves. Even if they were to require a receptionist, wouldn't it help a medical professional to have a good handle in basic admin skills,.in order to assist the receptionist and know what goes in in the office??????

 

 

 

 

I just matched podiatry with a suitable college job that I could do whilst studying.

 

Not to mention I would really like to develop my skills in organisation and basic filing away of things. It isnt rocket science and I am sure I will do fine if I stick with it.

[Leigh 87]

You keep insisting that admin work is what you want.

 

By what you are typing here, you would not be a good admin. You lack grammar skills, you lack being able to properly express yourself and your incredibly defensive. Those 'skills' are not good for an office environment. You come off like you are top of the line because of some test you passed 4 years ago. Employers do not care what score you got on a test 4 years ago. Some people test better than others.

 

Employers care about how you are perceived and how you handle yourself. You seem hell bent on proving to a bunch of internet people that because of some test 4 years ago, you are top of the line and should be paid better than your friend.

 

I'd suggest you start focusing on how you handle yourself and how you deal with people. Anyone can type and answer a phone; but it takes a professional to represent your boss in an office environment. I'd be lost without my assistant and she doesn't have any college background.

 

Hear about people are saying here - take the time to really read what is being written, think about it and then respond in well thought out, well written comments...not long diatribes of how great you did years ago, how this is better than that and how smart you are. Book smarts and street smarts are totally different. To work with people, you need street smarts. Anyone can get book smarts.

 

 

I believe I can get an entry level admin job and maintain one during college.

 

I believe my grammar skills are fine when I am not typing on a smart phone at lightning speed.

 

I have no other options outside of admin work during college.

[Lani]

Your view on a lot of things is really naive here Leigh, and quite frankly, offensive.

 

What you seem to fail to understand is that everyone is different. Your friend who 'bludged' on her degree but still receives the same money as those who didn't- perhaps she's just smarter. And does, in fact, deserve her higher salary based on that. Or perhaps her job is seen as higher risk or more beneficial to the public in general.

 

And as for your passive aggressive negging on admin, it's just plain rude.

I assist a whole University's finance department in running the day to day of their billion dollar company. How dare you insinuate that I potentially don't 'deserve' the money I am paid (and yes, it's more than your friends with even the 'demanding' degrees) based on your lack of knowledge on the situation. Ensuring the budget is on track, assisting with high level projects and reporting, looking after all 85 staff within our department to ensure their mental and physical health is a priority.. All kind of important stuff you know.

 

All without a degree? You f*cking bet!

 

Your attitude is insulting.

[Leigh 87]

In real life I am considered to be well spoken and professional. I have impeccable grooming, undress well and I can type fast enough.

 

It will take some unpaid experience for me to become adept at admin work since I am not a natural at it.

 

 

I am sure I will be fine after a couple of months of unpaid admin work. I think most people can become competent in basic level office administration.

 

Plus I work hard..I don't take breaks and have worked for a solid eight hours without stopping many times.

 

I really enjoy being organised too.

 

 

Really, with practice, I am sure I'll be fine at admin and reception work.

 

Generally, whenever I have stuck to something and put in effort I've time, I've always succeeded.

 

I see no reason why I cannot become employable in the area of admin and reception if I do a couple of months of unpaid work. If using excel, writing up spread sheets and performing data entry.

[Leigh 87]

Your view on a lot of things is really naive here Leigh, and quite frankly, offensive.

 

What you seem to fail to understand is that everyone is different. Your friend who 'bludged' on her degree but still receives the same money as those who didn't- perhaps she's just smarter. And does, in fact, deserve her higher salary based on that. Or perhaps her job is seen as higher risk or more beneficial to the public in general.

 

And as for your passive aggressive negging on admin, it's just plain rude.

I assist a whole University's finance department in running the day to day of their billion dollar company. How dare you insinuate that I potentially don't 'deserve' the money I am paid (and yes, it's more than your friends with even the 'demanding' degrees) based on your lack of knowledge on the situation. Ensuring the budget is on track, assisting with high level projects and reporting, looking after all 85 staff within our department to ensure their mental and physical health is a priority.. All kind of important stuff you know.

 

All without a degree? You f*cking bet!

 

Your attitude is insulting.

 

 

 

I dont disagree that your job isn't very challenging and important.

 

 

I still don't believe my friend is as smart as a veterinary surgeon.

 

I don't believe she deserves as much as a vet. Plain and simple.

 

Your job sounds on par with that of a veterinary science grad in the degree of difficulty. You clearly deserve your pay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just because I feel that vets so carry out surgery deserve more than my fiendwwhk works in a call centre, that didn't mean I am insulting anyone.

 

 

I feel veterinary surgeons deserve more than call centre staff. Big deal. I don't think call centre staff are stupid. I don't think their services are not important.

[Lani]

In real life I am considered to be well spoken and professional. I have impeccable grooming, undress well and I can type fast enough.

 

It will take some unpaid experience for me to become adept at admin work since I am not a natural at it.

 

 

I am sure I will be fine after a couple of months of unpaid admin work. I think most people can become competent in basic level office administration.

 

Plus I work hard..I don't take breaks and have worked for a solid eight hours without stopping many times.

 

I really enjoy being organised too.

 

 

Really, with practice, I am sure I'll be fine at admin and reception work.

 

Generally, whenever I have stuck to something and put in effort I've time, I've always succeeded.

 

I see no reason why I cannot become employable in the area of admin and reception if I do a couple of months of unpaid work. If using excel, writing up spread sheets and performing data entry.

 

Oh?

Have you considered stripping?

[Leigh 87]

I am entitled to believe that animal surgeons deserve more than call centre staff.

 

Stop having a go at me for my beliefs. I am aloud to think very demanding college courses are more deserving of higher pay that social science grads.

 

There is no need to have a go at me.

 

 

 

There is also no need to dissuade me from pursuing an admin and reception job as a means to earn income during college.

 

There is no reason why I couldn't become employable in the field if I work hard at it.

[Leigh 87]

Oh?

Have you considered stripping?

 

No I wouldn't enjoy getting naked for strangers.

 

I meant I dress well. Which is crucial for admin and reception work.

[Leigh 87]

I just asked a guy I previously dated to give me some brutally honest advice.

 

We are really good friends. We have always been brutally honest with each other.

 

He is an account exec for Fairfax on a very high salary.

 

I asked him truthfully if I am just as well spoken as his receptionist.

 

He said yes I am just as well spoken and I come off just as educated as they do; he said, however, that I don't proof read and use spell check.

 

It seems that a professional thinks that I would do fine at admin and reception if I brushed up on a few things.

 

My friend, and neighbour, worked as a top recruiter. I had a cup of tea with her the other day and I also asked her to give me honest feedback as to how far I have to go to become a receptionist, or work in admin/carry out data entry and the like.

 

Her words: " you are well spoken Leigh 87 and you seem like you would get along with the staff" " however, I cannot comment on your typing and grammatical abilities because, while you are well spoken, I have not seen any essays or formal letters you have scripted"

 

SEE. If I was VERY unsuited to admin work, to the extent where it would be fruitless for me to even PURSUE it, these people WOULD HAVE TOLD ME that I WAS NOT SUITED TO IT.

 

My entire family are highly educated and they seem to think that I am well spoken enough to be in admin. I KNOW people who work as administration assistance! AND receptionists! They ...speak in the same manner as I do, they do by no means "sound" more professional or "well spoken" than I am.......

 

They would certainly be better at typing and working in a fast paced office setting than me. I am sure if I PRACTICE it though I would be on par with my friends who work in in admin. WHO ALL say that I do not sound rough around the edges or un - educated like you are ALL alluding to.

 

 

 

 

I cannot see ANY reason why I cannot succeed at finding admin and reception work if I work hard to better my skills and do unpaid work until I am at a stage where I am employable in the area.

[Lani]

Nobody said you couldn't do admin work.. So your tangents are kind of redundant.

 

Just to clarify- have you been offered a place in the podiatry degree at university?

[Leigh 87]

PLEASE stick to the LIST of questions I have on obtaining admin work!

 

So far:

 

- getting unpaid work experience so I know what to do when I first start a paid job, without them feeling as though they have to "spend too much time training me"

 

- turning up early, being eager, and offering to take on extra tasks in my work experience since the lady has connections and can also act as a referee for me.

 

- applying for many jobs each day so ensure I get enough interviews.

 

- proof reading all my writing even if it is only on an online forum. Checking things three or four times and then hoping to hone the proof reading skills enough to only have to check through once or twice.

 

- Ensuring I use proper spelling and grammar.

 

- applying within my university

 

- asking the two charities I volunteer with to please give me any unpaid admin and reception experience if they have any available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANYTHING else constructive regarding admin and reception work?

 

Please no negative remarks. I am SURE with experience and hard work, I will be employable in admin and reception by the time college rolls around in February of next year. It will be a life changer for me if I were to earn a small income during college which I can save towards my future, rather than having to start from scratch once I graduate.

[Leigh 87]

Nobody said you couldn't do admin work.. So your tangents are kind of redundant.

 

Just to clarify- have you been offered a place in the podiatry degree at university?

 

 

 

 

The mark to gain entry is 73. I got 92.

 

I also have second and third choices in physiotherapy and medical imaging, of which have much higher entrance scores, 96, 92.3 and 88 respectively.

 

I feel that I am more likely to get into podiatry since it is my first choice and has a low entrance score, due to not many prospective students taking any interest in it.

 

You never know I could not get into podiatry with its lower entry score, and instead get into physiotherapy or medical imaging LOL, even though they have really high entry requirements above my league!

 

All students find out which degree they got accepted into on the 15th of January!

 

I did get into social work last year, that has an entry score of 88.

[Leigh 87]

Nobody said you couldn't do admin work.. So your tangents are kind of redundant.

 

Just to clarify- have you been offered a place in the podiatry degree at university?

 

 

UM, people have said

 

- I am not suited to admin work, on a fundamental level because I do not poses grammar skills that are acceptable

 

- that I apparently should stop and take more time to decide what I want to do (when I have tried literally every other entry level job and know I hate them, and therefore admin seems like the only viable option I have as it stands, without a degree)

 

 

 

 

 

I reject those claims and believe I am adept enough at basic grammar, to be able to write basic emails. If I am not, the woman who is going to be training me up will inform me that I need to practice more in the areas in which I fall short.

 

I also believe I need to STICK to admin and reception work experience and stick to this ONE direction and NOT deviate at this stage.

 

I need to stick to this path and not take more "time" sitting on my bottom, "thinking". I have spent this entire year 'thinking' about what I wish to do with my life, as well as legitimately trying things out for myself!

 

So please make this thread about ADMIN and RECEPTION work and how I should go about obtaining a job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone want me to send my resume through? I got it done by a case worker who worked in recruitment.

[Leigh 87]

Here is one, for example.

 

I just tried it and scored 78 WPM with no errors.

 

 

LOL.

 

I only got 69 WPM with 5 errors.

 

LOL I suck:lmao:

 

How much practice would you recommend before I am at a level that is acceptable for admin or reception work?

 

Should I aim for 70 to 80 wpm with NO errors?

 

Cheers.

[Leigh 87]

I tried the WPM test again and I seem to be stuck around 68 - 69 WPM with 5 errors.

 

I have done it twice or three times now.

 

Most reception jobs online are advertised as " 60 WPM" with good accuracy.

 

The site rated me, minus errors, as 65 including errors. 68 with errors.

 

I think I need to get to 70 WMP with zero or ONE error before I would impress any prospective employer!

 

I know a lot of admin and reception workers and when I saw them type at Uni they didn't appear to type faster than me, albeit they were obviously more accurate since they were employed as receptionist.

 

All my friends comment that I am a fast typer, which means that most people are slow or average, since I am no better than average.

 

I always assumed that I was a fast typer since everyone has commented on my typing as being "fast".

 

I am certainly not slow. I would say I am a little faster than average with a few too many errors to be in admin at this stage.

 

I don't think it will take months just for me to get an entry level job in admin or reception... maybe one month or two tops! Of unpaid work experience.

 

 

 

 

Should I keep doing type tests daily?

[Lani]

Don't get too caught up in the WPM stuff, it's not overly relevant these days.

It's sort of a given that people have a decent typing speed given the amount of computer use around.

[Leigh 87]

Don't get too caught up in the WPM stuff, it's not overly relevant these days.

It's sort of a given that people have a decent typing speed given the amount of computer use around.

 

 

 

Yeah, I type well over 100 words per minute when I type out whatever I want to type without reading from a script.

 

I was bummed when I got such a low score for the online test!

 

 

 

ummm, you do need a decent typing speed in order to pass Uni subjects, or else you would be sitting there and taking HOURS just to type of one essay, which would not be very conductive to the 5 other essays per month or so college students have to write out, which I did when I was in a social work degree.....

 

 

I think most uni students who pass have what it takes to be in admin or reception. I enjoy dealing with people and I have a very friendly disposition which could help me.

 

 

I also write emails all day to prospective employers and I attach my resume and cover letter in some cases so I can to the "duhhhh, basics" and I have been doing the basics since I was 13 ( attaching documents, copy and pasting information at a fast pace, etc)

[Leigh 87]

Don't get too caught up in the WPM stuff, it's not overly relevant these days.

It's sort of a given that people have a decent typing speed given the amount of computer use around.

 

 

By the way, I was quiet impressed with the description you gave me of your job. I could never amount to what you do and it is something I really, really want to strive to achieve, starting at the very bottom.

 

I got feedback from the bank job.

 

He was very nice:

 

"you were professional, well dressed and you were a lovely girl. You were a strong candidate because you were very driven to succeed at the job and you were friendly in the group exercises"

 

" however, you didn't give much substance to your answers as to why you wanted a job at our bank, in our call centre"

 

' furthermore, in the computer simulator tests, everyone else replayed the questions and got it all correct, where as you rushed through them and didn't even replay any of the questions and therefore, didn't get the questions correct. Although it is obvious you would have gotten it all correct if you had replayed the questions, it makes us question how much you wanted the job seeing as you rushed through"

 

" you mentioned that you wanted to study podiatry yet came about our job and couldn't turn it down. We tend to prefer those who strive for a long term career with us"

 

" all in all, you were one of the more pleasant to interview candidates as you were friendly, bright eyed and ambitious to succeed - we just feel you would be better suited to an area of your passion rather than a bank job, where we have finance graduates and recent Uni grads who are desperate to start a legitimate career here, rather than to just gain the professional experience like you suggested this job was good for"

 

" you have many of the natural attributes that our professional team venerate; ambition, drive, enthusiasm, a very friendly demeanour, you are not overbearing and you are a pleasant girl"

 

"You lacked: the will to want to realty nail our tests; come on, lets be real here, you are a smart girl and you would have bothered to replay the written instructions if you were serious about a career with a bank"

 

" I find you to be a very nice girl though who is well spoken and driven, if you ever go down a path such as actuary or finance, please inform me so I can put you through the series of tests again as you sound like you would be a really good team player, and a positive and friendly staff member"

 

 

 

 

 

I found him to be super nice. He really seemed to wish me luck. He said:

 

" you are too hard on yourself, you didn't "suck" haha, you were a solid competitor and I would have told you if you really did poorly overall. You just weren't the ideal candidate for a bank job, it was obviously not an area of passion for you, despite all the energy you have about you which I am sure will be aptly towards your studies at Uni"