Tips for Entry Level Admin

[Leigh 87]

My father and his entire family hate banks by the way lol.

 

I am a real "lefty" and generally hate big corporations that are all about generating profit to wealthy investors. Also, the CEO's get paid multi millions which I don't feel they actually deserve.

 

I hate what banks stand for but it would have been a huge professional milestone for me to have worked for such a professional organisation, I would have acquired skills that would benefit ME.

 

We (my father and his family, and I) hate how the bank I was interviewed for sacked many of its workers in 2012 and got the fired workers to train up incompetent Indian staff when they knew they were fired.

 

I mean, I generally much prefer smaller, private types of companies that pertain to private podiatry clinics. A lot of them not only wish to make money, but their duty of care is to the patient, they would never screw over a patient in order to make profit the way I KNOW for a FACT, banks can do!

 

But you know, it is very hard to even get an interview at the bank I went for, it is one of the "big 4" in Aus. I thought it was a really good opportunity for me to at least undergo the final interview stage.

 

My friend really loves banks and her partner works at a bank as a manager so she really admired the bank and thought it was the bees knees lol.

 

I mean, I am not sure how the recruitment team could pick up on the fact I didn't like banks and rather, wanted to use them for my own professional gain and then quit once I was due to start my degree? I am not sure how he picked that about me given I thought I acted SO ambitious and excited about the job with the bank lol.

 

 

 

 

He did urge me to email him if I ever switched to a finance or actuary degree and developed a "genuine" interest in working for the bank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My father, boyfriend and friend who got the job laughed in my face when I told them that I told the interviewers that I wanted to study podiatry but would happily divert my studies to work at the bank because I would stand to gain a lot from their level of professionalism and the fact they hire the best workers, which would bring out the best in me.

 

HOW was it funny or outlandish that I admitted that I was going to study podiatry but saw this as a good enough opportunity instead?

 

I don't get it and would like constructive criticism.

 

My friend said they she would not have hired me because she feels that I would just have quit the job as soon as I was good enough at the job to obtain good referee's and the professional experience that suited ME, and then go and start Uni next year.

 

What do banks expect though? I dunno lol....

[amaysngrace]

If you truly want constructive criticism I have some.

 

The guy said he didn't hire you because you rushed through the questions and didn't actually answer them.

 

Slow down Leigh.

 

And for your own sanity please don't go on a rant about how much you dislike banks now because one didn't hire you.

 

You come off as being unstable when you go from one extreme to the other.

[ufo8mycat]

From reading that Leigh I think you have added your own interpretation to the feedback but as a general rule, I wouldn't employ someone who wants A job, I want the person who wants THIS job. Why would they invest in your training when you have shown your cards that you want to go to uni next year?

 

But it reinforces what many in this thread have said about you needing to read, comprehend what is being said and then respond. Your not doing well on the tests indicates you can't understand or follow instructions. Kinda a critical skill in most jobs.

 

Why would a call centre need people with finance or actuarial degrees? Do you know what an actuary does (other than earn an arse load of money?) I have a friend who worked in a call centre and didn't have a degree. He loved customer service. Not finance.

 

Why would an actuary be in a call centre when you can work with me....or macquarie bank and earn six figures out of uni?

[todreaminblue]

Leigh..did you actually write to the interviewer and ask him if you sucked.....

 

the interviewer wrote he didnt see you as genuinely interested.....so even how much you assured him you were...he could see you werent......

 

 

he called you a nice girl not a normal response.....letters normally received from a institution such as a bank are normally very professional and curt.....they dont talk about being bright eyed ro hwo you didnt suck..... they give you a nay or a yay.....in two paragraphs or less.....

 

 

 

the letter seemed a little immature on his behalf......like he was talking to a child....having boundless energy is good..controlling it even better...being bright eyed and friendly.......and saying you didnt suck sounds more like a friends email to another friend..it was a personable email......not at all professional.....

 

...deb

[yajiuma]

When you told the interviewer you were going to study podiatry(even if you said you were willing to divert your studies) you basically put the nail in your coffin.

 

They were looking for someone who was going to be "all in", who might potentially have a long term future with their business, not someone who will most likely take off in the near to pursue their "real passion". I think that's what he meant by the "genuine" comment.

 

The other comments about your performance were basically telling you that you were careless in rechecking the questions. The other people have already mentioned your carelessness in spellchecking and grammar on this thread. This type of thing is important in administrative work and can't be overlooked.

[Leigh 87]

He called me up lol he didn't write an email.

 

He normally writes emails but he said I seemed to be hard on myself and so he thought a phone call would suit me better.

 

He said he didn't doubt that I would exude professionalism if I were to get he job, but he doubted that my heart would be all in a bank job pretty much.

 

 

 

And I always hated banks and large corporations, just LOOK at my posts!

 

 

 

LOL. I do not just hate banks suddenly because I didn't get a job:lmao:

 

I admit I was not suited to the role lol I am not bitter about it.

 

I have truly always hated banks.

 

 

 

 

I have a father who hates large banks and I have heard about how awful they are to their employers and how they fire staff at the drop of a hat to cut costs, even though they could very well keep staff on and STILL have large profits without ruining lives.

 

Trust me. I always hated banks and large companies because they all tend to outsource their jobs to Manila and India, causing Australian workers to lose out.

 

I am vehemently against banks who operate in AUSTRALIA, and yet outsource work to poor countries, rather than looking after their OWN citizens who need work!

[ufo8mycat]

So why did you apply for a job at a bank then if you ethically object to their practices.

 

Also rather surprised they would call you on a saturday but I guess most of the banks are great to work for so perhaps that extended to unsuccessful candidates. I have never heard a recruiter use the term competitor in relation in interview processes though. Was it an elimination style interview?

[Leigh 87]

From reading that Leigh I think you have added your own interpretation to the feedback but as a general rule, I wouldn't employ someone who wants A job, I want the person who wants THIS job. Why would they invest in your training when you have shown your cards that you want to go to uni next year?

 

But it reinforces what many in this thread have said about you needing to read, comprehend what is being said and then respond. Your not doing well on the tests indicates you can't understand or follow instructions. Kinda a critical skill in most jobs.

 

Why would a call centre need people with finance or actuarial degrees? Do you know what an actuary does (other than earn an arse load of money?) I have a friend who worked in a call centre and didn't have a degree. He loved customer service. Not finance.

 

He said that it was clear that I had no real interest in a future with THEM, the bank, however; he wanted my to email him in the future if I had a change of passion and decided to study a degree pertaining to finance or anything to do with the bank.

 

He said they thought I had some great attributes that their bank could really use, however, I had to be genuinely interested in wanting to STAY with the bank.

 

He explained that a year ago they would have hired me, until they started encountering a problem where the staff turnover for call centres started to get ridiculous

 

He believed it was because: he would hire people "like me, who were friendly and driven", and then they would quit and go to Uni to study their passions"

 

Or, they would quiet for a less demanding role.

 

He said the call centre job was very demanding; very fast paced, MEETING KPI'S, and that you had to LOVE IT and WANT to work at he bank long term, in order to excel.

 

He went on to say that " we think you could perform the job well at first, but we are unsure as to whether you have staying power. You could get bored and wan to pursue your real passions we believe"

 

Why would an actuary be in a call centre when you can work with me....or macquarie bank and earn six figures out of uni?

 

 

 

He said that I had a good attitude and demeanour to work at he bank (friendly and I got along with team members, and I seemed very driven).

 

He told me that if I ever find myself passionate about a degree or area of study that was in line with the bank, to please email him and he would put my resume at the top of the pile for Jackie in HR to read, as Jackie apparently was impressed by my drive and eagerness.

 

The HR recruiter had a soft spot for me, as she has a young daughter with a learning disability where she excels in everything besides her reading......

 

We had a talk for 45 minutes about how I helped Asian kids learn to read better by making lessons fun when they really didn't want to learn.

 

She asked me about some methods I used that actually worked. and I also relayed what my mother does with children who just do not want to learn or are not adept at English.

 

She had an Asian daughter I may add, as her husband is Chinese..... So she ended up talking to me for 45 minutes, when she only called my friend about the job for less than 5 minutes.

 

So, I was told that Jackie in HR who does the initial phone interview was upset I didn't get the job and that she would try to help me out if I (and I quote) " ever developed a genuine desire to work at a bank"

 

I explained that I doubt I would divert from my chosen past but if I ever developed a genuine interest in working for a bank, I would let him know.

 

I thanked him very much for his helpful feedback........

 

 

I tried to be polite and professional. I was not really upset or surprised by the phone call, I never thought I had a real shot at getting the job anyway.

[Leigh 87]

So why did you apply for a job at a bank then if you ethically object to their practices.

 

Also rather surprised they would call you on a saturday but I guess most of the banks are great to work for so perhaps that extended to unsuccessful candidates. I have never heard a recruiter use the term competitor in relation in interview processes though. Was it an elimination style interview?

 

 

 

Yes.

 

They got ten of us into a room and tested us out all day.

 

They took groups of 10 to 14 through for testing every day for a week or two.

 

Half got through half didn't.

 

I obviously wasn't that great as half the people DID get the job, so I was worse than half

 

He did try to tell me that it was not that he thought I "was not as able" to do the job well, he stressed that he just didn't think I wanted the job as much as other candidates.

 

He said they didn't immediately eliminate me and they had solid discussions about my standing because the HR recruiter liked me and was disappointed that the interviewers on the day couldn't see that I would make a good long term fit.

 

I thought he gave me a lot of feedback and he seemed very committed to giving quality feedback that would serve me well in the future.

 

He told me " I hope you truly do keep this feedback in mind, as we all thought you were a nice girl who would be great in A role, just not our role. If you manage to give more in depth answers next time and you actually focus on the testing, you will go far. Please take our advice into account, as you are almost there to securing your dream job in the future"

 

He was also "gay" sounding, you know, one of those flamboyant gay sterotypes. Very friendly, very outgoing and he seemed like am emotional type who "wanted people to succeed".

 

 

 

Umm I have hard some banks are terrible to work for. It is all about meeting KPI'S, which I didn't realise the role required.

 

 

 

 

 

And I wanted to work at the bank because it is one of the leading banks in Aus, one of the "big four", and so I would have developed some valuable professional skills from working there, even though I would have not stayed there long term as I just wouldn't have been able to give up my dream of earning a degree.

[Leigh 87]

Hey, do admin and reception roles ever have to meet KPI targets?

 

 

 

Is that very sales driven?

 

 

What will my friend have to do to achieve her KPI'S? Is it unpleasant or hard to do if you are not a natural at sales?

 

 

 

Maybe I dodged a bullet. If it is strongly sales driven rather than just a troubleshooting job as they advertised it as, I would have been miserable meeting sales targets. I have no interest in that.

[ufo8mycat]

Most jobs have KPI targets. KPIs are Key Performance Indicators and they are a way of assessing how you are performing in a role - not just sales. For admin they may be things like % of emails answered within a time frame, 360 feedback from the team on how you are performing, turn around times for tasks etc.

 

Pretty much all jobs have some tangible performance indicators. Even in podiatry you will have throughput ratios of how many patients you need to see in a day. I worked in private practice and we have KPIs of 55 patients per day as this was the break even point for the practice.

 

In a call centre they will probably be around customer satisfaction (via follow up survey), time to call resolution, volume of call/hour and there would be minimums for each.

[MidwestUSA]

 

He was also "gay" sounding, you know, one of those flamboyant gay sterotypes. Very friendly, very outgoing and he seemed like am emotional type who "wanted people to succeed".

 

 

Well, this is disappointing, as well as having nothing to do with anything. Part of your problem is the fact that you don't know when to hold back. Every thought doesn't need to be spoken.

 

 

Such as telling the bank you were going into podiatry. What made you do that?

[Leigh 87]

So if I would be fine if :

 

I knew what I was doing

Had excellent product knowledge

Made sure in my training that I was sure of everything and asked about anything I was unsure about

Worked swiftly and maintained a friendly and professional demeanour

Just made sure emails and tasks were done quickly and accurately

In podiatry, ensure I tend to each patient without taking too long to do any one task

 

 

 

Basically, if you are sure of what you are doing and are are able to do it at a reasonable pace, is it not too brutal to reach KPI targets???

 

 

 

 

 

Is it more brutal and unpleasant in say, a bank or sales role to meet targets the it is for admin or podiatry?

 

I hear horror stories of impossibly high targets for bank tellers......

[Leigh 87]

Well, this is disappointing, as well as having nothing to do with anything. Part of your problem is the fact that you don't know when to hold back. Every thought doesn't need to be spoken.

 

 

Such as telling the bank you were going into podiatry. What made you do that?

 

I'm extremely honest and I say what I think.

 

 

I wasn't going to pretend that I would forever give up my dreams of getting a college degree.

 

I did say that if I were successful, I would love to stay with the bank long term providing I had time to do a degree that was relevant to my position on the banks part time or full time.

[ufo8mycat]

Is it more brutal and unpleasant in say, a bank or sales role to meet targets the it is for admin or podiatry?

.

 

 

You can't compare the two. "more brutal" meaning.... what exactly? It is about risk/reward. The higher the risk the higher the reward.

 

I have sales targets - a $$ value for the amount I have to bring in of new business and exceeding this is where you make your money in my line of work. I also deadline targets (how much I deliver on time) and project budget targets (delivering on or under budget). And this is in a 'paper based' role.

 

Admin targets are going to be easier to meet than sales targets - probably. But some people really thrive in that high paces environment..... and tend to make a lot of money.

[Leigh 87]

I just want to become an expert in a medical field where I can deliver high quality care to my patients and foster great relationships.

 

I don't want a high pressure setting where people are hell bent on achieving sales targets. Truth is, I don't give a damn what the CEO or wealthy investors get.

 

I would give a damn abouty.patients and their well being.

 

I would also want to keep my jobs. I am going to go for jobs in small private practices when I graduate......

 

So of course I would put my head down and do my job.

 

My friend and other poditary grads I know have never mentioned KPI targets. They just say that if you do your job and don't waste time you are in.

[Leigh 87]

When I think of HR roles and the corporate world I think of:

 

Meeting sales targets

Selling enough products to earn a large profit which goes to wealthy CEOS and investors

Being a cut throat industry where if you cannot sell a lot, you get fired

Having high targets

Not succeeding unless you are very much driven to earn your company a lot of money

 

 

 

I want to earn money lol but I am not cut throat about it and I don't believe CEOS and wealthy investors deserve that much money.

 

I want to earn a lot of money sure but not in a cut throat dog eat dog industry.

 

I feel that although I want to strive to be a the top of my game whichever field I am in, that the allied health and medical field are more about the patient recovering from an illness, injury, disease or disorder.

 

 

 

 

 

Admin and reception will allow me to develop my skills that have a lot to do with working in fas paced environments but without the harsh KPI sales targets in sales and in bank teller positions.....

 

Bank tellers were once considered retail positions. I believe they are now largely sales driven.

[Mascara]

Fair fair fair. Life's not fair, have you got to 28 and not realised that. Sports stars get paid more than nurses. Private business pays more than public. It's been like that forever, no it's not FAIR but capitalism isn't based on what's FAIR.

 

You know what Leigh, you've spent this entire thread belittling those who have "lesser" degrees. But you have no degree. And going on how much you 180, I'm going to go out on a limb and say you never will. I don't think you'll start podiatry next year, and if you do you'll drop out - saying how it's stupid and boring and they're not as good as doctors anyway.

 

Get some focus Leigh. You're 28, go and get some career counselling and find a way to stick to something.

[Leigh 87]

Fair fair fair. Life's not fair, have you got to 28 and not realised that. Sports stars get paid more than nurses. Private business pays more than public. It's been like that forever, no it's not FAIR but capitalism isn't based on what's FAIR.

 

You know what Leigh, you've spent this entire thread belittling those who have "lesser" degrees. But you have no degree. And going on how much you 180, I'm going to go out on a limb and say you never will. I don't think you'll start podiatry next year, and if you do you'll drop out - saying how it's stupid and boring and they're not as good as doctors anyway.

 

Get some focus Leigh. You're 28, go and get some career counselling and find a way to stick to something.

 

 

 

I am an intelligent and ambitious person who has enough natural talents to have a great career thanks.

 

I do not need career counselling - I know what areas I am interested in. I have talked to carer counsellors who ALL said " wow you know war more about each degree and career than we do, you have definitely figured out and narrowed down your area of interests.

 

I was interested in the food science degree. I was disinterested in social science and social work.

 

I do not need to figure out "what I enjoy" doing academically. I already know the subjects I enjoy and could handle doing for a living.

 

I am every bit as intelligent and talented as my friends who do have degrees. I am more intelligent than some - and less so than others. They just worked really hard and have their own strengths that they played on. And good for them. They are not better off than me, I have plenty of time to catch up and have a terrific career.

 

And I can rant and rave about how much I hate greedy Ass holes all I want thanks. I was brought up to hate injustice and call as a hole and a- hole. Greedy people who are all about profit when they already have a decent profit, but simply want an extra million per year at the cost of 200 jobs and lively hoods - are god awful people. I even sucked it up enough to go to an interview at a corporation I hated simply because it would benefit my career and I believed I would have done good work for them. I thought I would go outside my comfort zone and try something different.

 

And again, you are mistakenly saying that I have belittled degrees. I never did any such thing. I said a veterinary science degree whereby a student learns how to SURGEY on animals is much more impressive than a arts or social science degree - although arts and social science are still VERY commendable and respectable degrees- all degrees are great accomplishments.

 

 

I have a lot going for me and how dare you tell me I will be a good for nothing delinquent with no degree or job. Seriously.

 

I have done very well for myself - I recovered from massive issues enough to live normally and get a lot of friends and start dating decent men.

 

 

 

 

 

My friends and family think you are all disgusting for telling me I am stupid, that I will never amount to anything. They can clearly see I have talents and am ready to utilise them.

 

So rude.

Edited August 30, 2014 by Leigh 87

[Mascara]

"I have a lot going for me and how dare you tell me I will be a good for nothing delinquent with no degree or job."

 

Didn't say that

 

"My friends and family think you are all disgusting for telling me I am stupid, that I will never amount to anything."

 

Didn't say that either. Why do you do that? Accuse people of things they never said? Is it your own insecurities and what you secretly think about yourself?

 

All that everyone is telling you is that it's a bit rich for you to go on about how easy certain degrees are. You don't have any, so how can you compare them.

 

And that you are notorious for changing your mind, so counselling can help you with that - and make sure you actually STICK to the podiatry degree.

[Leigh 87]

Once again, you have all angered my family, boyfriend and friends who have read this thread and are disgusted that you all say that I wont be able to do a basic admin job..

 

They are taking me off this website because they do not understand why people think that I will never amount to anything when EVERYONE around me thinks I am highly intelligent and that I have a very bright future ahead of me.

 

People who know me best cannot understand why anyone would doubt that I am intelligent enough to get a decent degree and do well for myself.

 

Goodbye, thanks for your useless advise, it is obvious that you all think I am not intelligent enough to amount to anything and you clearly think I should stop pursing college and sit on my ass.

 

You have upset my boyfriend and family who thinks highly of me.

 

 

 

 

 

It is a bit of an insult that you have suggested that I don't have what it takes to do a basic admin role. How unbelievably insulting.

 

Rather than helping me in how to get such a role, every one of you has told me that:

 

- I will not be able to get an admin or reception role because my grammar is simply not acceptable (alluding to me being a LONG way off. Atrocious = a long way off being AVERAGE)

 

- I will never finish college or get a proper job.

 

 

 

 

 

I asked you about admin roles, I NEVER told you to suggest that I have to go and study grammar if I have a hope of getting an admin role, and that I will never succeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You're comments have deeply upset me and now I cannot come on here again.

 

 

 

My boyfriend saw me crying because of your comments and I have promised him to never post on here again.

 

 

 

 

I would say good luck but I don't mean it towards people who have told me I will never amount to anything.

 

 

 

 

close thread, I am not going to use it again.

[Leigh 87]

"I have a lot going for me and how dare you tell me I will be a good for nothing delinquent with no degree or job."

 

Didn't say that

 

"My friends and family think you are all disgusting for telling me I am stupid, that I will never amount to anything."

 

Didn't say that either. Why do you do that? Accuse people of things they never said? Is it your own insecurities and what you secretly think about yourself?

 

All that everyone is telling you is that it's a bit rich for you to go on about how easy certain degrees are. You don't have any, so how can you compare them.

 

And that you are notorious for changing your mind, so counselling can help you with that - and make sure you actually STICK to the podiatry degree.

 

 

 

I DID one semester of social science and it was NOT REMOTELY rigorous.

 

I did chemistry and food science and it was WAY more difficult but I enjoyed it more.

 

 

Enough close the thread please.

[Leigh 87]

Good luck to all, I am not aloud to ever post on here again, my family and boyfriend have made me promise after tonight I will never post on here again as peoples comments were hurting my feelings and upsetting me.

 

I am also taking my pictures down so no one will know who I am in real life.

 

Please get he thread closed or please don't post on here again, I can go about getting admin work alone it isn't rocket science and I am not retarded.

 

Seeya.

[Mascara]

One semester is easy. That's just easing you in.

 

Good luck. Hope you find something you can make a career from.

[Leigh 87]

One semester is easy. That's just easing you in.

 

Good luck. Hope you find something you can make a career from.

 

 

Everyone knows that a surgery degree is more academically rigorous than a social science degree.

 

And clearly you don't believe I will ever amount to anything or ever get a degree.

 

Such negativity towards a person you don't even know.