Laid off Managers and Engineers Applying for Admin Assistant Jobs

In today’s recessionary climate, out of work job seekers of every stripe are looking for administrative jobs. In many instances, laid off managers, even engineers are applying for administrative assistant jobs just to avoid unemployment lines. If you’re looking to land a job as an administrative assistant, there are a few things you should know. First off, just because you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree doesn’t automatically qualify you to be an admin assistant. In most cases, you’ll do more than just answer phones, shuffle papers and send out an occasional e-mail. It takes training and experience. And even if you used Microsoft Word or PowerPoint in your sales or technical presentations, it doesn’t mean you know how to use them with the level of speed and skill required of admin assistants. You’ll need to take a class or two in both these applications if you expect to impress hiring managers. They’ll expect you to hit the ground running when it comes to these apps. If you didn’t do much writing in your last job, you may also want to get up to speed on letter and email writing. One of the first things hiring managers look at is your cover letter. If it’s poorly written, your resume will be ignored and your entire job application will quickly be “round filed.” On the plus side, if your past experience includes working for companies that are similar in type and technology to the company you’re applying to, that can work in your favor. Knowing an industry’s jargon and how they work can be an asset. If you pass these initial screens, it becomes a matter of chemistry. Does your personality dovetail with the people you’ll be working for and with? This is where phone and in-person interviews become critical. You’ll need to demonstrate the key people skills needed to keep your boss informed and his or her schedule up to date. It also means being a tactful gatekeeper without being offensive or annoying. For an added perspective, check out this video. Got any thoughts on landing an administrative assistant job? Feel free to share them in the comments section. Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.