Career Dilemma

nibhroin

Hi,
First time poster with a career problem.
I am currently working as an administrator in a facilities centre in Dublin. I man reception, do accounts, social media/website updates, marketing, diary management etc. I don't have a qualification in this area after spending over 12 years in a different sector. I do have a degree and a masters (when I completed my Masters there was no work available and I took a job as a cleaner in the place I work now and after a year they offered me an admin role).
The thing is, I can' t seem to get another administration role. I've applied to 45 jobs (all some type of administrator) and I have gone to 3 interviews, but wasn't offered the role. I do get quite nervous during interviews but I've been to two interview prep classes and they give me pointers which I then work on. I've also gone to a career coaching professional to help with my CV (this was two years ago). I also took a web design course last year.

I'm just getting to my wits end as to how I can move into another role (there is no opportunities for promotion where I am and they tell me they can't afford a salary increment so I've been on the same wage for 4 years). I have been contemplating trying to get an admin qualification (has anyone heard/tried ICSA accreditation?). But I seem to be spending more money (interview prep, career coaching + courses) and not seeing any results.
Would appreciate any advice. Thanks

moc moc a moc

Are you still looking for jobs in your original area of study?

Munstermissy

Maybe leave out your Masters Degree from your cv. Companies might look at that as over qualified for administration roles.

Mrs OBumble

An admin qualification? Apart from Leaving Cerficiate, I can't think of one.

Now if you wanted to specialise in one of the areas you currently do bit of, I could understand: there are quals in accounting technician, digital marketing, graphic design etc. Or even property management (since you're working at a facilities place).

If you've got 3 interviews out of 45 applications, that's not a bad hit rate. You just have to keep going until win at interview tool.

Possibly you need to re-think what you're aiming for in terms of career. Do you always want to be an admin support person? In which case, your progression over your entire career is likely to be limited. Or would you like to progress within a particular industry - eg the one you got your masters in? If so, then a specific vocational course in that industry would likely be a better idea.



Regarding ICSA accreditation - that is for company secretaries. In this context, "secretary" doesn't mean administrator in the sense that you're used to. Often the company secretary is a lawyer, or at least someone with a law degree as well as a specialist company-secretary accreditation. Their job is to ensure that the board of directors complies with the law - see more about it here https://www.icsa.org.uk/professional-development/careers/being-a-company-secretary Unless you have a lot of interest in law, it's perhaps not the right path for you.

nibhroin

Thanks for the feedback.
@moc moc there still isn't much opportunities in my original area so that's why I'm looking at admin work as a better chance of finding work

@Mrs OBumble thanks for those details. I suppose I fell into the admin work and since I wasn't able to pursue the work I was really interested in I decided to go for something that at least I didn't hate! But I have some experience with graphic design and more recently with Dreamweaver and I do enjoy working with them so I'm hoping to put together a portfolio with the hope of moving into web/graphic design. So I guess I'll just keep plugging away with the job apps with the eventual view of moving into the design area.

Its good to hear that three interviews isn't a bad hit rate, and the more I do the more experience I'll get with them anyway.