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My name is Kim Cox. I'm in college--finishing my last semester--for an associates degree in office systems technology. My short-term goal is to finish and get a position as an administrative assistant, preferrably with the VA Hospital. Because of the tight job market now, and even though I have experience, I felt I needed the education to go along with it. Also, my age works against me too, and I felt I needed as much going for me as possible. My long-term goals are to continue my education by finishing medical office administration classes and take Web design classes. I actually do Web design and maintenance in my spare time, and I also write books. I'm a published author of a novel, 2 novellas in anthologies, short stories, and one article on How To Create Your Own Personal Web Page.

Hi Conni,

Welcome to the group. I hear you about the age thing. That's why I decided to go back to college too. Here's a link to a job for Contracts Administrator. Not sure if this is what you've done in the past or it's something different. It's in Black Mountain, North Carolina--near Asheville. Let me know if this is what you're looking for or not.

http://www.kearfott.com/images/stories/careers/nc/cont_admin.pdf

Welcome, Denise. Maybe you'll find something soon. Good luck. If I hear of anything in your area, I'll send you a message or post here under Jobs of Interest discussion.

Hi Rita! Welcome to the Carolinians' Group. Wow! You sound like you have a lot of adminstrative assistant experience. Are you working now? What type of home based business would you like to start? I would love to work from home. I do a bit of Web design at home and I love to write. One of my books was published a few years ago, I have two novellas published in anthologies, a few shorts published, and articles. I haven't written much lately--going to school and now looking for work takes up most of my time. But I have another novella started I need to finish and multiple books in different stages of completion--one close to being finished. I think I have some pictures of my books under the photos section of my profile, and I have an author Web site at kimcox.org.

What advice would you give to others looking for an administrative assistant position? And what would you like take if you go back to school? I graduate in May with an AAS degree in Office Systems Technology. I want to finish the medical office administration classes and get a certificate in accounting as well. Then I would like to take some Web design just because I love playing with Web sites.

Hi and Welcome, Liliana. I hear your frustration. I've been in college for almost 2 years now (graduate in May) after getting laid off. In some of the classes I've taken dealt with searching for jobs, writing resumes, and writing cover letters. I used to see all these wonderful positions that were just right for me and I was so afraid that there wouldn't be anything when I finished school. I applied for one position in the Fall, but one of the requirements was the degree I hadn't quite obtained yet so I don't believe I was even considered. And I believe that was too soon to begin searching. In the last few months I have found quite a few openings to apply for but I don't know how many were legitimate jobs, because some results were e-mails taking me to a page to answer a bunch of questions, and then wanted me to attend some online colleges.

I don't know much about the hiring situation in the Charlotte area, but I do know of one lady who lives in that area that was laid off and it didn't take her very long to find another position. But that was about a year ago. My oldest son lives in Charlotte, and I'm originally 65 miles east of Charlotte. When you get ready to start actively applying, let me know, and perhaps I can ask the lady I know to e-mail you or something. And if I do hear anything, I'll let you know. Good luck.

Hi Everyone!

My name is Tracy and I am currently an Office Manager/Accountant for a small IT company in Mountain View, CA.  I will be moving to Fayetteville, NC in June to be near my boyfriend who is a Librarian at Methodist University.  I have over 15 years of experience in a wide range of support positions - not unlike you, Rita! - including Marketing Coordinator and Executive Assistant.  The industry I work in doesn't concern me since I enjoy learning about new things. Fayetteville has a few schools, so I'm hoping that my Community College experience might help me catch on there.  I am working on getting my QuickBooks User Certification, but that is the only education I'm taking on right now.  We'll see if that needs to change.  My interests include hiking, reading books, sports, watching anime & sci-fi, music and art.  I, too, am a bit worried about the economy and potentially being a burden on my boyfriend, but this is a leap of faith I am ready to take!  But after being unemployed for almost 2 years during the dotcom bust, I know I can survive.  Hey, that sounds like a song...  Mostly I am looking forward to a new place and new people!

Hi Tracey!

Welcome! I'm sure you'll find something. Stay positive, you sound like a survivor. Fayetteville (old stomping grounds in my twenties) has a military base near by so I imagine there are many government positions there. Check usajobs.gov for positions. One obstacle may be veterans and veteran's families living there because they get priority for employment. One town near there too is Raeford that may not be too far to drive according to where in Fayetteville you move to. I have a cousin who lives in Fayetteville as well. I'll ask her if she knows of any positions. Anyway good luck. Not sure if you saw it, but I posted some jobs and a job search I did for NC and SC areas under "Jobs of Interest" topic. Note: I hear Federal government positions take a while, so it's never to early to start applying. From applying to going to work took 9 months for one lady.

Hi. My name is Debbie and I live in Columbia, SC.  I have been unemployed for about a month from my Administrative Assistant's job with a commercial real estate company.  I was with them 8-1/2 years. 

The job market really stinks here right now.  I have only seen 2 or 3 jobs that I would even be interested in since I've been unemployed.  Two of them are with the government.  I have passed the 1st round of information screening for IRS and I really have my fingers crossed for that one.

Wish me luck!

Okay, I should've finished reading before I reploed. Good luck on the IRS position. I just heard from the position I applied for with the National Park Service, and I was qualified but didn't rank in the highest, so I won't be considered for that one this time.

Kim

Welcome Julie! So happy to have you here. I too just started a new position this week. I'm still feeling a bit unorganized but they seem to like how I'm doing things so far. We're pretty much just getting organized and feeling our way through it. It's a service they haven't had it in I think 5 years. So we're updating a lot of the material. I'd been out of work for almost 2 years, but I've been attending college and so only began looking for work the last couple of months.

Good luck on your new position.

Kim

Hi Natalyn!

Welcome! You have your goals, and you are on the right track. I've worked in offices for over ten years. I was laid off in August 2007. I stopped work on a Friday, and started college the following Monday. I finish this month with an associates in Office Systems Technology. However, I only like 4 classes to also finish the Medical Office Administration which I plan to complete part-time while working. I recently found a temporary position that will last at least 26 weeks. The hardest class I found in MOA is Basic Anatomy and Physiology. I thought since it was basic it would be too hard, but it is still pretty in depth. My instructor said that when a student takes Anatomy that they should know that it's like taking two very hard classes. The rest I've found pretty easy. But just remember that when you sign up for the Anatomy class, try to take easier classes with it, and don't take as many that semester. Maybe 3. I took a full load, and one of my other classes was pretty hard as well.

Hi Kim! Glad to see you here. I too worked in the office at a textile plant (many years) that moved overseas. I did opt to go to school and get a degree (something I always wanted to do and it gave me a sense of accomplishment and more self-confidence). I graduated in May, and I found a job, but it's temporary full-time and I'm not sure how long it will last. I mean it's slow now and the program I'm work with is coming to a close soon. From what I understand, they're suppose to keep me on a while longer, but I'm not sure in what compacity or how long yet. However, I have been applying for some positions if they are something I really would love, but no hard core applying yet. Usually, for me to apply for it, it has to pay more than what I'm making now, be permanent (or going permanent), and has benefits (health insurance at least). I'll not trade one temp position for another.

I would just like to say that you're not alone. From what I hear, employers no longer look down on potential employees if they have worked for many different companies because that is the times and the world we live in today. I've been trying to find a Fed. Gov. position but I always receive a reply that while I'm qualified that I don't score high enough (I guess compared to other applicants). The last one I applied for, I thought, well, they're hiring 5 people so perhaps I can get it. I'm hoping they have an internship or something like that soon that perhaps I can get my foot in the door. Makes me wonder if they look at my age and subtract points for that.

For now, I am working the temporary position and going to college part time for a diploma and another degree. I have funding at least for this year, and hope for a scholarship for the next year in order to complete what I need. I have been toying with the idea of virtual assistant and hope maybe to break into that. That would be my dream job, to work at home for the rest of my life.

Anyway, good luck.