I'm ready to step back into the workforce and it just doesn't seem as easy as i'd like it to be. My resume needs to be freshened up, I need to find a way to become proficient in Microsoft programs since I haven't used them since 2000. I'm trying to make a career change out of the animal industry and into something that involves a little more brain work and writing. (I REALLY want to start off as a legal secretary and work my way up but my resume has NOTHING remotely close to what they do.) I'm stressed. I don't want just a job, I want a career that has advancement opportunities and is something I can be proud of. I went to college for a year but didn't originally add it on my resume as it's nothing really "brag worthy" and now i'm wondering if I should even go back for my AA, at LEAST. Is this mid 20's crisis or what? LOL Jobs that I would be perfect for don't pay much more than I would fork out in childcare costs and gas every month and other jobs I meet EVERY requirement *except* MS Office and Excel proficiency. Ugh.... Time to sharpen up my skills and wipe the mommy cob webs off my brain, huh?

By Insaneusmcwife on Thursday, June 5, 2008 - 07:47 pm:

have you tried to do the program the base offers? I think its called ACE. It teaches you how use all of those programs and you will get a certificate when you are done. And its free. Oh and by the way I pick up my keys and start my move to your side of the base tomorrow.

By Boxzgrl on Thursday, June 5, 2008 - 08:03 pm:

No, I didn't know they offer that. I'm going to check up on it. Thanks! Where are you moving to?

By Insaneusmcwife on Thursday, June 5, 2008 - 08:50 pm:

Over by the Abby Reinke Center.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, June 5, 2008 - 10:42 pm:

Absolutely take advantage of whatever programs you can take on using Office/Word and Excel. In addition to the programs Kristie mentions, a lot of community colleges offer classes to "outsiders" for specific skill-building. I can tell you that as much as I loathe Microsoft, you absolutely must be proficient in the Microsoft Office programs in the office work force today. Microsoft has become the standard simply because it is the biggest gorilla and so many programs are written to be compatible with Microsoft. In the law office where I work, we use Excel a lot and while I'm not terribly proficient at Excel, I can do what I have to. I have learned to cope with Word and find "fixes". I started on computers with WordPerfect, which is a very user friendly program, but Word (which is NOT user friendly) is the standard.

As for being a legal secretary, what they will be looking for is whether you have secretarial experience in general (in addition to being reasonably proficient in Microsoft Office). Essentially, a secretary is a secretary, and many offices will hire someone without legal experience if the person has the office skills and comes across as bright, hard-working, and able to learn. It's really not that hard to be a legal secretary once you get in the door, but it takes good, fast typing skills and good English language skills (spelling, grammar), along with the computer program skills. But if you don't have any secretarial experience to list, it will be very difficult to get in the door.

As for your year of college, it depends on what kinds of courses you took. It won't hurt to list it in your educational background and could help. It's another "credential", and more and more, credentials/certificates/degrees are what get you past the first step.

After you take the ACE classes and tune up your typing skills, is there anywhere you can do some regular volunteer work as a secretary, to have some experience to list on your resume and maybe a source of a reference? When I applied at the non-profit, I hadn't worked as a secretary for over 10 years, but I had done a lot of volunteer secretarial work at my church and used that on my resume, as well as a reference from the pastor.

I never went to college, but when I moved from working as a secretary/administrative assistant in a non-profit to working in a law office, I had lots of transferrable secretarial experience AND a personal recommendation from someone who was a close friend and client of the lawyer who hired me. I doubt I'd have been hired just "cold", without that reference. After that, I had the experience and the computer skills, so it was a lot easier.

By Rayelle on Thursday, June 5, 2008 - 10:47 pm:

I freshened up with Microsoft this semester. I had to have computer lit 101 since everyone does. I took this one as an online class and I'm glad I did. It was a rare thing in that the online version was much easier than the in person. That might be something that will brush up your skills and add college credit if that's something you choose to pursue. Good luck!

By Happynerdmom on Friday, June 6, 2008 - 09:57 am:

Don't have any advice to add, just wanted to say good luck! It may be a process of even several years before you are able to get the "perfect" job, try not to get discouraged. The important thing is to have a plan, and it sounds like you're well on your way!