I need sound advice, the struggle is real. I lost my job during the pandemic that I had for 23 years. I have literally been looking for a permanent job since 2021. I’ve worked a few contract jobs but now no one is literally responding at all. I litterally job search everyday for hours, I’ve lost count of how many resumes I’ve submitted. I need a job asap. I have 15 years in Administrative Assistant III and during the pandemic I completed my bachelors degree in business administration with a concentration in human resource management. I would love to work in the HR field but not sure how to make the career change. Any advice would help greatly. At this point i feel like giving up.

I feel for you, as I have had horrible job search years myself. One thing I’m noticing (as companies are trying to force more productivity) and seen in my last three companies is the elimination of “administrative” support roles. In the old days, in my current role at most companies, my team or I would have an admin. The corporate answer now is just do more with less and you have to be a leader and a worker. Last budgeting season, I put in a new request for admin support for 20 hours a week and they all nearly died laughing.

My mom was a secretary, and she literally supported three executives who all would’ve fallen apart without her. Today most companies don’t have executive assistants or admins as much.

My advice is to take the field that you were in and the experience that you have and turn it into a coordinator or specialist role where you can actually do the work.

With your admin skills, I would consider applying for Recruiting Coordinator positions or HR Coordinator positions. Also, On-Boarding Coordinator.