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.

37 Comments

1. Audrey KirschMay 30,2024 at 5:12PM UTC

   Are you signed up with temp services? Let them do the looking for you. Temp jobs often turn into permanent ones. Also make sure to sign up on the employment office website. I've gotten job offers from there. Lots of companies don't advertise their openings.

2. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 6:15PM UTC

   Thank you, it seems the issues I’m running into is the recruiters are not as diligent in helping. I am signed up with a few temp agencies. Is that the name of the website? Employment office website?

3. Joanne RosenMay 30,2024 at 5:44PM UTC

   I'm sorry you are going through such a tough time. The pandemic changed our world so much.

   A great deal of your search will rely heavily on your resume.

   Is it a 2024 resume? Or, have you simply updated it from last century (millennium)?

   Is it filled with achievements? Or lists of job duties?

   Does it have enough white space? Or is it dense with heavy text in paragraphs?

   Is it error free?

   Are you actually applying for jobs or are you simply hitting the EASY APPLY button? (This makes ALL the difference.)

   As for shifting into another field, your resume then needs to focus on very different aspects of your old job that show your HR capabilities.

   One of the reasons I got into career coaching and resume writing was to help people like you. So, I can offer a FREE resume analysis if you'd like. Email it to: Mark@WriteChoiceResumes.com

   At least we can give free feedback.

   Cheers

   Joanne

4. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 6:13PM UTC

   Thank you I will email my resume. Some times I have used the easy apply, I didn’t know that was a bad thing. Thank you for sharing that with me.

5. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 6:17PM UTC

   Thank you I’m currently not working at the moment and I’ve been looking daily. The contract jobs were through a temp agency.

6. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 6:20PM UTC

   When I completed my BS in HRM, I struggled finding a job (2008, recession, you need experience to get the job and need the job to get the experience). I continued to work in roles unrelated to my degree until fall of 2010, I landed a position as an HR administrative assistance. It was what I needed to get my start and gain experience. I ended up staying there for 10 years in a variety of HR roles. I found the admin job through a temp agency (Office Team).

7. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 6:24PM UTC

   Thank you so much for that information. I will go onto the website.

8. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 6:30PM UTC

   Is that the name of the temp agency (Office Team)?

9. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 6:42PM UTC

   Yes - Robert Half/Account Temps/Office Team (honestly, I'm not sure whether OfficeTeam current exists).

10. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 7:02PM UTC

    I have some experience with HR functions but not in all areas. I would like for someone to help me with my resume. Do you have any leads on a company that would provide that assistance?

11. WandaMay 30,2024 at 8:59PM UTC

    Me: Getting an attitude with you right now. "DON'T YOU DARE GIVE UP." Keep on pushing and make out like a town cryer: tell anybody and everyone that will listen, that you're in the market for a full-time position. Going out with friends, speak up. Going to a worship center or church, connect and tell them too. Find a "right now" non-committal position that will put some coinage in your pocket. No time to sit back and feel sorry for yourself, keep on pushing yourself past those hard valleys. You're going to come out with something.

12. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 9:19PM UTC

    Thank you so much for the advice and blunt words I need to hear. Yes I need something asap or I stand to lose everything. I will keep pushing.

13. WandaJune 3,2024 at 2:20PM UTC

    I've been where you are. I know fully how difficult it is to find the right opportunity. But I also know that I had to eat and attempt to make bill payments (lol) . As the saying goes, sometimes you have to do what you have to do. As long as it doesn't lower your personal standards, it's all good. I'm rooting for you!! Connect and let me know how you're doing.

14. AnonymousJune 1,2024 at 2:41AM UTC

    I like your vibe, Wanda! I agree wholeheartedly.

15. Lomaxruiter@yahoo.comMay 31,2024 at 12:28PM UTC

    Is a temp agency an option for you? We’ve had quite a few temps the past few years and ended up hiring probably half of them to become FTEs.

16. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 4:32PM UTC

    Yes temp agencies are an option

17. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 12:38PM UTC

    IMO, I would hope you're also looking at roles that are 'within' the HR Dept, like payroll, benefits, Total Rewards, recruiting, etc. That is a great place to get started and to learn the many silo'd departments under that umbrella in a large company and then grow from there. In a smaller setting I would also hope that, and don't want to assume, that you're open to seasonal needs of a business to grow that skillset. General areas in HR also encompass like a shared services role that expose you to all of these areas with questions from the employees to be either answered, as you would be trained or to know who to direct the questions to. HR is such a broad scope of a business. You may benefit more from a large company and not a smaller one that have many if not all overlap and that can be overwhelming first starting out. Even coordinator of sort in the HR world would be a great place to start or intake role.

18. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 4:32PM UTC

    Thank you I’ve been looking everywhere

19. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 1:17PM UTC

    i would connect with your college's career services. Have them help you with the jumping career question and guidance. Most colleges also have an alumni group. Some are even starting to have mentorships in their alumni groups.

20. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 4:30PM UTC

    Thank you I will look into that

21. Denise LevineMay 31,2024 at 8:09PM UTC

    We work with a few college career services. Most are using outdated information. It's hard to stay current. We spend a couple hours a month researching newest trends etc. in job search strategies.

    However, definitely connect with alumni groups. Networking is super important.

22. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 1:21PM UTC

    Spending 23 years with a single Employer might be holding you back. I would have your resume reviewed to give it a revamp to break up all your experience and down play that long length of time at a company and play up your growth as a professional.

23. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 4:30PM UTC

    Thank you

24. Denise LevineMay 31,2024 at 8:12PM UTC

    We have worked with hundreds of clients who had career longevity and it wasn't an issue. In fact, employers would rather see that than 8 jobs in 10 years. However, a career change into HR is quite a jump.

    My suggestion is to look for an administrative position in an HR department. Then you can upskill as you work.

25. AlexisJune 1,2024 at 12:46PM UTC

    If no one has reviewed your resume, I can do it for free (you can black out or omit your personal information, I don't need that). Email me at mrsdrrpatter at gee mail.

    As a talent acquisition person, the amount of jobs one has to apply for has been massive according to the candidates I've spoken with (like 100 - 800!). You need a skill based resume. Other options- try a temp agency to get something on your resume; I would add "laid off due to Covid" if that was the reason on your resume.' That has got to be so frustrating. Please let me know if I can help.

26. AnonymousJune 5,2024 at 2:11PM UTC

    Thank you so much, I will send you my resume

27. AnonymousJune 1,2024 at 12:47PM UTC

    Instead of trying to do the job search all alone, I would get in touch with Career Services from the school you just completed your Bachelors degree at and ask for assistance. The counselor may have connections to companies hiring fresh talent especially someone with a AA background! Also, some of your former HR Class teachers may even have some leads! Also you could get quotes from a resume writer on LinkedIn and see how your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile can be improved. I hope this helps! God bless you and I will say a prayer for you in your job search journey!

28. AnonymousJune 5,2024 at 2:09PM UTC

    Thank you so much, I will reach out to my school

29. AnonymousJune 1,2024 at 1:09PM UTC

    Use a recruitment service. Even temp can turn to perm. Doesn’t resolve a benefits issue, but getting through the algorithms of the software used today is challenging. Also, feed your resume and job descriptions into an AI platform like ChatGPT so that it will align your resume better to help with algorithms. Good luck!

30. Katy TafoyaJune 1,2024 at 6:41PM UTC

    My two suggestions as someone older looking for a job, for what it's worth.

    1) check out Dan from HR and his free ebook. He focuses on how to get LinkedIn to work for you and get you in front of recruiters. It's free and pretty easy to make the adjustments to your profile.

    https://danfromhr.gumroad.com/l/xmrucs

    2) look into governement jobs (usajobs.gov). They're always hiring, they pay well, the benefits are solid, and they hire based on experience and not on age.

    Good luck.

31. AnonymousJune 5,2024 at 2:07PM UTC

    thank you for sharing, I will look into it

32. Jessica FerlandJune 2,2024 at 11:34AM UTC

    Have you worked woth a recruiting agency, or temp agency that may have some temp to permanent options. That is a great opportunity to get a taste for companies, network, etc.

33. AnonymousJune 5,2024 at 2:06PM UTC

    I have been looking everywhere

34. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJune 3,2024 at 1:54AM UTC

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

35. Angela BennettJune 5,2024 at 2:06PM UTC

    I have been doing that as well. Thank you for the advice

36. AnonymousJune 3,2024 at 8:51PM UTC

    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.

37. AnonymousJune 5,2024 at 2:05PM UTC

    Thank you for the advice