Please bear with me... | Fairygodboss

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Rika M Phipps

Administrative Assistant in S.E. Wisconsin

02/06/21 at 4:47PM UTC

Please bear with me...

I am trying to get into a professional office setting. Most of my experience has been in health care, doing hands-on personal cares. I never wanted to get into healthcare in the 1st place, and am regretting that I ever have, because the job literally beat up my body to the point that I cannot do this type of job, nor can I work in a factory, warehouse, etc. due to severe pain & mobility issues. Yet, at so many places, they see me, I look like I can move mountains. So many will offer the office job to what seems like incompetent fluff balls who can't remember the difference between your, you're, yore, when they're young, energetic & able, and want to offer me the positions I physically cannot do. How do I let them know that I am serious about an office job, and not get pigeon-holed into CNA type positions or other positions where I have a medical excuse from my doctor? It seems as if anytime anyone hears "medical" reason, they are afraid to hire me, when I will show up, on-time, make the coffee, and get stuff done. p.s. I did have to stop my most recent unpaid position due to a pinched nerve that I had surgery on. I'm still healing but not incompetent, yet I do have my limitations. How do I explain this w/o jeopardizing getting hired? I don't want to lie then get terminated for being dishonest.

8 Comments

Laura Wilby

148

02/06/21 at 6:09PM UTC

I'm wondering if this has more to do with the prior experience that you have and less about how you look? It's always easiest to get a similar position to one you've had before because people see you know how to do it. Don't worry about the competition, start thinking about how you can sell your skills as skills that would help you do an office job. You don't have to say you want a desk job for medical reasons, frame it a different way. Something like, "I want to develop my skills in finance so I am looking for a job as a bookkeeper". Focus on other aspects of the job that you want and really sell that you have transferable skills and are enthusiastic about that job. If they offer you a different job, turn it down and say you appreciate the offer but you are really keen on transitioning into <type of office job you want>. Also think about whether you have any contacts that can help you break into the first position. I will be easier after that because your work history will match what you want to do.

1 Reply

Anonymous

02/06/21 at 6:58PM UTC

It's just that around here, the CNA positions as well as basic factory positions pay considerably less than office positions. I've been trying to break out of the healthcare industry since I started it back in 2003, and even recruiters are looking to get me back into those types of positions. Even with other office experience, which appear dotted, I'm having a hard time... Right now, I need some sort of income to pay my bills, yet every single offer is something I can no longer do.

1 Reply

Laura Wilby

148

02/07/21 at 5:10PM UTC

That's hard. Recruiters just want to get people into the positions they are hired to fill, not match you with the job that you want. It sounds like factory/CNA has a lot of shortages right now? I get that if you don't have a position it's difficult to turn one down even if it's not what you want. You say you have office experience, but it's dotted. Wondering if you could try a different resume style that emphasizes your skills for the position you want first before your sequential work history. I hope you are able to find a job that is safe for your health soon!

1 Reply

Rika M Phipps

Administrative Assistant in S.E. Wisconsin

02/08/21 at 12:09AM UTC

There has always been a shortage of CNAs, especially for homecare. and I have my office experience at the top, and my healthcare experience hidden in back/bottom.

Anonymous

02/06/21 at 8:08PM UTC

I have an autoimmune disease that causes me various problems at times. I have a desk job, no heavy lifting. I don't talk about that during job interviews. I just focus on my skills, my qualifications, my accomplishments, and my passions. A friend of mine has a health issue that causes a lot of pain. She got a job as an administrative assistant in a department at a junior college. There's no heavy lifting required, just a lot of phone calls and coordinating and computer-related-administrative-paperwork type of stuff. Schools might not pay as much as other businesses, but it could be a way to get a foot into a different industry. I agree with those who say to just focus on what you can do, rather than what you can't do. Keep trying. Don't give up. You can do it!

1 Reply

Rika M Phipps

Administrative Assistant in S.E. Wisconsin

02/07/21 at 2:34AM UTC

Thank you so much for your encouragement! I would love to work in the education field as well, and pay isn't everything. Enjoying the job is just as important.

Anonymous

02/06/21 at 10:12PM UTC

Since you know about the medical industry, and you're good at grammar (your vs you're), maybe you could try to get into medical writing? https://info.amwa.org/ultimate-guide-to-becoming-a-medical-writer#what_is_medical_writing You might have to take a class to show that you're serious about getting into it. But that's often the case when changing careers. I took classes at an "extension" and got a "certificate" to prove that I was prepared to hit the ground running in a new field. I know... it's a lot of extra work to prove that you're ready to type & file paperwork & order office supplies... but sometimes just a little extra is all it takes to show a stranger (recruiter / hiring manager) that you're dedicated and on the right path to accomplish a new goal.

1 Reply

Rika M Phipps

Administrative Assistant in S.E. Wisconsin

02/07/21 at 2:35AM UTC

Excellent suggestion! Thank you!