Bored at work

[missyc]

Hi all,
I need some advice!
I have been in my job for just over two years now working as an administrator in local goverment. I am getting really de motivated and bored with all the promises of pay rises and promotion from my boss when i am still doing what i did two years ago! The office politics are also another factor which is becoming an issue. I really want to move into a better paid secretarial job in the private sector but i cannot seem to find anything as i do not have formal secretarial experience. I'm getting desperate!!

[beaintheuk]

Hello there!
Everyone feels bored at some point in their job, I do every now and again and think, maybe I should change jobs (again) but then it gets better, and so on....
As far as secretarial qualifications go, I have none, only my experience and my membership to a secretarial association, but I still managed to get better jobs as I went along.  
Office politics, I agree can be quite off putting.  I only started to encounter this in my present job and I get quite upset about it sometime.  Some days I feel I am treading on eggs!  A few weeks ago, a combination of being bored and office politics made me look at job adverts, but it's better now.
It's only if you apply for jobs that you'll find what you are worth.  When applying I was sometimes going for jobs that were slightly above my level but then again, I always mentioned I welcome training if required for instance, etc.
I am not sure which part of the world you're in, but there are a few websites already mentioned on DD to look for jobs in the UK.
Take care
Bea

[gee4]

I worked in the public sector for 7 years and decided to leave to move into private industry.  I got v negative feedback even though I had 7 O Levels, 1 A level and a bilingual sec course under my belt.

I moved from NI to England and worked there for 2 years for a software house, altho was made redundant during that time.  I came back to NI and my company closed after 18 months.  In between I have temped and found employers were glad of my skills but just wouldn't pay the dinero for a good all-round PA/Adminstrator like me.  I took short contracts all of which have helped me today.  I recently started a perm job in July but as it was a start-up company I felt at 36 I didn't want to be used as a a guinea pig for them to outsource in order to get their profile up and running.  They were appreciative of my skill-set but couldn't challenge me in my daily routine.

I am now working for another IT company in Belfast but it's only a short-term contract.  The people are friendly and it's similar to other software/IT companies I have been in.

My point is that I successfully made the transition from public to private sector, and you can too.  All you need is the determination and motivation to do so.  I would also suggest going to a night class to gain more qualifications.  I recently acheived MOUS certification in Word, Excel and Powerpoint at expert level.  Many employers have not heard of this, others have and if you can keep up with modern technology and say you have certificates to prove your achievements, then you will go places.

I have also taken up a night class to brush up on my languages- while I may only use it on holiday, it shows I can commit to training and am motivated enough to do it myself.  It also proves you are not against learning or keeping up with the latest technology.

I have had so many interviews over the past year or so, that quite honestly you learn from them and become more confident.  Be careful not to be overconfident as this will become apparent at interview.  A very good website for tips on updating your CV along with interview do's and don'ts is -
 
      www.alec.co.uk

Good luck!

[elkiedee]

I would also suggest trying to move to a different post in local government, at the same time as looking at other public and private sector posts which involve more elements that interest you. Identify what you most enjoy. Look to do training, ideally by getting management to approve sending you on courses - even basic IT and typing qualifications couldn't hurt - whether they're confirming what you can do or helping you improve them. Or there are courses on time management and various secretarial roles.

I found my first local government permanent job terribly boring - took another job with a private company I'd had a good temping experience with (they liked me and I liked them) who decided they didn't like me after all, had more luck temping in various companies for 6 months, then returned to another department of the same authority in a much more interesting maternity leave cover post for 9 months - which also gave me legal secretarial experience. After that I temped as a legal secretary for a much higher hourly rate than before and then another rather dull temp job as a typist, before my present job. Some of my current job is dull but I enjoy other parts. Office politics have been horrific but they're ok at the moment. I amuse myself with trade union activities and other distractions, which also helps me find a way of viewing office politics that enables me to cope with what I dislike.

Even if this advice is completely wrong, I'd love to know how you get on.

Luci

[sheila3]

Well I too would suggest that you look for another position inside of local government, and see if you can get them to send you to some classes to up grade your skills, or education level. All the while looking in your local paper to see what is out there right now, I know in my area the private sector jobs are slim and do not offer the pay or the benifits. Office Politics are a Big pain in the a--, that said there are some good books out about the very subject, check out your local library or book store to help you deal with that. I wish you luck just try to keep a positive attuide, keep your eyes open for new job postings.