What to Study to Get a Simple Office/Admin Job?

Lotaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:17
Last edited 04/03/2019 - 15:35

Hi im 21 M from Melbourne since highschool i'm not sure what to do with my life, and to make it worse at the end of highschool i had a massive mental health relapse and went to a dark place it screwed me up to now and still is. I'm trying to get my life on track by finding a career path, previously i studied IT for a month and left and associate degree in business for 2 months and left. Right now i'm studying cert iii in cookery and i'm starting to dislike it due to the stress of cooking and worsening depression,suicidal thoughts, panic disorder, anxiety and ocd. I decided i want a simple office or admin role where i work in a cubicle, but i'm not sure what specific office or admin role i should be doing? and what should i study to get a simple office/admin role? something easy or low qualifcation would be good. I have no goal or aspiration in life so i don't really care about status or the pay of the role. Any help would be appreciated thanks alot.

EDIT: does the corporate world such as cubicle jobs or entry role offer part time?

Education & Work

Comments

  • QW3RTY on 04/03/2019 - 15:26
    +16

    Sounds like you should place priority and focus on your mental health first and foremost. Talk to people around you, any loved ones and don't be afraid to ask for help.

    However, to answer your question, office assistant roles often do not require certification. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, good work ethic and a professional demeanour will often suffice.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:30
      +1

      thanks for replying i have been placing priority and focus on my mental health since i finished high school was admitted to mental hospital 3 times, taking medication and seeing a psychologist and psychiatrist but it did really nothing and i feel hopeless.

      Edit: thank you for suggesting i talk to someone i do try too but i don't have any friend i can talk to in person or online only 1 friend but he is so busy so i don't bother talking to him guess im pretty lonely lol.

      • QW3RTY on 04/03/2019 - 15:36
        +5

        Sorry to hear you feel this way. Keep at it though. Overcoming mental health issues is never a short term fix.
        You're 21 though, you've got your whole life ahead of you.
        Find out what you really want from this life, get some structure around that vision and set some goals.

        And if that happens to be for an office admin job, so be it. Best of luck.

        • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:42
          +1

          Thank you for your words and help appreciate it!

      • do minator on 04/03/2019 - 16:08
        +1

        I'm not sure what you've tried previously but have you tried https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-supp… ? They have support lines to talk to someone or online chat (if you prefer that).

  • haemolysis on 04/03/2019 - 15:26
    +2

    If you really wanted to study for it, a tafe certificate in administraion would be more than adequate, but really it's more about having a good resume, a good interview, and some luck (or connections.) If you're applying for a basic role, you only need basic qualifications.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:32

      would a diploma in business or diploma of business administration be more suitable for a cubicle job? also thank you for the reply

      • haemolysis on 04/03/2019 - 15:47

        Administration more suitable. But business would be more interesting to study. If you consider the job simple and boring, so wil be studying it. Neither certificate is a "requirement" they just help you stand out a bit.

  • GangGang on 04/03/2019 - 15:29
    +2

    Hopefully other people on here can help you with what course to study for the corporate world.

    What advice I can give, is find out what you want to do first. So you don't waste your time again leaving before finishing.

    Don't stress about it, I'm 33 and only decided to start studying last year.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:31

      Thanks alot for giving me hope even though i'm only 21 i feel worthless and won't amount to much so it makes me feel more depressed since im so behind in life.

      • geek001 on 04/03/2019 - 15:47
        +1

        21 is not behind, I went back to uni when I was 21. So it is better a little late than never? :)

        Just a tip, not sure if it will help you, I have worked in both private corporations and a public servant. Public service tend to be less stressful.

        • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:48

          what is considered a public service? sorry if this question is stupid

          • geek001 on 04/03/2019 - 15:51

            @otaku: Working for the government. State government is probably better.

            • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:53

              @geek001: cool thank you i will look at government entry roles thanks alots!

      • GangGang on 04/03/2019 - 18:49
        +4

        Don't give up buddy. I was 31 when I realised what I wanted to do. Money may not be the greatest but do what makes you happy. Don't rush it. Don't let money get in the way, it will destroy you in the long run.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/03/2019 - 10:54

          What was it when you figured it out? I'm still trying to and it's haaaard.

      • rave75 on 12/03/2019 - 23:40

        the idea is never compare yourself to others, some 21 yo maybe achieve more than you but some others will also achieve less. It is not a race. With study, I think it may cause your more stress but if you want to, study certificate at your own pace, like 1-2 subject per semester or something. No need qualification to get an admin role, just need some basic office skills. Data entry job might be a good idea too.

    • Zerofive on 05/03/2019 - 12:06

      What are you studying?

      I'm in the same age bracket and I just decided I want to study and do something else, unfortunately due to being blue collar for so many years, I do not know what to study towards being at a mature age

      • GangGang on 05/03/2019 - 13:25

        I'm studying Horticulture. I've loved gardening for years but never took advantage of it and using it as a job.

        I'm in manufacturing & have been for about 14 years.

  • johndowy on 04/03/2019 - 15:45
    +4

    Even office administration jobs are not necessarily stress free and easy.

    Usually require good written and speaking skills, highly organised, scheduled and personable communication.

    You will be the go to person between potential clients to the business. You will also be required to constantly attend to phone calls, organise meetings, schedules etc.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:53

      yeah i guess it isn't stress free and easy but its better then working in a kitchen for me.

  • Tightpocket on 04/03/2019 - 15:48
    +1

    21 is still too young to be depressed, take it step by step, pick an accounting diploma or business administration course and just go to a nearest tafe so you don't feel lazy travelling too far to study.

    You probably can complete the course within 2 years time and then you can start job hunting for entry level administration role, always go to the small company preferably so you get decent exposure on how to navigate yourself around office area and usually you get to learn more in a small office environment and just go from there, hopefully you'll pick up the pace after that and moving up the corporate ladder.

    If you are rushing to get a job now in an office, it'll be really tough as the competition even for entry level are really tight. so take your time and just do a part time job while studying. best of luck

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:49

      thanks i was thinking of either a diploma of business or diploma of business administration which one is more suitable?

      • Tightpocket on 04/03/2019 - 15:53

        I would get business admin diploma cause you will learn various aspects of the business and role expectancy, they should teach you the common knowledge about office like email, phone, minutes, etc so you learn a bit of everything and it's up to you to decide what role to choose once you complete the diploma. I suggest to learn accounting as well since excel is in high demand and if you are really competent in it, its quite advantageous.

        • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:54

          if im not good with maths or number would accounting be impossible because i seem interested in what you just told me and do i need to study accounting extra on top of the admin dipolma?

          • Tightpocket on 04/03/2019 - 16:02

            @otaku: nowadays nobody really have to be good at maths cause the excel do it all for you (well the basic stuff anyway) all you need to have is basic logic, if you have time to do it i'd reckon you should.

            If you just curious, apply for data entry role but not too much and not the company you want - reason being they'll keep your resume and you won't be able to reapply them again so don't just throw your resume around. make sure to send it once you fully equipped.

  • HighAndDry on 04/03/2019 - 15:53
    +2

    1. You don't need a degree for an office admin job. Any study you do would be a waste unless specifically tailored to the work you're doing.

    2. You seem to be under the misapprehension that office/cubical jobs don't involve any stress or pressure.

    3. Work on your mental health first. Then try to find a job in government - the jobs there are still stressful, but more because of office politics than actual performance pressure, as far as I can tell from talking to people in the public sector.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:56

      Thanks for the reply yes i know office jobs can be stressful but its much better for me then kitchen jobs because its even more stressful and what would be some entry roles in a government office someone here also recommended government roles so im interested too.

      • HighAndDry on 04/03/2019 - 16:03

        If you have any kind of IT experience, even if you don't have any qualifications, I'd go for that route. IT means you're internal-facing so you don't deal with members of the public, you're not a revenue centre so there's no real performance pressure, and if you're lower-level, you'll hopefully have managers covering for you against the rest of the dept.

        • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 16:05

          thanks for you advice if it helps i was also thinking of studying a cert in IT too with a diploma of business admin at Victoria university since its close to my house.

          • HighAndDry on 04/03/2019 - 16:18

            @otaku: Sounds like a good idea as long as it's not too much out-of-pocket. At the same time, you can see if any government departments near where you live (even councils) need a free or cheap IT intern so you can start building up professional IT experience, so when you get your qualifications you're ready to hit the ground running.

        • Cheaplikethebird on 05/03/2019 - 11:26
          +1

          A lot of entry level service desk jobs in larger companies are run as call centres so lots of targets, lots of monitoring. You want a job in a business where you're supporting under 5k users.

  • geek001 on 04/03/2019 - 15:54
    +1

    Have you thought about outdoorsy jobs? I know a mowing guy who works 4 days a week and makes about 80k per year. If the lawn is too steep or not flat enough, sometimes he would reject the job. How about that for stress-free? Lol.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 15:57

      woooahhh that sounds great how do you get that job and what are some qualifaction for it?

      • geek001 on 04/03/2019 - 15:58

        I think he joined one of those mowing franchises. Jim's mowing I believe. I don't think you need formal qualifications to mow someone's lawn, do you?

        • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 16:00

          yeah i guess lol but seems quite stress free i will add it on my list of possible job thanks a lot!

          • Love a bargain on 05/03/2019 - 17:55
            +1

            @otaku: Do bear in mind that you'll essentially self-employed so your stress will be coming from whether you can make enough money to cover your costs and make a living (plus you'll need to make some initial investment)

    • HighAndDry on 04/03/2019 - 15:59

      Does the mowing guy have his own business? Running a business definitely comes with its own stresses and pressures. Not something I'd recommend for OP - more than one businessperson has gone broke because they were too stressed to do their BAS, or lodge their returns, or bookkeep, or chase debts, etc.

      • geek001 on 04/03/2019 - 16:20
        +1

        Yea, I think he owns his own business. Good point, @otaku if you are running your own business, there is some extra paper work you need to file compared to being an employee. Some people do stress out when they need to do paperwork, I am not sure if you are in this camp.

        His operation works like this, When he sign you up to be his client, he would come back every 2 weeks to mow your lawn in summer, 3 weeks in winter and leave a bill in your mailbox after. Usually, he would target a few of your neighbours at the same time and give everyone a cheaper rate, to cut down on his travelling time from job to job. If you don't pay him, he would just stop coming to mow your lawn. He does this instead of pre-pay because sometimes he would have something else on and not come to mow your lawn, so that way, he is not under pressure to always needing to show up on the same day. Once you have a list of clients setup, it is relatively stress free as you can work as much or as little as you like depending on how many clients you want to take on.

        • HighAndDry on 04/03/2019 - 16:21
          +1

          Haha okay that does seem like a pretty sweet gig. Plus you'd get a great workout and a tan going too.

  • KeplersLaws on 04/03/2019 - 16:31

    Most are exceedingly full time. Once and then, a part time or casual opportunity will come by, but they almost always prefer full timers

  • SydStrand on 04/03/2019 - 18:02
    +1

    Take care of yourself first. If you don't, you'll probably drop out again because of the same demons.

    I decided i want a simple office or admin role where i work in a cubicle

    If you have social anxiety or stress easily, you won't cope in an office setting, cubicles or not. You'll still be expected to work with others, 'network,' and keep to strict schedules, especially if you're entry-level. Answering phones and scheduling appointments is its own kind of stress.

    If I were you, I'd seriously consider learning a trade that will let me work my own hours.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 18:35

      I don't mind talking to others if i have to but social anxiety is hard but my goal is to beat it and i would love to do a trade but having mental issues with little sleep is very mentally and psychically demanding so i think i would struggle with a trade job but i would like to be a mechanic i tried it in the past but to taxing on my mind and body.

  • DingoBilly on 04/03/2019 - 18:18
    +4

    I've been through similar issues to yourself over many years (30m now) and it isn't easy, I feel for you.

    Feel free to pm me if you'd like help working on your resume or how to find work, or just needed someone to talk to. Live in Melbourne myself so could also meet up if you'd find it helpful.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 18:32

      thanks for your kind offer! it is tough especially when no one understands.

  • original15 on 04/03/2019 - 18:24

    Most offices (well in my experience at least) are now open plan/hotdesking, I guess don’t bank on an office gig being a cubicle where you’re left to your own devices to work through solitary tasks (if that was the plan)
    You’ve defs got time on your side for figuring out what you want to do, just take care of yourself first.
    Rather than get hung up on WHAT work/role you want, think about the type of tasks or activities that you would enjoy, and then map the jobs to those types of tasks. Govt provides a basic type assessment which might you help about different fields when you’re ready
    https://joboutlook.gov.au/careerquiz.aspx
    There are probably other similar things out there. Seems to be a good mix of recommended roles that require high skill/training vs low/none

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 18:32

      thank you i will have a look at it, since high school i haven't done anything but focus on my mental health it proved no results so im still feeling shitty but now that i have wasted 2 years of my life i feel like a Useless peice of sh*t so i need to figure out my life but that is also worsening my mental health.

      • original15 on 04/03/2019 - 19:37

        It’s good that you’re trying something different then, perhaps new work will help but really respect you taking the steps to try something new, many don’t

  • R-Man on 04/03/2019 - 18:59
    +1

    hey mate try for a office admin job at a big bank or superfund if possible

    It could be call centre or some kind of file processor job (e.g. receive a file from customer, make changes to a computer system, and repeat)

    I suggest these because the team culture could beneficial to you. Very tight knit teams who look out for each other. If you go to the call centre then you'll likely see people your age as well.

    I know it feels like ya dont have aspirations beyond this, but if you ever change your mind there are lots of opportunities to move up and find other roles within big banks.

    • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 20:46

      Thanks a lot i would like to work for the big bank based on your description of the role what would the job title be for the computer system?

      • R-Man on 04/03/2019 - 20:55

        Off the top of my head, anything with the word Administrator or Officer at the end

        Or Data Entry officer?

        e.g.
        Fund Administrator (at a superfund)
        Loan officer
        Payroll Administrator
        Payroll Officer
        CRM Administrator

        • otaku on 04/03/2019 - 21:32

          thank you i will have a look at these roles description

  • Gotchas on 04/03/2019 - 21:45

    Meter reader/ postie

    • otaku on 05/03/2019 - 12:38

      yes they seem stress free thanks for the suggestions.

  • ShannonN on 05/03/2019 - 02:22

    You don't know what you want and seem to be adding every suggestion to a list of possibles.

    Is your mental health issue treatable? Is it a degenerating disease? I'd love to hear you are getting on top of it. If you are good with people, crowds have social skills, why not look at becoming some form of counselor, either in the mental health area ( using your own experiences with depression, poor social interactions, etc)

    It may not only help other but yourself to recover.

    I can't say what quals are needed perhaps a grief counselor course, some psychiatry?

    Wish you well and God bless

    • otaku on 05/03/2019 - 12:38

      I have tried treating my mental health issue for a decade now but every year i seem to relapse and get worse to be honest i feel super hopeless and really tired of living but im going to keep trying i guess thanks for your advice on a possible career path and lastly thank you for wishing me well.

      • ShannonN on 05/03/2019 - 21:42

        From experience with many who are skitz, bi polar etc who have to have special injections once a month to keep sane.

        Many people with mental health issues give up taking their medication thinking cause they feel well they are cured. This is the big mistake that can cause relapses. Please stay on your medication at all costs

        I applaud you for trying to occupy yourself and improve etc keep on trying, don't get discouraged but please if you have a counselor etc figure talk with them about your future, they know your case history, know what you can or can't do relating to triggers, social interaction etc

        I'm concerned that without clear career direction you'll try too many fields of study and burn yourself out causing depression or loss of self worth. Remember you are very important, you are worthwhile and once you find your niche will contribute much to society. Best wishes

  • Paul2141 on 05/03/2019 - 11:54

    Life @ School of Hard Knocks

  • Geoffreys on 05/03/2019 - 17:41
    -2

    Stop chopping and changing between courses, it looks terrible on a resume. In hiring it shows lack of commitment and that you may not be a reliable person. Commit to completing something and don’t use mental health as an excuse to bail out on it.

    The reality is that there are no easy paths in life. All jobs have tough stressful times. Find something you are passionate about and work towards it, not finding a bar low enough to step over.

    • otaku on 05/03/2019 - 18:52

      i don't need to put it on my resume because i never completed it, and im not bailing out or using my mental health as an excuse its actually very hard living and dealing with it to the point i want to die from it.

  • DarthAntz on 05/03/2019 - 18:14

    Read 'What colour is your parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles to help you build confidence about finding a work area. You can find older editions in Libraries. Once you start reading it, you have to finish it. Its not that difficult to read and you will gain from it.

    Read 'the primal scream' by Arthur Janov, to help with your mental issues and stress. You will find that there are many books by psychologist that have clinically documented something similar to what you feel, and learning about it will bring your self-stresses down.

    And any books by Robert Greene. A lot of the life lessons read early can alleviate the pain of growing up, which we all go through.

    You can read (self-study) and find work at the same time. Every page read, and completed book is effort you've accomplished, and knowledge you've gained.

    In the future you will be the best person to help others in this situation, as they're all unique and your experience will help.

    • otaku on 05/03/2019 - 18:52
      +1

      thank you i will have a look at these books!

  • uraha on 06/03/2019 - 13:16

    Enable your PM, otaku

  • redback on 06/03/2019 - 13:21

    Have a read of this: https://waitbutwhy.com/2018/04/picking-career.html.

    It's a long article, but will help you work through what kind of career will fit your personal capabilities. This is nothing to do with qualifications at this stage; simply your own attributes.

    You need to remind yourself what are you're naturally good at, and identify your strengths and weaknesses, or "development opportunities" :)

    Most importantly, write down what it is that you get enjoyment from. What could you imagine bouncing out of bed for every day? The income is secondary once you cover basic living costs.

    Finally, get into some exercise. Go for a long walk, ride a bike, swim some laps. Helps enormously with mental health and provides some great thinking time.

    Best of luck.

    • Love a bargain on 06/03/2019 - 14:47

      & if you get any good at whatever exercise/sports you end up doing, you might even be able to turn that into a career

  • Wystri Warrick on 08/06/2019 - 20:28

    Hey op, just wanted to check up on you and see how you're doing?
    I hope life has started being kinder to you :).

    PS. Feel free to pm me anytime op :).

  • VictoriousBboy on 04/08/2019 - 20:42

    Some people on this thread really don’t get it. Not only can mental illness make working/studying hard, it can also rob you of your identity and hobbies. Do you have a self care plan? Have you worked with a social worker or OT? What kinds of tasks and hobbies do you enjoy? Do you like being outside or inside?
    I suffered a serious mental illness from 15 to 23 and was an inpatient several times, almost dropping out of uni and losing all my friends. You become isolated and it’s hard to see any positive future or enjoy stuff, but there is always a better life out there. Even if you feel hopeless now. Maybe you could look into getting some support from a disability career support service, then you could find a job that suits your skills and is considerate of your situation. Maybe you could just get a bit of experience under your belt and stabilise your mental health before deciding what you want to do. This is what I did, and honestly being in a good place mentally made deciding a career path and even studying so much easier. You will also get a chance to see other workers and what kinds of people do what kinds of jobs well. FYI I work an office job part time in a mental health service and use my days off to study a Masters.

  • Hardlyworkin on 05/08/2019 - 17:43

    Get out of cooking! Can't imagine a worse environment for your health issues.

    I recommend sharpening your typing skills and basic computer skills. Word and excel are vital in many industries. In that environment having a clean cut appearance may also help.

    There are many types of businesses that have admin based jobs. Best to try and narrow it down to an industry in which you have some interest.

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