Temp work in NYC offices.

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:08pm

Can a 42 year old man walk into a temp agency and get a job in an office with only a high school diploma? I'm not talking about secretarial work obviously but more like reception, filing records...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:10pm

Do you have any experience in that type of work? That's what they're looking for. I only have a high school diploma, but many years of office reception and assistant work behind me.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:11pm

You don't need the diploma, what does your resume look like? I can recommend some places to go.

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:16pm

20 years as a stewardess! That's it. No typing.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:17pm

honey, youre typing right now.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:18pm

Take a few bags of nuts with you and you're in!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:18pm

You might have a lot of trouble making a living wage with no experience.

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:22pm

no experience? you should try looking for a management job.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:23pm

Here's the deal with temp agencies...the strange thing is, you will likely be tested on your typing (which is not typing on a typewriter anymore...obviously) and any other skills, even filing.

From there, you may be placed, and there are all kinds of jobs, but MOST require computer skills.

What's odd is, MANY jobs actually require little office skills, especially temp jobs. I think it's more important to know Outlook and LotusNotes.

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:25pm

am I looking at retail work? I cannot face hundreds of people every day, that's why I'm getting out of the airlines.

OK. I'll just do as Suzanne and take down my mini blinds and hammer them into credit cards.

out what? lotus? I barely know word. Updated On: 4/26/07 at 01:25 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:31pm

Is it for you, chita?

If so, you realize that you are typing right now...you may be slow, but ultimately that doesnt matter...backspace is my best friend!

It's not like before with typewriters and no email. Email is replacing the written letter, and Word makes it difficult to screw up when you do actually have to write one.

I would invest in a decent Microsoft Office turorial book or dvd. Classes can get expensive, and I think they are somewhat of a rip off.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:36pm

The tests are somewhat difficult, and with the good agencies, it can be very competitive.

I have temped off and on since 2003, and I generally work pretty steadily when i want it, in the $20+ per hour range, but I type well over 95wpm with close to 100% accuracy, and I average around a 97% score on Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access. I also have experience using Lotus, Adobe, Oracle, Visio, FrontPage, and have been a personal assistant to a corporate president as well as an exec asst. to several other high-level officials.

You don't HAVE to have the above qualifications to work, but realistically, if you cannot type above 60wpm with considerable accuracy and you can't score at least 75% or better on the Microsoft Office tests, then you're looking at $12-$14/hr. reception/mailroom gigs, and that's about it. The good money is in executive admin and project management work, and you need considerable computer skills to get those jobs.

However, some of the better agencies DO offer training for those who want it, so don't be discouraged...these are easily acquired skills!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:42pm

I will defer to Jaily here, but I've found it a bit easier than that...though I havent temped in several years.

Your best asset...being smart and quick to pick things up.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:45pm

Doodle is right...being a sharp tack is the way to get sent out all the time. If they can tell you pick things up quickly and are adaptable, you'll always have work.

I didn't mean to imply it's difficult to get work at all. I just meant that the caliber of assignment that you are sent on (and therefore your hourly wage) is highly dependent upon your skill set, that's all.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:51pm

chita, I definitely think that you can make more money as an entry level temp than an entry level store clerk.

Office politics are no picnic sometimes, but they are preferable to me than the public at large! If I had to do retail again, I'd probably end up in jail.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:54pm

Or, you could just take out a one inch ad in the back of HX with the headline "Fly Me!"

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:56pm

yeah...that would pay alot better!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:58pm

There's hope for you yet, chita - doodle has a very good assistant job, and he doesn't even know that "a lot" is two words!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:58pm

I think you can, but you may have to hit several agencies before one will help you. Don't be discouraged by closed doors.

When you speak with them, emphasize that flight attendant is a customer service job and that you would like to get in an office as a receptionist, which has the skill set of customer service.

Once in a receptionist job, use that time to get on the computer and learn Word, Excel, PowerPoint from their tutorials. When you have those three software packages learned, you can then put yourself out there as an Administrative Assistant.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:01pm

**I KNEW I should've written "lots"**

um, yeah...there's also spell check!

Goth is exactly right.

Updated On: 4/26/07 at 02:01 PM

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:05pm

Often agencies will give you a chance with reception work, even if you have little to no experience, provided you're well put together and can make a good phone impression. I'm sure it's not the case with all agencies, but reception jobs are often a good way to get an "in" if you're looking to do office work.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:22pm

I've been an executive assistant for several years now, and I STILL can't believe the way people will dress, the bad attitudes, the lack of basic etiquette that surrounds me...sometimes even in the executive offices!

I'd take someone with good qualities in those areas before a good "skill set" any day.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:26pm

Why don't you apply for work within the airline you are working for? They probably have an internal temp service, but I'm sure you could score a receptionist job at the airport.

[blueroses]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:30pm

Good idea. I wouldn't want to lose those free travel perks.

My friend's husband has worked at the airlines for 10 years. They never, ever go anywhere (they were homebodies before the kids came along, too). I don't get it!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:44pm

mej...that is a great idea!