I know there's been a bit of a gap since my last post. I had to focus on a few major life changes, so I appreciate all of your patience!
As some of you may know, I moved from Denver to Seattle. Seattle is the largest city I've ever lived in, so I'm still in adjustment-mode.
Also, I broke my first bone ever - my right hand (and I'm right hand dominant). It's amazing how we can take body parts for granted. I'd have to say I'm much more appreciative of my limbs and have realized just how adaptable I really can be.
Last but not least, I recently completed my job search (woo-hoo! 🥳), which I'm pretty psyched about. Not only is it great to be done, but it's the exact EA role I was looking for. I couldn't be more thankful and excited.
Throughout the past few months as a job seeker, I was fortunate to have received quite a bit of support from other administrative professionals. It can be rough dealing with rejections, constant interview prep, trying to identify red flags, etc. all the while trying to remain motivated in the job search process. The support I received touched my heart and often was the boost I needed.
We all have the ability to boost fellow admin colleagues when they embark on a job search. Sometimes a seemingly small act can actually be pretty impactful. I wanted to share a few ways I have both received and given support in case it inspires others.
Support on LinkedIn
There are several ways we can support fellow admin job seekers online, and I want to specifically point out some easy ways to do so on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn endorsements only take seconds. Just click the plus sign next to someone's skill on their profile and you're done. It's super easy and shows your colleague that you care. Even if you haven't technically worked with the other person, I'm in the camp that you shouldn't hold back; if it's a great admin in your network and you want to show you care, I say go for it.
LinkedIn recommendations require more work, but I'd also consider those. You don't have to have worked alongside them in a formal work environment to write one (but make sure you know them well enough). I've written recommendations for admins I've interacted with in networking environments and on blog-related items. If your admin friend could use more for their profile, find out what qualities they are trying to highlight and write one using those key terms. It can be short and sweet, so don't stress about length. (And you both might turn it into a recommendation swap where your friend could write one for you as well!)
Introductions
If you know of someone who could be a helpful connection for your job seeker friend, sending out introductions can be super helpful. One of my admin friends sent a casual introduction via email that ended up leading to my current role (who knew?!).
Introductions can be short and sweet and can even be done via LinkedIn messages if you are connected to both people on that platform. I recommend including a reason for the intro, a short background about each person (one sentence is fine), and a compliment about each (this helps to set a friendly tone and might reinforce the reason for the intro).
Internal Job Postings
If your company is hiring, keep an eye out for internal job postings. If you really want to work with the other person, you could go a step beyond and point out their submittal to the hiring manager (along with genuine words of praise about your admin friend to really add that extra oomph!).
One of my friends shared a couple of postings at her company with me, and I ended up getting a call for an interview. I'm sure having inside help sped things along and guaranteed the interview request.
Resume Swap
I did resume swaps with a few admin friends of mine and learned SO much (I hope they got as much out of it as I did!).
The process is easy - just email a final copy of your resume to your admin friend and have them send your theirs. Add any notes on their resume that might be helpful: from a proofreading standpoint, design standpoint, or even about the general content. Any tiny suggestion could end up being a big help, so don't hold back.
Free Courses
This section applies to job seekers and non-job seekers alike. However, it's extra important for job seekers to remain sharp, especially if they have a significant gap in employment.
There are lots of great free courses online nowadays. The ones I've come across have been a bit random and are usually one-offs, but one place to start is ELSx. If you come across one that your admin colleague might find valuable, then share it. Sometimes courses come with a certificate upon completion, which can be a great addition to their LinkedIn profile.
What ways have you helped to support a fellow admin in their job search? Please share in the comments below!
