How do I get an office job? I have an abundance of restaurant experience, but I'm looking for something new.

Question

I am 22 years old. I have an Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts. I have only ever worked in restaurants. I have done a little of everything...I've waited tables, cocktailed, bartended, worked in kitchens...etc. Most recently I was training to be a manager for a national chain, but I was layed off after some corporate downsizing. I can't handle the hours of the restaurant industry anymore. I was working about 70 hours a week at my most recent job, and it just about killed me.

My question is, how do I get a 9-5 type desk job without any relevant experience?

I'm pretty computer proficient...Word, Excel, Power Point, Internet, etc...

I'm great with people (you have to be to wait tables!)

I'm organized.

I think I'm a fairly intelligent person and I could keep up in a professional environment.

I think with a little job-specific training, I could easily handle a receptionist or administrative assistant job. Where do I find one (in the Dallas area?)

Answer 1

You have training and a good record of employment. Write a resume highlighting those positives and get it out there. You should do really well!

Answer 2

I was at the same situation you were, go volunteer work and try to talk to someone who you know that works in an office that will give you some experience. The temp agencies won't help if you don't have any experience whatsoever. A little experience is better then no experience. However, the experience has to be paid. I have 6 months of work experience and I am registered with a whole bunch of agencies to find work. At first, they were no help because they thought I knew how to file only because on my resume mentioned a simple filing position that I had at non-profit which was one week. You will need at least 6 months of paid experiencve before they can help you. Good Luck.

Answer 3

I think it will be easy for you to get a receptionist job. Admin. asst will be hard without exp. Go to an employment agency and bring a resume.

Answer 4

Well, that was easy:

http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobseeker/jobs/jobresults.aspx?jrdid=&IPATH=JR&sname=&strCrit=QID%3dA6653265348373%3bst%3da%3buse%3dALL%3brawWords%3dadministrative+assistant%3bCTY%3dDALLAS%2c%2c%3bSID%3dTX%2cALL%2cALL%3bCID%3dUS%3bENR%3dNO%3bDTP%3dDR321%3bYDI%3dYES%3bIND%3dALL%3bPDQ%3dAll%3bJN%3dAll%3bPAYL%3d0%3bPAYH%3dGT120%3bPOY%3dNO%3bETD%3dALL%3bETD%3dJTFT%3bETD%3dJTCT%3bETD%3dJTIN%3bETD%3dJTPT%3bRE%3dALL%3bMGT%3dDC%3bSUP%3dDC%3bFRE%3d30%3bCHL%3dAL%3bQS%3dsid_unknown%3bSS%3dNO%3bTITL%3d0%3bVT%3ddetail%3bRAD%3d30%3bJQT%3dRAD&cibookmark=1&vt=detail