Qualifications Make Job Search Hard

I am one of the numerous who are unemployed and have been searching the classifieds in the newspaper on and the Internet, and am confounded as to what constitutes an administrative assistant/secretary these days.

The majority of listings I have seen for administrative assistant/secretary positions require some, if not all, of these qualifications:

* Typing skills of no less than 80 words per minute;

* Shorthand skills of no less than 100 words per minute;

* Proficiency on Excel, PowerPoint, Lotus Notes, Outlook, Access, Visio, Photoshop, Quark and FilemakerPro, and other software;

* The ability to answer a multi-line telephone, screen all calls and route same to the appropriate individual(s) or to take accurate messages;

* The ability to lift up to 75 pounds (of what, I may ask?);

* The flexibility to work overtime and occasionally some weekends and evenings;

* Knowledge of filing systems;

* Willingness to maintain the conference room, order office supplies and maintain the office supply cabinet, oversee and coordinate maintenance of office equipment.

This is merely a sample of the job ads for administrative assistants/secretaries. I am not exaggerating.

The pay is usually $8 to $10 an hour; benefits come after 60 to 90 days (some do not offer any) and to apply, one must submit their salary history or face rejection.

What is really troublesome is when a skilled applicant takes the time to prepare a cover letter and resume and then shows up (early) for the interview, only to be told that more than 200 resumes were received and that a decision will not be made for weeks. That is the ultimate insult for those of us who are ready, willing and able to work immediately.

Has hiring on the spot become a thing of the past too?

Elizabeth Brown

West Los Angeles