From Retail to Law

From Retail to Law Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Retail to Law “If I was going to feel stress, I wanted it to be because I was doing something meaningful to me.” * From Retail to Law When the pressure in Vicki Dodge's role suddenly grew, she made a snap decision that it was time to go. Here, she shares how she overcame the challenges of returning to study, and forged a new career in a profession she'd never have predicted working in. What work were you doing previously? For 18 yearsI worked in retail, managing a group of shops. After having kids I took more of a back office role, dealing with stock control and payroll. What are you doing now? I'm a personal injury solicitor for law firm Rothera Sharp. How did you feel in your work before you decided to make the change? I was starting to feel stressed. The shops I managed were owned by a married couple. When one of them got ill and then passed away my role grew; there were greater demands on me and thus more stress. Why did you change? I realised that if I was going to feel stress, I wanted it to bebecause I was doing something meaningful to me. So, I made a snap decision. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I'd been thinking of leaving my job for a while, but one day I was working from home and there was a moment when it felt like I'd reached a trigger point. I made the decision to leave right there on the spot. The next day I handed my notice in and signed up for my law degree. How did you choose your new career? My children’s babysitter studied law, so I'd talked to her about it a lot, and I'd done jury service which also whetted my appetite. I didn't do a degree with a view to becoming a solicitor but that's what it evolved into. I did my degree to prove that I could, and after getting some work experience with a firm it made sense to use my degree in that kind of capacity. Are you happy with the change? Definitely. It feels like I've experienced two halves of my life. When I was in retail I couldn't have imagined being where I am now, yet a lot of the skills I gained in my previous career have come in handy in my legal career. I've made particular use of my transferable skills, such as communicating and selling, as well as years of experience in dealing with the public, which I feel has made me more empathetic. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the lack of stress â€" or at least a different kind of stress! I previously mostly worked from home on my own. I definitely don't miss the solitude â€" I like the social side of working in an office! How did you go about making the shift? I was fortunate that my husband could support me, so I was able to quit my job and sign up for my law degree. My degree took me four years and mainly involved studying at home. I could do it at my own pace, whereas my Legal Practice Course (LPC), which I went on to take, involved sitting in large lectures and was a lot faster paced. I also did some work experience with a colleague I still work alongside, which helped me progress in my new role. What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? I had no real expectations around where I would end up, so I don't think I've taken any wrong turns. My journey has evolved and brought me to where I am now, where I'm very happy to be. That said, I do still have nightmares about the interviewing assessment on the LPC, which I was absolutely convinced I'd failed! How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? Luckily my husband was able to carry the financial load. He was able to pay for the course fees. I think he saw it as an investment. By studying for my degree on a part-time basis I was always around for our sons who were 12 and 9 when I started, which meant that he was able to commit fully to his career. What was the most difficult thing about changing? The biggest thing for me has been confidence, and the feeling of imposter syndrome. In retail I felt confident and knew what I was doing, whereas in my new legal role it sometimes feels like someone will 'catch me out'. What help did you get? My husband was a big support, and friends too. Doing my LPC was a bit of a shock, but friends were really helpful and provided a lot of moral support, as well as childcare! One of my colleagues was also supportive in giving me work experience in the first place. What resources would you recommend to others? People! Talk to people, engage, and look to others for support. Changing career is a big step but there's no need to feel isolated when you do it. I found the camaraderie amazing when studying for my degree and LPC. Plus family and friends stepped up, helped when I needed childcare and propped me up when it all got too much. What have you learnt in the process? The biggest thing I learnt was that I'm far more capable than I thought I was. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Go for it. You're never too old. Age means you can bring your personality and experience to your career, especially when you're dealing with people. Some of my clients say they like talking to someone who has more life knowledge. I'd also say get experience and put yourself out there. Don't be afraid about being the oldest on your course â€" even if you are, it doesn't matter. Thanks to Rothera Sharp for this story. Find out more at www.rotherasharp.co.uk. What lessons could you take from Vicky's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Administrative Assistant Sample Resumes

Administrative Assistant Sample ResumesIf you're in the market for an administrative assistant job, an administrative assistant sample resume is a great way to get your foot in the door. Even if you're not a recent college graduate looking for a paid job right away, it can still be beneficial to show an employer that you have some experience with people, and that you have worked in a variety of different situations. Some of the information you can include on your resume includes your education, any jobs you've held, job duties that include office or clerical work, what skills you may have, and whether you have any work experience in administration.As you're filling out your administrative assistant sample resume, keep in mind that there are a few different styles you can choose from. The first option is to write a cover letter to accompany it. This is a great way to let an employer know that you're interested in the position and your willingness to make the necessary efforts to land it.Your cover letter is your way to take the interview and use it to explain the employment benefits you offer to the employer. You want to highlight specific areas of the job duties you performed when performing your duties at your previous employer. What experience or training you gained when you were working as an assistant can also be included.On your administrative assistant sample resume, be sure to include your accomplishments and skills. Be sure to emphasize skills you can bring to the job. Sometimes, specific training or a volunteer experience can be enough to get your foot in the door. Other times, you'll need to provide more specific information about certain skills.While you might have several jobs that involved completing certain job duties, many of them did not. Job titles can be a great way to see what type of position the administrative assistant duties that you have performed previously have been. If you were a sales person, a customer service person, or had any oth er type of administrative duties, you can show these on your administrative assistant sample resume.After taking a look at what type of administrative assistant duties you've performed in the past, you should consider other aspects of your background. If you have a family background, hobbies, or professional experiences, these can be used to give you a better perspective on what type of administrative assistant duties you will be dealing with. The fact that you had any type of previous experience can help with getting your interview.Don't forget to put your education on your administrative assistant sample resume. It is an essential piece of the puzzle that shows how you learned new skills and gained new knowledge that will help you with the administrative assistant position. If you earned a degree in administration, you could be a big help in showing that your degree gives you a unique advantage over others in the job.If you've been looking for ways to show an employer that you are an administrative assistant, a typical administrative assistant sample resume is all you need. This type of resume can quickly give you the number of interviews that you'll have and prove to employers that you're ready to take on the administrative assistant duties of a boss. With a little research and writing, you'll have a powerful piece of work that will easily stand out in the vast sea of paperwork that the current administration assistant has to deal with.