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Sharing my advice as someone who used to hire admins for the company where I used to work.
Almost all admin jobs now require or expect at least three areas of competency: calendar management, travel arrangements and some kind of CRM (customer resource management) experience. MS Office/D365/Google Suite competency is expected of any recent high school, so that experience won’t get you ahead anymore. If you don’t have recent experience in the three above listed types of management softwares (like Concur, Workday, Outlook or other calendar/meeting software, etc.), you might want to consider working through a temp agency to gain experience in the most recent technology. You should also make sure you are very proficient in web meeting software, like Zoom, Teams, Adobe Connect, WebEx, etc. You can also look to your local library or community college for software classes that will bring up your skill set and make you stand out. It would also be a good idea to narrow your search to a certain industry and find the most common technology that they use (e.g. accounting uses CaseWare/CaseWare Connector and Engagement) and get experience working in those. Any certifications, especially for project management (Lean, Sigma Six, Waterfall, etc.), will definitely put you on the list for the higher paying jobs.
Good luck and be patient. It’s rough right now trying to find a job. I’ve been applying since December 2023. I’ve been very qualified for everything, tailored my resume for ATS and the job posting, had people proof my resume and cover letters, reached out to everybody in my network and done anything else recommended. But I’ve only had one interview and no other interest, even for jobs doing exactly what I used to do in the same industry. Just keep applying and don’t discount the temp agency route, if you’re not seeing any responses. That move was how I got my last job, which was a pivot to another industry and career path, and it was the best I ever had and lasted 17 years.
One thing that may be helpful is to make sure your resume is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS). There are various sites on the web that will give pointers on that. Beyond that, just highlight your transferrable skills. The fact that you did something else for a time should be portrayed as something positive.
I'd say have realistic expectations about what's possible. Also have a honest conversation with yourself about what your non-negotiables are and what you are willing to compromise about. This is especially when it comes to in-office/hybrid/remote work, salary expectations, titles, etc