What career?

[angel21]

I am currently working in admin. I don't know what career I want to do.

Things I have thought about are nursing, medical secretary and mortgage advisor.

I am drawn to the health sector and I want to do something that helps people.

I like the idea of mortgage advisor as I am quite good at comparing products and deciding which is the best deal and I like the idea of that, however I never liked maths so I'm not fussed about working with figures and I am not very good at explaining things clearly to people. So the only good point about mortgage advising is the finding the best deal part of it and the advising that attracts me.

I like the idea of Medical Secretary as I just think it would be a nice setting to work in. I like the idea of helping people and giving good customer service. I like being organised and working methodically. Also I haven't entirely ruled out doing more practical work such as nursing or becoming a phlebotomist so if I got into the nhs they always offer training.

I think my strengths are:

1) well organised
2) methodical
3) good at comparing and finding the best deal

My weaknesses are

1) not good at explaining things clearly
2) unconfident

[CheekyChops]

Just a few questions...

1 - How old are you
2 - What qualifications do you currently hold
3 - Are you prepared to study for more qualifications?

Obviously I don;t know you but from the careers you have in mind, these are my thoughts.
Mortgage Advisor - not the best time to think about becoming one of these! Also, I would imagine that most MA's have access to databases of 'best deals' etc and don't actually have to search very hard.
Medical Secretary - surely this is just a Secretary in a hopsital? I don't see how this would be helping people and giving customer service, I would think it was just like a regular secretary (taking minutes, typing letters, notes etc) only you would need knowledge of medical terminology and language.
Nurse - couldn't do it myself (all that blood...) but it is a worthwhile profession and definately helps people so if you fancy this, go for it!
Phlebotomist - I have no idea what this even is!!!

[barney1966]

for CC - a phlebotomist takes blood.

angel - Have you looked at the NHS jobs website? There are always masses of jobs on there - lots of admin positions too.

A hospital is quite a unique place to work in - lots would love it, others may not. There are loads of secretarial/admin positions and whilst some are based in offices in the background, others would be "in the frontline" dealing with patients, clinics, etc. It is certainly not always a case of being a secretary but in a hospital.

It sounds like the right direction to go would be getting admin work within a hospital and then deciding if that is for you or if you want continue within that environment but retrain for another position.

GL

[iBrowse]

to be a medical sec, you need to at least have completed an AMSPA course.....but moneies is good, especially privately....

[Mrs Y]

Check out 'Step into the NHS':- http://www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/. You answer a few questions, and it can give you an idea of what careers in the NHS might suit you.

Don't be afraid to make a change! After over ten years of working in admin, I'd decided enough was enough and it was time to pursue a dream. I'm starting my Midwifery degree in May and have never been so excited!

Good luck, and go for it!

[angel21]

Thanks everyone.

Mrs Y - thanks for that link its really good!

I've decided to just do lots of general admin courses that I can transfer job to job rather than a Medical Secretary one at the moment. I've gone off the idea of Medical Secretary a bit as I think its a lot of typing and sitting in an office out the back alone with not much contact with the public. Medical Receptionist would be more frontline but not so well paid.

Other places I would like to work are:

Council
College
Maybe Recruitment Consultant

or doing something like taking calls and booking hotel acommodation for business people.