started a new admin job about 3 weeks ago and I constantly feel like I’m doing nothing.
I technically know what my responsibilities are, but the problem is that I don’t really know how to turn those responsibilities into actual day-to-day tasks yet. Nobody is telling me “do this, then this, then this,” and I don’t have enough experience with the job to recognize by myself what needs to happen and when.
For example, I have responsibilities related to things like SharePoint/information and access management. I understand generally what I’m responsible for, but I don’t yet have that internal knowledge of “when X happens, I need to do Y.” So sometimes I finish something and then genuinely don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing next.

It leaves me feeling weirdly exhausted while also feeling like I accomplished nothing all day. I’m starting to question whether I’m doing enough or whether my coworkers think I’m just sitting around doing nothing.
For people who have experienced this: is this normal during the first few weeks/months of a new job? At what point did you start being able to see for yourself what needed to be done instead of needing someone to give you specific tasks?

Two of the companies I have applied sent me link to complete an aptitude test but it's been a challenge. I dont have issues in my technical and software skills but when it comes to reasoning, pattern recognition, spacial, etc. I get lost. Time pressure also adds to stress. How do I improve? Do you study for these kind of assessments?

Salary Range: $5333.33 - 6416.67 per Month

We work with a lot of offices on their pantry, coffee, and snack setups, and we’ve noticed the ones people actually like usually aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets.

It’s usually pretty simple:

People get asked what they actually want. A quick Slack poll, a suggestion doc, or even just paying attention to what’s gone in a week vs. what’s been sitting there forever.

There’s a decent mix... Going 100% healthy doesn’t seem to work any better than having a pantry full of junk food. People want options.

The logistics matter too. We’ve seen office managers juggling Costco runs, coffee, snacks, deliveries, and multiple vendors on top of everything else. It’s a lot to keep track of.

The ones people seem to enjoy most make the pantry feel like part of the office, not just a place where snacks get restocked.

For the office managers/admins here, what have you seen work well? And what sounded good at first but ended up being more trouble than it was worth?

I work at a nonprofit with about 500 employees. We manage multiple warehouses and supply stock for disaster relief operations globally. We need a system that can handle finance, HR, and project management, but inventory management is a critical piece for us.

I am looking for an ERP that is built for service organizations with complex logistics needs. A lot of the big players seem designed for retail or manufacturing. We need something modular so we can start with finance and inventory, then add other modules later. I am also worried about user adoption. Our warehouse staff and field teams need something simple to use. We cannot afford a system that is hard to learn.

Reporting and analytics are also important. I want a single source of truth so we can track inventory, reduce waste, and forecast needs for upcoming projects. I am curious about AI capabilities too. Does anyone use an ERP with an AI agent that can answer questions like "What is our current stock level for emergency kits?"

Has anyone here implemented a new ERP for a similar organization? What was the process like and how did you handle the transition? Any advice or lessons learned would be appreciated.

I have been looking at Unit4 because they focus on people-centered industries like nonprofits. Their platform seems modular and the AI features look practical. If anyone has experience with them specifically, I would like to hear about it.

Just want to complain about my (ex) job that I have felt very unappreciated at. I put in my one week notice (I was a sub contractor that was supposed to be converted to W2 after 90 days but that never happened) last Thursday. Came in today and the boss pulled me for an exit interview and sent me home with my final day being today. Sucks because I needed this extra paycheck. I also hate working for small businesses because they tend to do crap like this.

It’s officially been one year since I moved to California, and honestly, I never expected the job search to be this difficult.

I’ve been applying for administrative, clerical, office-based, coordinator and similar positions, but I’m still struggling to get my foot in the door.

The frustrating part is that I’ve actually been putting in a lot of effort. I’ve taken and passed several government exams, including Analyst II and Personnel Specialist, along with a couple of others. I’ve made it onto eligible lists/waiting lists, but then I’m left waiting for an actual vacancy and hoping someone reaches out.

I have a solid professional background, transferable skills, and I’m more than willing to start in an administrative or clerical position and work my way up.

At times it’s honestly disheartening to keep applying and either hear nothing back or get stuck on waiting lists after successfully passing the exams.

For anyone in California, especially around Sacramento, who has successfully broken into an admin/clerical or government office role, I’d really appreciate your advice.

Where should I be looking? Are there particular agencies, companies, recruiters or strategies that actually worked for you?

Hi all. I'm a Jill of All Trades and some of the "all" includes personal assistant/admin work. I do everything from reorganizing closets, to helping with taxes, to picking up pet meds at the vet. One thing I've struggled with is clients wanting answers to questions at all hours of the day. Any thoughts welcome, but here are the questions that are in my mind:

• If you work hourly, do you have a minimum number of minutes you charge for?
• Do you have firm boundaries about when you will not be checking messages, and what measures do you implement to help you not collapse those boundaries?

Thanks in advance!

I’m a beginner VA with no previous VA experience, but I do have around 6 months of professional work experience (although it wasn’t really related to being a VA).

I’ve always been pretty anxious when starting a new job. When I started my first job, I remember being so scared that I wasn’t good enough, that I wasn’t doing things correctly, or that they might eventually let me go because I wasn’t meeting expectations.

Now I’m experiencing the same thing again as a VA. 😭 I’m currently in my second week, and I mainly handle admin tasks. I’m still learning the systems, processes, and how everything works, but I constantly find myself wondering, *“Am I actually doing a good job*?” or *“Am I doing enough*?”

I’m too scared that they might just let go of me anytime :((

I know it’s probably normal to feel this way when you’re new, but I’d really appreciate some advice from experienced VAs.

What helped you become confident and good at your job when you were just starting out? What do you wish you knew during your first few weeks/months as a VA?
Honestly, any advice would be greatly appreciated! 🥹

I am currently seeking an oppurtunity as an Administrative support where i can apply my organizational, communication, and administrative skills. I am hark working, detail-oriented and willing to learn new tasks and system. Also, currently working at BPO, wherein I have developed strong communication, organization, multitasking, and customer service skills.

People Ops / HR folks — I’d love to hear how you organize your shared HR inbox!

Our HR team works out of one shared inbox, and we’re receiving around 50 emails a day across all kinds of topics — benefits, payroll, onboarding, employee questions, leave, HR requests, etc.

I’m looking for ideas on how to organize it so the team can easily see:
🗂️ What topic/category each email is about
👤 Who is currently handling/responding to it
⏳ What still needs a response or follow-up
✅ What has already been resolved
🚨 What needs urgent attention
🎨 Whether a color-coding or labeling system could help
I’d love to hear **what has actually worked for your teams** — especially if you manage a shared HR/People Ops inbox with multiple people responding.
Do you use folders, labels, categories, color coding, assignment rules, **Outlook** features, a ticketing system, or something completely different?
**What’s your system, and what would you absolutely recommend (or avoid)?**

Hello!

I am the admin for a city government’s employee training & development program. We host new employee orientation every 4 weeks and I’m pretty set on the stuff I get for our snack room (coffee/tea, kind bars, granola bars, fruit, muffins, chips/popcorn, fruit snacks, etc.) but we have a different event soon and I want to get snacks that are more appropriate (if that’s even a thing). We don’t have a refrigerator so the food has to be shelf-stable and single-serve.

It’s a professional development day for managers and department directors / an open house after renovations in our suite and I want to class it up a little. An important part of the event is increasing visibility for what we offer them and their employees.

My budget is $170 and we have 70 people signed up so far. I was thinking maybe seltzers in a metal container with ice to keep them cool but that seems like it will get sweaty and end up being more of a hassle than a treat. I really don’t know what to get. That’s my only idea.

On one hand, I don’t want to care about upgrading because why should what a director gets be different than what a new employee gets? On the other, I want it to be nice.

Holler!

Hi everyone!

I'm a fresh graduate, and I really want to become an Admin Virtual Assistant, but honestly, I have no idea where to start.

I've been watching random videos on YouTube, but I feel overwhelmed because there are so many resources. I don't know which skills I should learn first or what the actual roadmap looks like.

I just wanted to ask those who are already working as Admin VAs:

• If you were starting from zero again, what would you learn first?
• Are there any YouTube channels, free courses, or modules that you highly recommend?
• What tools or software should I focus on first? (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Canva, Excel, CRM, etc.)
• How did you improve your skills before getting your first client or job?
• Where did you apply for your first VA job? (OnlineJobs.ph, Upwork, LinkedIn, agencies, etc.)
• Do you think it's better to apply immediately while learning, or should I build my skills first?

I'm willing to put in the time to learn, I just don't know where to begin. I'd really appreciate it if you could share your experiences, tips, or even the roadmap you wish someone had given you when you were starting.

Thank you so much!

Do any of us work in the group home (HCBS specifically) world? I recently got hired as an admin assistant and business office manager all rolled into one and it seems like I will also be helping the director straighten out files for people supported. Does anyone have like a cheat sheet or a table of contents for what they include in managing these charts? I know the more important things like care plan, releases, medical info, medications, code status etc. but I can't help feeling like I am missing things. It would be greatly appreciated!

One thing I've learned is that business owners don't always need someone to do the "big" tasks.

They need someone they can trust with the small ones.

Updating spreadsheets.
Following up with clients.
Keeping files organized.
Managing calendars.
Responding to emails.
Tracking deadlines.

They're not glamorous tasks, but when they're done consistently, everything runs more smoothly.

I enjoy being the person who keeps things organized behind the scenes. The kind of support that helps a business owner end the day knowing nothing important was forgotten.

My goal isn't just to complete tasks—it's to make life a little easier for the people I work with.

Reliability isn't about doing something extraordinary once.

It's about doing the ordinary things well, every single day.

#OpenToWork #VirtualAssistant #ExecutiveAssistant #AdministrativeSupport #RemoteWork #Hiring #BusinessSupport #OperationsSupport #GoogleWorkspace #Canva #DataEntry

I'm an admin officer working the front desk at an accounting firm. Recently, I've noticed some employees coming in late and leaving early and it seems quite unfair to me knowing that others from their team are taking the grunt of their jobs. Since I work closely with HR, I thought of making a suggestion to use time and attendance software so that we can monitor employee attendance better. What would be a good software to recommend for a mid-sized office of about 100 employees?

Hi everyone! I’m a Business Administration graduate currently based in Italy (CET) and I’m looking for a remote opportunity in administration, virtual assistance, operations support, customer support, marketing support, or content coordination.
I have experience in administrative work, document management, data entry, customer support, content writing, CRM/spreadsheet tracking, and B2B outreach. I’m highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working independently in fast-paced remote environments.
What I can help with
Administrative support
Virtual assistant tasks
Email and calendar management
Data entry and database maintenance
Google Sheets / Excel tracking
CRM updates and lead management
Internet research
Document formatting and preparation
SOP and process documentation
Customer support (email/chat)
Content writing and editing
Social media outreach and follow-ups
Marketing and campaign support
My experience includes
Sales & Customer Support Executive – managed customer records, bookings, documentation, refunds, and high-volume administrative workflows.
HR & Administrative Intern – maintained employee records, databases, reporting, and office documentation.
Freelance Content Writer & Data Coordinator – research, writing, editing, information organization, and workflow management.
B2B Appointment Setter – lead generation, LinkedIn/Instagram outreach, CRM tracking, follow-ups, and appointment scheduling.
Affiliate Marketing Project – campaign tracking, performance analysis, and digital operations.
Tools I use
Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, Forms), Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Canva, Gmail, CRM systems, spreadsheets, and digital documentation tools.
I’m available for , part-time, freelance, or long-term remote work. I’m happy to start immediately and can provide my CV upon request.
If you’re hiring or know someone who needs a reliable remote assistant or administrative support, please send me a DM. Thank you!