How to see past my previous experience
For the past 6-1/2 years, I worked for a group of 3 churches. For a few years I had a co-worker, but when one of the churches left the office set-up, I found myself working by myself for the other 2. That lasted two years, during which I was responsible for every aspect of running that office. I produced all the materials for Sundays, a bi-weekly newsletter for one of the churches, kept track of volunteer schedules, and so on and so on and so on.
The problem I'm having now is that a lot of people in the position to hire me cannot view this experience as being "corporate" enough for them. The fact that before this I was an Executive Assistant to a Sr. VP for a high school exchange program and an Executive Secretary to an account group at an international advertising agency doesn't seem to carry much weight.
I am having such a hard time getting interviews even though I have top-notch skills and the ability to learn anything that might come along.
How do I handle this when I can't even get people to call me?
Thanks!!
You're right, Steven. Here's my resume (I've removed the personal information though).
--------------------------------------------------------
St. Paul’s on the Green March 2000 – November 2006
Office Administrator
Responsible for all aspects of running the shared office for two churches:
¨ Coordinated volunteer schedules comprised of 80-100 names per month, formatted into Word tables; mail merged and sent out monthly by e-mail and regular mail
¨ Developed Word templates to simplify production and make weekly deadline more manageable for production of over 300 worship bulletins and 450 bi-monthly newsletters
¨ Maintained separate databases of between 100 and 450 families for each church
¨ Organized and scheduled meetings including both professional staff and volunteers
¨ Created systems in calendar software to schedule events such as weekly meetings and events scheduled up to six months in advance; instructed other employees in use of software
¨ Designed newsletters and postcard announcements (Word & Publisher) as well as e-mail announcements (Outlook) used to keep in touch with staff and parishioners to ensure attendance at important meetings and other events
¨ Streamlined bulk mail methods to accomplish twice monthly newsletter mailings of over 500 pieces; tracked costs and number of pieces mailed in Excel spreadsheet; supervised volunteers assembling mailing
¨ Oversaw registrations for two Summer Camp programs: created databases of names in