Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 28, 2008

Of course, you have to present yourself well, answer the interview questions properly, have the skills and knowledge of the position you are applying for and a few other factors that help you get the job. Until next time, T ake care - of your clutter! Great post Richard.

Postal Code 100

Postal Code 2008 Cubicle 2007 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 13, 2009

We really dont have an excuse because it is becoming increasingly easy to take courses online. All you need is to put some time aside and close your door, or put some earphones on, and plug into your computer and learn. I have had great experiences learning online in interactive courses. I have found them to be really helpful.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 13, 2010

I find the best time to think about what I need is when I have a nice quiet time to do that. Of course that usually doesnt happen at work so I take about an hour of my home time, but it is well worth it the next day. Being prepared doesnt have to be hectic, but can just be a good habit you get into.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 1, 2009

Of course there will come a time when questions about certain things will not have to be asked as it is hoped the new hire will catch on to the office procedures and their initiative will kick in and they will take on these tasks on their own, but in the beginning please ask. I dont see it as a weakness, but as a strength.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

Some of the younger bosses are certainly qualified and know how to do some things administratively, but is it an efficient use of their time and is it good job security for us? I of course ignored him and went about providing the best service I could. He loved it and I believe ended up doing his job better because of it.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 10, 2010

They say when you do something for 30 days it becomes a habit, so try some of these and make it a new habit that will save you a lot of time. Of course these are only a portion of the shortcut keys that are out there, but unless they are easy you wont remember them.

Keyboards 100

Keyboards Time Zones IAAP PowerPoint 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 21, 2009

If you keep telling yourself you cant do it, then of course you wont be able to, but if you say I dont know if I can, but I am going to try anyway, or I know I can do that because it was what I was trained for and then go ahead and do it, it will open all kinds of doors for you.

Self Esteem 100

Self Esteem Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 31, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 31 December, 2009 Office Confidential: Just for fun to start your New Year off with a laugh These are excerpts from a presentation I gave to my local International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Chapter dinner meeting. Of course I had to tell everyone at the office. *

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2010 IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 6, 2009

They seemed surprised that I didnt know she had an alcohol problem because they told me you could smell the booze off her every day, but of course I hadnt noticed. I was mentioning to some colleagues that it was too bad she left as she could have been good with some encouragement.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

Take for instance on my first day in my new job, these were the acronyms that were being tossed about in conversations at a meeting where I was taking minutes: DOCAS, DRE, LHINS, NAGWD, OCRI and DAC to name a few and these of course are all pronounced as words.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones ASAP IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 1, 2010

Of course the simple solution would be to have the same password for every aspect of your life, but nope that doesn’t work. Of course even if the system hadnt crashed, I would have needed to know my server and Outlook password so I could get into my sub-folder with all my passwords? But they refuse to help me out.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2010 IAAP Filing 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 4, 2008

Of course we know that people like this are not the Queen and their self-importance is only from themselves, but they can sure make your life miserable while you are in their kingdom. How can you survive in this kind of a working environment?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 29, 2008

I am planning a local fundraiser to help the family with the costs on November 15th, but of course it will be in Ottawa, Canada and I know most of you are elsewhere. What I wasnt aware of was the many changes the family will have to make to their home to make it habitable for young Owen.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 10, 2009

Of course before I recommend anything I try it out so I picked up the phone and it asked me what I was looking for and what city and province. Dates (Writing out dates) Diagnosis or Diagnoses Dictionaries Due to Electronic dictionaries Email Salutations Exclamation marks versus question marks Expressing Currencies Expressing Time Fewer vs.

Google 100

Google Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 10, 2009

Of course what works for me will probably not apply to you so you need to set up folders that apply to your working situation, but the fewer the better. For instance, I have folders for the Board of Directors, International, Personal and one for Work Information. But what about my boss?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Administrative Professionals IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 21, 2009

There comes a time when companies need to pony up the money and either pay for your training or pay for a professional instead of heaving everything off on the admin because theyre cheap. Of course if you are not licensed to do a particular job, or qualified, then you should not do it. February 22, 2009 Patricia Robb said.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JUNE 14, 2009

There are courses on minute taking and Board governance, but also you can learn alot by reading books and asking others who are in this field. Experience helps as you really need to know your stuff. I have been learning on the job as far as minute taking goes, but I love writing so it is something I really enjoy doing. It is interesting work.

Agenda 100

Agenda Time Zones IAAP Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

The switchboard can get so busy at times that its just not possible to introduce every call that comes through (except, of course, for those calling for the big bosses). RE: #5 - As a "receptionist" myself, I feel a need to defend our not always letting you know who is calling. January 19, 2009 Patricia Robb said.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 3, 2009

If you have to P.S. this far you have missed the point of the P.S. * POSTSCRIPT TO MY POSTSCRIPT ARTICLE My boss read my blogpost and pointed out to me that he thought the correct way to write the post script is: PS or PPS Of course, he sent me a link to prove his point.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 1, 2008

Of course there is a down side to being able to do that. Can versus Could Capitalization of hyphenated words Capitalization of names Commas in a series Company name Complement vs compliment Confusing words: lunch/luncheon; company/accompany Contractions Currently vs presently Data: singular or plural?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

Sit down dinners Of course if it is a sit down dinner you have to order for the number of guests you have. Dates (Writing out dates) Diagnosis or Diagnoses Dictionaries Due to Electronic dictionaries Email Salutations Exclamation marks versus question marks Expressing Currencies Expressing Time Fewer vs.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Negotiating International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 23, 2009

Each time I went to get my mail I would find my mail in the other Patricias slot or vice versa. Of course there were four Karens and three Bobs. Or if I was delivering mail to someone I had to stop, re-think and look for their first name. See what I mean? Which do you prefer, First Name, Last Name or Last Name, First Name?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 10, 2009

Of course if you know in the probationary period that this is just not the right fit for you, better to get out rather than being in a job you hate. She advised that I should stay at least one year in any job I was in. She said it wouldnt look good on my resume if I was seen as a job hopper.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 18, 2009

The members of my team of course didnt want to even be near me because of the germs I was spreading and I not only felt sick, but understandably rejected by my co-workers. routine, but finally dragged myself out of the apartment and went to work because I had an all-day meeting to attend that I really needed to be at. Or so I thought.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

It is usually a business I am interested in and I want to know when new courses or products are offered. I still get some flyers by regular mail and I do still appreciate them when it is a menu from a fast-food restaurant, money-back coupons or notices of courses in my area, but otherwise I throw them in the recycle bin.

Fax 100

Fax Time Zones IAAP 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 29, 2009

Many times I need to proof text and comment with my thoughts before he even looks at it. Of course my comments are limited because the subject matter is not my expertise, but he relies on my input and corrections to make the document look good.

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 15, 2009

The first day of each month, I go through the monthly folder and sort the items into the appropriate numbered file to be processed through the course of the new month. If it something that needs attention after the month ends, then it goes into the monthly folder. March 16, 2009 Patricia Robb said. Thats great!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100