Professional Assistant Blog

SEPTEMBER 14, 2007

Outsourcing has been around for quite some time now and I will discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of it. The advantage of outsourcing is that you can usually get a bundled rate for the services that you are looking for. Home About Me Advertise Outsourcing - Good or Bad? Everyone could use a little more green in their wallets.

2007 100

2007 2008 Cubicle Google Docs 100

Professional Assistant Blog

JANUARY 18, 2008

If you are on a training course via your computer (WebEx) and listening in to the presenter, you want your full attention on the seminar or workshop that you are attending at your cubicle. Until next time, Take care - of your clutter! Its inevitable, but its part of your job description.

Training 100

Training Cubicle Microsoft Word 2008 100

Professional Assistant Blog

FEBRUARY 19, 2008

I worked as an Investment Advisor’s Assistant, completed my CSC (Canadian Securities Course), but soon after, I realized that this wasn’t really for me. I would be able to do work without too many interruptions , have quiet time, since the walls and the closed door (at times) would stop the noise from reaching in.

Policies 100

Policies 2008 Cubicle 2007 100

Professional Assistant Blog

JANUARY 4, 2008

Its a great piece of software that will help you and you marketing department figure out the best course of action to increase your sites popularity. The best part of this software is that it provides you with resolved IP addresses, which (most of the time) tells you what company visited your site.

2008 100

2008 Google Docs Cubicle 2007 100

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. Last Name: Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me about the Position Applied For with XXX Company.

Postal Code 100

Postal Code 2008 Cubicle 2007 100

Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 27, 2008

Add New, of course, would be used to add a brand new contact. Click on the arrow down button right beside the "New" button, then click "Distribution List" Here you can either "Select Members" or "Add New" Select Members is used to find contacts that are already in your address book.

UPS 100

UPS 2008 Cubicle Microsoft Outlook 100

Professional Assistant Blog

SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

Money, of course, is important, but what about the customer? Providing excellent customer service is crucial. Do you feel that you could be helping the client even if you dont know the answer to their issue right away? This happens so often within large corporations, since most of them care only about the bottom line - money!

2008 100

2008 Customer Service Cubicle Google Docs 100

Professional Assistant Blog

AUGUST 28, 2007

Mention to your boss (in a professional manner of course) that you have X number of tasks, projects, etc. Until next time, Take care - of your clutter! Here are the basic rules to do this: Start off with something positive, such as you have been working hard on whatever project you want to mention and show some results of this.

2008 100

2008 Google Docs Cubicle 2007 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 1, 2010

There are just too many passwords to remember, and that doesnt include my bosss passwords that I also need to know because I have to check his emails as well as my own. Of course the simple solution would be to have the same password for every aspect of your life, but nope that doesn’t work. But they refuse to help me out.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2010 IAAP Filing 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

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. (for

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JUNE 27, 2009

HA HA This assignment of course is a result of "Just say yes". My friend said it didnt seem to faze her and she quickly pulled up her skirt and kept talking like nothing happened. I wonder what that CEO was talking about that night with his wife. Honey, you will never believe what happened at the office?"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays Meeting Minutes 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. (for I dont see it as a weakness, but as a strength.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Professional Assistant Blog

JANUARY 15, 2008

There is life outside of the office, but of course, you need to go to work to get your bread and butter. Until next time, Take care - of your clutter! You feel that your work life is in place and need to find some balance in other parts of your life? Up until recently, I too felt this way.

2008 100

2008 Cubicle Google Docs 2007 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. (for

Self Esteem 100

Self Esteem Time Zones IAAP International 100

Professional Assistant Blog

OCTOBER 17, 2008

This happens to everyone from time to time and there are ways to avoid them (at times). This, of course, can be a nightmare, since you could be walking up many flights. You start to notice a particular smell, yet you know it wasn’t you, but you wonder if everyone thinks that it was.

Etiquette 100

Etiquette UPS 2008 Cubicle 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 20, 2009

Of course, the reason could have been that I was up all night with a sick child or wasnt feeling well myself or I just had an argument with my spouse and was still stewing about it. I teach an Administrative Professional course at a business college in Winnipeg and I have a website for my classroom. Keep up the good work!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2009 IAAP Administrative Professionals 100

Professional Assistant Blog

OCTOBER 30, 2008

By The Professional Assistant on Thursday, October 30, 2008 Filed Under: Meetings , Organize , Productivity D o you find yourself being bored out of your mind at times with nothing to do? This, of course, is heaven to some, but like me, cant stand being bored. His reply is usually, "Im working on some things that Ill get to you soon."

2008 100

2008 2007 Cubicle Google Docs 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 8, 2009

Of course you have to be prepared and know your stuff, but knowing you look good when you walk in the door will do wonders on how you present yourself. The same applies if you have a job interview or a new challenge at work. Buying a new outfit or wearing a freshly dry-cleaned suit will go a long way to increasing your confidence level.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Professional Assistant Blog

JULY 16, 2008

Heres the link: www.findaseminar.com/administrative-seminars.html Also, one other thing I wanted to mention is that the company that I work at has online courses that I can take. If you are in a different country, I can try to find you some others as well. This definitely helped my position.

2008 100

2008 Cubicle 2007 Google Docs 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. (for 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

Professional Assistant Blog

DECEMBER 11, 2007

If there are some negative feedback, let them go, it builds conversations (of course take out the spam) 2. 3comments for this post Chris Salazar Good points. Id like to add two important notes: 1. Enable comments and like you said do not screen them. No ghost writing.

2007 100

2007 2008 Cubicle Google Docs 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. I have loved it ever since and that is when my list of handy Favourites was born. Recently, a temp worker at my job gave me another Google tip. Google has an information line ( 1 800 466 4411 ).

Google 100

Google Time Zones IAAP International 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). I have a love/hate relationship with the email autofill. The cure: always answer the phone professionally - this way youre never caught off-guard.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 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

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. There is value in getting to know people, even if it is just over email or the phone. He suggested four so I went with three for everyone and for some appetizers only two and it was more than enough.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Negotiating 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

MAY 10, 2009

It used to be the secretary did everything for the boss, now the executives do a lot of their own administrative work, such as email management, so a background as an admin assistant can certainly help. So much is expected of executives these days. She advised that I should stay at least one year in any job I was in.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 31, 2009

I wonder what kind of service the client would have thought he was offering! Years ago, when I worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), I took a training course on a Telex machine. Again, when I worked at the RCMP, I went on a training course for a machine to do criminal record checks. Needless to say -- it worked!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2010 IAAP International 100

Professional Assistant Blog

NOVEMBER 20, 2007

Here are 5 ways to score brownie points with your boss and get that promotion or raise (or both) a little faster: The one thing that I’ve learned over the course of my career is to try getting to know your boss. Are you a seasoned veteran like myself (well, this is what people tell me)?

2007 100

2007 2008 Cubicle Google Docs 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 1, 2008

Of course there is a down side to being able to do that. When you are in a cube you just stick your head up to speak to your neighbour and if you see they are on the phone, you go about doing something else until you hear they are free. You have to be respectful of your neighbours. If you have ever worked in a cube you will know what I mean.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100