AdminSecret

The economy is sour and we have yet to see signs of the recovery in our own lives, but there’s no need to hoard every penny you’ve got and live in fear. Why? We’ve been through bad times before. And we didn't just survive — we emerged even stronger and smarter than before. When? The Great Depression of the 1930s, for ...

I don’t know about you, but those words are the bane of my existence. Part of our job as administrative professionals is to design office processes and to improve on old ones. The first step in improving an existing process is to understand why it’s being done as it is. That’s when the dreaded words appear. “Because we’ve always done it ...

We all know what Microsoft Excel is. It’s a spreadsheet software. It’s not a database. It’s never been a database. It never will be a database. Do I sound strident there? GOOD! Seriously, it’s not a database, folks, so please quit using it as one. I can’t tell you how many places I’ve worked keep critical data in spreadsheets, jumping through ...

1. Why Do You Want to Work in This Industry? Bad answer: “I love to shop. Even as a kid, I spent hours flipping through catalogues.” Don’t just say you like it. Anyone can do that. Focus instead on your history with that particular industry, and if you can, tell a success story. Good answer: “I've always loved shopping, but my ...

I had a question this week about the security of Gmail, the very popular on-line e-mail service from Google. "Please let me know, how safe the confidential documents keeping in mails….????? I would be much much thankful to you if u kindly provide me some details on it….As i would like to share with you that, i have kept some of ...

Administrative work takes a great deal of dedication, motivation and tact. It also calls for a comfort with technology and openness to training. When figuring out if becoming an administrative assistant is the best fit for you, ask and answer the following questions: -Do you like the environment of a business office? Big or small ? -Do you like greeting and ...

10) There Is An Entire Week Dedicated To You Christmas in April? The last full week of the month is all about giving you flowers. 9) More Often Than Not, You Are The Only One Who Knows How To Do It It is funny to watch people squirm. The head of finance is a genius, so how come he can’t change ...

Does sexism still exist in the workplace? Of course it does. But it's no longer in the form of an unsolicited smack on the behind or blatant, belittling comment. Modern day sexism is less obvious, more subtle, harder to put your finger on. It's also harder to fight. In her blog post "Top 10 Uwritten Rules That Could Sabotage Your Career," ...

Make sure your resume is in top-notch shape by avoiding the top 10 resume blunders: 1. Too Focused on Job Duties Your resume should not be a boring list of job duties and responsibilities. Go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your achievements, ask yourself: • How ...

Being an administrative assistant is great (well, usually), but sometimes even the greatest workplace can offer up some pretty unpleasant situations -- ones that you’ve had to endure with a smile on your face even though you’re about to cry from frustration. We’ve asked some real-life, star admins what they absolutely can’t stand about their jobs and come up with some ...

A person I worked with had a problem with alcohol and the whole office knew about it except me. I can't smell so I didn't notice what the others did, but in a way that was a good thing. It seems as soon as we tag someone as having an alcohol problem, we don't seem to see anything else about the ...

Gloria just finished a temp assignment and experienced an awful case of sabotaging by a peer admin who is a lot younger than her and has been with the company for a year. She asks for information on dealing with a saboteur. Gloria said that she noticed this administrative assistant manages upward and is passive aggressive and well connected in the ...

Question: If you send your cover letter and résumé to an employer via e-mail, is it best to write an e-mail message and attach your cover letter and résumé documents to it? Or should you skip the cover-letter attachment, and make the e-mail message itself your cover letter? Answer: Skip the cover-letter attachment, and turn your e-mail message into a cover ...

It was only 7.45am and I was catching up with emails and playing with some photos I wanted to edit. The business line rang and I wondered whether I should pick it up yet or not. After all I don’t usually start work till a bit later. I answered the phone and it was one of my clients. A check he’d ...

As the jobless rate continues to rise, few are exempt from layoff jitters. Downsizing, re-organization, a shift in strategy — whatever you want to call it — can make going to work seem like a game of musical chairs. But there are some proactive measures you can take to ensure you're not left standing at the end of the round. ...

Sheila had perfect timing. I was just focusing on Professional Business Image within the Blog this week and last when she wrote us asking several good questions and ones I know enter the minds of many admins. I will try to address each one the best I can. 1. She first states, "I would like to address the cost of professional ...

You want to start a career, you like to support people, and you are naturally friendly and helpful. Expectantly, you are thinking about becoming an administrative assistant. But where do you start? Follow the best step-by-step guide out there that takes you from conception to reality. STEP 1: Research the Field STEP 2: Decide If Becoming an Administrative Assistant Is Right ...

So, your killer resume has resulted in the interview. Now it’s make or break time. Nothing else matters. When you walk in the door for an interview you are starting off at zero. The only thing that matters to that employer now is how you come off in the interview. First Impressions Remember, you can never make a new first impression. ...

Photo: shearforce/Flickr (CC) Do your coworkers like you? Or do they avoid you like day-old conference-room bagels? Does it matter, as long as you're getting the job done? You betcha, says a Harvard Business Review report on "Competent Jerks, Lovable Fools, and the Formation of Social Networks" by Tiziana Casciaro and Miguel Sousa Lobo. Like it or not, likeability matters. ...

Sometimes, a person will lose their job through no fault of their own. The whims of a psychotic boss, an economy in shambles, or a simple misunderstanding can have an otherwise satisfactory employee packing up his or her cubicle. Other times, a person will lose their job because they have done something so incredibly foolish, you wonder how they ever ...