Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 20, 2008

Administrative Assistants have a list of things they specialize in including business writing, proofreading, minute taking, meeting planning, travel agent, desktop publishing, editing, public relations and client liaison to name a few.

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2008 2007 Cubicle Google Docs 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 17, 2010

If you have to answer the phone, deal with an email or attend to something for your boss, do so, as that is the nature of the admin job -- multi-tasking, but once you have done it, go right back to your to-do list, re-focus and continue what you were doing. Once I had identifed the problem, I could make a plan on how to deal with it. (for

Environment 100

Environment Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 19, 2009

When I receive an initial request for a meeting, I use a meeting form and write down the information I need: who is requesting the meeting, what is the purpose of the meeting, where it will be held and a phone number or an e-mail address and dates that are available. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 16, 2010

Check: Are phone calls planned? For each one, write down what you hope to accomplish with the phone call to help you stay focused. It automatically updates when I use an office product, and I can manually enter stop/start times for phone calls, meetings, face to faces, etc. August 16, 2010 Patricia Robb said.

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Time Zones IAAP 2010 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. I chose details and was given the street address and phone number and I still had the option of having my call put through to the store number. You can use google to get similar information.

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Google Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 9, 2010

I breathe a sigh of relief when I get someones assistant on the phone or receive an email from them. If I hear from the assistant I know I am going to get answers and the process of setting up a meeting will go smoothly, but should I try to develop a working relationship with them? They are a valuable resource and I appreciate them.

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Time Zones IAAP 2010 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 22, 2008

An e-mail like the one I received would have been better delivered face to face or by phone in order to get the tone of what the person was trying to communicate. I stop the flow and pick up the phone. It is amazing how quickly a matter can be handled on the phone or in person. Why are we not speaking to each other anymore?

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Time Zones IAAP International 2008 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

The cure: always answer the phone professionally - this way youre never caught off-guard. I agree that we should always answer the phone professionally, but if it is a co-worker calling, it seems silly to say "Patricia Robb speaking, Executive Assistant to the CEO, may I help you?" January 19, 2009 Patricia Robb said. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 1, 2010

Even if you phone the bank they need your secret passcode or they wont speak to you about your account. It's been the most efficient way for me to keep track of them since it's so handy to get to and I 'back myself up' by putting the log-in info for my outlook account in a notes area on my cell phone. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones 2010 IAAP Filing 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 12, 2009

Sometimes e-mail is not the best way to communicate and it needs to be followed up by a phone call or face-to-face short meeting. Next week I would like to talk about meeting planning and give you some scheduling tips that have worked well for me. cc = courtesy copy; bcc = blind courtesy copy]. I hope you find it helpful.

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

They said it works with most phone services. I have never used this escape route, but was reminded about it at a webinar I participated in recently and will keep these instructions close at hand. I thought I would pass this tip along in the event you find yourself wishing you could take your words back. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP 2010 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 9, 2010

The meetings were stress free and I was able to depend on my checklists and templates. Did I phone to get my electricity turned on? Now I am on holidays and preparing for a big move to a new home. You can be sure I have checklists for that as well. Have a great summer everyone and enjoy your holidays when they come. (for

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 5, 2009

I am sure after that call her husband got off the phone and kicked the dog or was cranky with a sales clerk at the grocery store. It ended up that the phone lines were down because of a thunderstorm in town and he had been trying to reach her since early that afternoon. What happened? Crankiness and bad moods can be passed on.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 1, 2008

I can interact where I am now, but I have to get up and go if I want to speak with someone and then when I get there I may find they are busy or on the phone so I have wasted my time. Of course there is a down side to being able to do that. (for If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list.

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 5, 2009

I have a network of assistants that I call friends, although some are just phone colleagues, but we help each other. The assistant/boss relationship certainly is one of the closest working relationships with some comparing it to that of a work wife. GET TO KNOW YOUR CO-WORKERS. and find out early on who you can go to and trust.

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Time Zones IAAP Interviewing Holidays 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

If it is an external meeting, but local, enter location of meeting in calendar, provide your boss with address and directions, contact phone number, taxi chit. Do you need to book it or were you provided with location. Enter it in calendar. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list.

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Time Zones IAAP International Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 15, 2010

Posted by Patricia Robb at 1:33 AM Labels: Administrative Assistant , calendar , Outlook , professional assistant , scheduling meetings Reactions: 4comments: BettyAnn said. I LOVE the color feature. I can even make reminders to him for his personal events (green) like lunch with a friend or picking up dry cleaning. (for 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Calendars IAAP Time Zones 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

Telemarketing is my number one annoyance in advertising and as soon as I answer the phone and get that few seconds of dead air, that is my queue to hang up. What a great way to lose customers -- annoy them, but they must be making some money at it or they wouldnt continue to do it. September 21, 2009 Patricia Robb said. Oh, I agree.

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Fax IAAP Time Zones 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

There is value in getting to know people, even if it is just over email or the phone. Important relationship building In all these cases I had much better results because I had established a relationship with the venue contact. Once they start to have a relationship with you they are much more open to trying to help you. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Negotiating International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 11, 2009

I can tell you my friends and colleagues got a lot of phone calls in those early days and it was a wonderful resource and help to me. I had a big learning curve going into it and I didnt know any of the other assistants so I felt all alone with my challenges. 411 Look Up 411.ca

IAAP 100

IAAP Time Zones Administrative Professionals International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 23, 2009

the phone book, standard filing practices etc.) Of course there were four Karens and three Bobs. See what I mean? Which do you prefer, First Name, Last Name or Last Name, First Name? I grew up in a world that used Last Name, First Name (i.e. so that is my default and I find it very user friendly. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 17, 2008

Be professional on the phone and greet people who come calling, but not everyone needs to get in to see the boss. Try to anticipate the need so you can have the file or the answer your boss needs, before he or she even knows they need it. Be protective of your boss’s time. Be very selective and guard their time. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Filing 2008 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 27, 2009

I basically know how to answer the phones and take messages. I just started at a law firm this week. I have not had much guidance. They have about 9 lawyers, 2 paralegals, 1 receptionist (me), and a office manager. Then they suddenly say hey do this. It is overwhelming. (for 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 Administrative Professionals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 27, 2008

I am not taking a wireless phone with me and I am not going to talk about work with my friends where I am visiting. A change of scenery and a change of conversation is good for us to recharge and just get away from it all from time to time. Talking about work all the time is not healthy for anyone. I cant wait! 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Holidays Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 12, 2008

My former boss gave me an excellent reference on paper and by phone. I can honestly say that even though it was a hard time to go through, I ended up getting a much better job and a better opportunity and can look back on it as a good learning experience. If you do have to leave, dont forget to ask for a reference letter. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 13, 2009

The last online course I took was under $70 and was interactive using both the computer and a speaker phone for audio. I have found them to be really helpful. You can contact them at: Louis@lastminutetraining.ca January 13, 2009 Anonymoussaid. Is the appraisal/performance evaluation the time to ask for a raise? 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Postal Code 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 15, 2009

Other Tasks: If you need to set yourself a Task further to a phone call request or just to set a reminder to do something at a future date, highlight the Tasks folder by clicking on it once and from your Outlook Toolbar press New and it will open a Task for you and you can then proceed as above to set your dates and reminders. (for

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 24, 2009

If it is with an outside contact, a phone call apologizing for your error and being open to whatever steps you need to take to make it right will go a long way to fixing it. Sometimes we feel we have to do everything ourselves, but there can be alternatives if we ask. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 5, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 20, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 27, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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PowerPoint Time Zones IAAP 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Administrative Professionals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 23, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP AT&T 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 31, 2009

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Administrative Professionals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

The last online course I took was under $70 and was interactive using both the computer and a speaker phone for audio. It was a convenient alternative to a live classroom, but I still do appreciate the classroom setting and nothing can compare with the people you meet and discussions you can have with your classmates during a break. (for

Training 100

Training Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 12, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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2010 Interviewing Time Zones IAAP 100