Archive for February 2009

Best Tips for a Successful Interview Experience by Joan Burge

February 20, 2009 by Jacky Ammerman CAP.

Joan Burge, a “Leader in Administrative Excellence”, provides a list of interview tips for visitors to her blog. She also introduces her new book “Underneath It All”.

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The Office Without Admins - APW contest!

February 20, 2009 by Jacky Ammerman CAP.

For Immediate Release

http://www.iaap-hq.org/newsroom/apw/contest.html

International Association of Administrative Professionals
10502 NW Ambassador Drive
Kansas City, MO 64153

Contact: Emily Allen
(816) 891-6600 X 2239
eallen@iaap-hq.org

The Office Without Admins
Public invited to submit videos about office life Kansas City, Mo. The International Association of Administrative Professionals invites the public to help celebrate Administrative Professionals Day by showing us what an office would be like without its administrative professionals. IAAP is offering a prize package for the most innovative, entertaining and persuasive video.Workplaces around the world need admins. Their hard work and dedication keep offices functioning smoothly and efficiently. We want you to submit your short video showing us what happens to the office when the admin or admin staff is gone.

The rules are easy. Have your original video to us by March 31. Make your video less than two minutes. Make it memorable. Entrants can submit their videos at http://www.youtube.com/group/iaap

The Office Without Admins winner and runners-up can be viewed at our YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/group/iaap. All submissions become the property of IAAP and can be used for promotional purposes.

About IAAP
IAAP is the world’s leading association for administrative professionals, with 600 chapters and more than 40,000 members and affiliates worldwide. IAAP sponsors Administrative Professionals Week April 19-25 and Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday, April 22. Further information is available on the IAAP Web site at www.iaap-hq.org/newsroom/apw

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Find Friends on TWITTER

February 18, 2009 by Jacky Ammerman CAP.

The following link is a 4-step tutorial on how to find and follow friends on Twitter:

http://tinyurl.com/b7j39r

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45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy - Book Review, Part 5 (of 5)

February 14, 2009 by Jacky Ammerman CAP.

If you missed the previous blogs on this review/discussion you can review them at:

45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy - Book Review, Part 1 (of 5), Part 2 (of 5), Part 3 (of 5), Part 4 (of 5).

by Anita Bruzzese
http://www.45things.com/

Part Five
Sis, Boom, Bah! Failure to Give Full Support to Your Employer Says You’re Not Ready for an Investment of Time and Resources

39. Squandering Time at Seminars - Prepare for a seminar/convention so that you and your boss receive the most return on the investment of time and resources.

- Plan ahead.
- Pack appropriately.
- Organize your business cards.
- Stay organized.
- Review your efforts.

40. Skipping Company-Sponsored Events - Attending these events can help build better relationships with coworkers and superiors. These events are additional opportunities for networking.

- Be prepared.
- Listen and learn.
- Move beyond your comfort zone.
- Mind your manners.
- Remember it’s not about you.

41. Ignoring the Company’s Goals - Remain focused on goals that will help not only your company but your own career.

- Get into the boss’s head.
- Do it better.
- Ask questions.
- Pick up the dropped ball.

42. Dodging Meetings - Meetings give you an opportunity to impress and support your boss.

- DO be prepared.
- DON’T take the cell phone or pager.
- DO sit next to someone different each time.
- DON’T keep watching the clock.
- DO watch your body language.
- DO try to participate.
- DON’T be shy.
- DON’T be late.

43. Not Going Beyond Your Job Description - Consider the following ways of adding more value to your job:

- Be a cheerleader.
- Take action.
- Educate yourself.
- Be fearless.
- Ask for feedback.

44. Neglecting New Coworkers - Helping the newbie can be good for the newbie, you and the boss. Lend a hand - it’s the right thing to do.

- Point out the obvious.
- Write it down.
- Make the territory familiar.
- Be inclusive.
- Be a mentor.

45. Fighting Change - Employees who can cope with change have the most overall value to an employer.

- Look deep.
- Avoid placing blame.
- Open your mind.
- Build support.
- Take some risks.
- Focus on learning.

It’s time to change and quit hiding behind the “I don’t knows” in your life. It’s time to find the answers you need to get ahead and stop driving the boss crazy. — Anita Bruzzese.

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Stand Out for that Promotion or Position

February 14, 2009 by Jacky Ammerman CAP.

February Newsletter

STAND OUT for that Promotion or Position

A job skills portfolio is a great way to demonstrate that you are the right person for a professional opportunity. For years, it has been standard practice for designers, graphic artists, teachers and writers to keep a portfolio showing examples of their skills and capability. The job skills portfolio, sometimes called a career portfolio, gives employers a complete picture of who you are: your experience, your education, your accomplishments, your skill sets, and what you have the potential to become. You can use your career portfolio in job interviews to showcase a point and to illustrate the depth of your skills and experience.

Be sure to create your portfolio before you need it and update it regularly. Keep it in a standard three-inch binder; use tabs for easy use. You may also want to create an electronic version, although do not send your entire portfolio when asked for a resume.

A professional portfolio can include:

Mission Statement about your career path and work philosophy, and include career goals.
Your current résumé listing major accomplishments.
Work Samples — Include your best work to-date, including presentations, papers, writing samples, projects, and material on CDs or other multimedia.
Any certificates, degrees, licenses, recommendations or awards you have received with a description of each.
Testimonials from employers, evaluations and reviews, customers comments, or recognition of any kind that you have received.
A list of conferences, courses and workshops you have attended with the skills you acquired and transcripts if applicable.
A list of professional associations that you are member of and any professional development programs you have completed.
Describe volunteer activities and responsibilities.
Have between three and five professional references and be sure to include full names, titles, addresses, and phone/e-mail.
Documentation of technical or computer skills.
Newspaper articles or press releases relating to you and/or your work.
PowerPoint slides or documents you have designed, artwork or photos if applicable.

Besides the traditional portfolio, if you have access to space on a Web site, you might also consider developing an online Web-based portfolio. Yes, it takes awhile to create the portfolio but a skills portfolio will not only help you stand out and shine, it will also motivate you to achieve more!

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Women’s Institute for a SEcure Retirement

February 14, 2009 by Jacky Ammerman CAP.

Improving the long-term financial security for all women through education and advocacy.

Mission

The Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement works to provide low and moderate income women (aged 18 to 65) with basic financial information aimed at helping them take financial control over their lives and to increase awareness of the structural barriers that prevent women’s adequate participation in the nation’s retirement systems.Although women have entered the labor force in record numbers, their access to retirement benefits has not followed at the same level. As the only project to focus exclusively on the specific inequities that disadvantage women, WISER seeks to improve the opportunities for women to secure retirement income.

http://www.wiserwomen.org/portal/

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