AdminSecret

Preventive and Preemptive Moves Lots of people are jittery about their jobs these days, and given the constant stream of bad news about the economy, who can blame any employee for being nervous? Below are 10 tips that might help you keep your job, and 10 tips for being prepared if the ax falls and you have to start a ...

Firm Up Your References Part of being realistic is accepting that your job may not survive, so among the things you should do just in case is firm up your references. Many employers limit managers to just-the-facts references, and what you need is a hearty endorsement with plenty of savory details. Cultivate two or three references before you need them. ...

You want to start a career, you like to support people, and you are naturally friendly and helpful. Expectedly, 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 ...

Whether you want to advance to a better gig or get more meaningful work and recognition in your current one, it pays to present yourself as someone a few rungs higher on the corporate ladder. Here are some tips for developing executive style, no matter what your position on the org chart. Focus Your Look from Top to Bottom “A well-groomed ...

We all know the U.S. economy isn't doing so hot, but that fact isn't monolithic: Some industries are hiring and thriving despite the overall slowdown. Check out Business Week's extensive list of great places to launch a career, and boiled it down to the essential information on landing a job at the top 35 companies. Browse through this slide-show to learn ...

Virtual Assisting has become one of the most exciting and rewarding home-based businesses. What a privilege it is to be a part of such an evolutionary industry that continually grows and offers new opportunities and rewards for those coming into the business and those veteran pros as well. Marketing your Virtual Assistant business can be a rewarding adventure, providing you with ...

It’s one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview: Tell me about yourself. Your response to this request will set the tone for the rest of the interview. For some, this is the most challenging question to answer, as they wonder what the interviewer really wants to know and what information they should include. Eleanor dreaded this question. When ...

As my career has progressed and I've added some interesting on-the-job experiences to my work history, I started to develop a list of interview questions that I asked the interviewers when I was in a job interview. An interview is an information exchange between you and a potential employer. They are not obligated to offer the position to you, and you ...

Monster Member Will Asks: I'm really a friendly guy, and I have excellent relationships with people. But I tend to have a few good friends rather than many superficial ones. I like to have long quiet dinners with people where we can really talk about what we're thinking and feeling. I've always hated fraternity parties and mega-events where you go to ...

You've always considered yourself a top-notch professional, but lately, it seems you're losing your touch. You don't feel like you fit in anymore. It's as if you walked into the office one morning and everything was different. These changes are probably much more subtle than you think, but you finally woke up to the fact that something's wrong. Is it ...

After 12 years of working in a corporate environment, desktop publishing assistant and account manager Cathy Kessler was getting bored and frustrated with the lack of flexibility in her job. So she decided to start her own home-based business as a virtual assistant (VA), and she hasn't had any second thoughts. With employers cutting overhead costs, it's a good time to ...

Whether hiring for internships or full-time positions, most recruiters have heard statements like these from college students over and over again: "I have strong communication skills." "I'm self-motivated." "I'm good at managing my time." "I have excellent leadership qualities." "I work well with others." When you make claims like these in your interviews - perhaps in response to a question like, ...

In most job-filling situations, the employer has the luxury of choosing from several well-qualified applicants, all of whom could probably do the job. That's when the little things, like the common but often unrecognized mistakes described here, almost always come into play. Make sure you avoid them, so they don't cost you a shot at the job. h4. *1. Using a ...

Any article about what to wear to an interview might well begin with a qualifying statement covering the extremes in various states (New York and California, for example) and industries (technology, manufacturing), which are possible exceptions to the normal rules of fashion. But it might surprise you to learn that those extremes have, over the last couple of years, begun to ...

Human resource people tell me a good reference can make or break a job applicant, but many of those vying for jobs seem to give their references little or no consideration. Even when job-hunters do spend a long time singling out the best possibile references, how can you be sure that they deliver? With that in mind, we've consulted CareerDiva and ...

If you watch TV, you may think there are only two basic career options if you love the law: Become a lawyer or a cop. Fortunately, real life is not like television. So if studying for the LSAT or heading for the police academy aren't on your docket, consider these 10 suggestions. Perhaps one of these will lead to the verdict ...

You sit facing the interviewer, feeling like things are moving along nicely when all of a sudden the interview takes a drastic turn for the worse. What just happened? You may have hit one of the interviewer's pet peeves, one of those things that automatically triggers a negative response. Here are seven of the most common peeves provided by experienced interviewers, ...

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 ...

Changing careers is never easy. Half the world thinks you've lost your mind, headhunters say you'll never work again and your relatives contribute the old "I told you so" routine. But for many burned-out, bored or multitalented folks who are sitting on skills they're not getting a chance to use, changing fields is the only way to keep from losing their ...

How you can use existing skills to start your own homebased business. Q: I'm an administrative assistant who would like to work out of my home full time for more flexibility and independence. What can I do to start something soon? A: Your path is clear, and it can pay well. It's called being a virtual assistant. According to the International ...

Finding a job can be almost as time-consuming as actually having a job! For many people it can take days, weeks, even months, to land that dream job, and it's no surprise that it's easy to get discouraged, distracted, and depressed. There are two important things to remember - you are not alone and we are here to help! AdminSecret comes ...

Look before you leap – be sure you have an understanding of what administrative assistants do to see if there’s a good career fit. Luckily for you, AdminSecret did the research for you. The Job Joan Burge, an expert consultant to administrative professionals, outlines the most essential “Twelve Key Competencies” of an admin in her book, Become an Inner Circle Assistant. ...

Some people go into human resources thinking that it's like social work. Here's a news flash for anyone who thinks in those terms: If you're the kind of person who wants to adopt every stray kitten and advise every needy person you meet, you may want to find a different profession. The plain truth is that HR people have limits on ...

From the blog post "A few more Interview Questions to Ask the Interviewer" and a follow up to "Questions for Administrative Professionals to Ask the Interviewer" Upon reviewing my personal customized list of interview questions that I have developed over the years, I realized that I should share a few others that may be helpful also. Additional questions to consider asking ...

In a competitive job market, it's hard enough for job seekers on a steady career path to get their resumes noticed. If you are pursuing a new direction, it's all that much more difficult to convince hiring managers to take a chance on you. A common mistake career changers make is to use the same resumes that worked in their previous ...

Successful administrative professionals don't stay on top by accident; they work at it by constantly improving their skills. "You must take classes and continue training, because software programs and other things are constantly changing," says Cynthia Lively, past president of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). Lively, who has 36 years of admin experience, is also the administrative assistant to ...

Resumes normally get less than a 15-second glance at the first screening. If someone has asked you to review his resume and you want to help him ensure it gets read - or want to know if your own is up to par - be sure you can answer yes to the following questions: h2. First Impression Does the resume look ...

What is a Board of Advisors and Why Should Every Smart Professional Have One? Gone are the days when any of us -- no matter what our level of business experience, our job description or our career goals – needs to rely solely on own selves for everything. From the Internet to social media sites to the "it takes a village" ...

Going Back to Work? Maybe you took some years off to go back to school, or to raise your family, or maybe you just took a break from the “rat race” and now want back in. If you’re considering going back to work, or have already made the leap, this is the place for you. People going back to work have ...

Now that you have decided this field is for you and have the smarts to back it up, you are ready to show yourself off to employers, right? Wrong. Be sure you have a standout resume, an impeccable cover letter, and have brushed up on your interview skills. Follow our expert advice on honing your job search, applying for, and landing ...

Administrative professionals are one of the most in demand workforces in the country. But some states need office support professionals more than others. If you are having trouble finding a job in your area, or you are just looking for a fresh start, these five states are estimated to offer the most job growth over the next decade. From sunny California ...

Compare your salary with other admins in your state and across the country. Below are the listings for the average salaries across all 50 states according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, are you being paid fairly? Note: The National average salary for administrative assistants is $40,700. The Top Ten 1. New Jersey Avg Salary: $51,100 2. Washington, D.C. Avg ...

The average person will spend well over 2,000 hours at work each year. “Ideally they’re doing something they really enjoy,” says Heather Mayfield, vice president of training and operations for staffing firm Snelling in Dallas. What? This doesn’t sound like you? You can find an admin job you enjoy by finding your niche -- that one place in the working world ...

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 ...

Whether you decide you want to move up in your chosen field, move out of the profession, or stay where you are, a career portfolio will be a valuable asset to you. Why would it be beneficial to create a career portfolio? • Shows you are proactive. • You’d have a hard copy of your accomplishments; permanent history. • “Shows” people ...

As you gain more experience in any job, you should see an increase in your salary. How does an administrative salary pan out over the years? Take a look at the Payscale.com data for Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant, Administrative / Office Manager and Office Manager. Median Salary by Years Experience - Job: Administrative Assistant Median Salary by Years Experience - Job: ...

The national median salary for today’s Administrative Assistant is $30,004. Further, Medical Secretaries earn $27,786; Legal Secretaries earn $40, 917. By furthering and expanding your education, you could move up more quickly and readily to one of these higher paying positions… +Administrative Professionals:+ Administrative Associate - $30, 551 Administrative/Office Manager -$34, 553 Administrative Coordinator - $34, 624 Executive Secretary - $35, ...

Elizabeth A. Campbell was happy with the job offer from a top Houston law firm, but she wasn't itching to leave the comfortable life she had built for herself and her two teenage boys in suburban New Jersey. Other than a detour to Michigan for law school, she was a lifelong Northeasterner. Campbell drew up a table of the pluses and ...

By Prashant Gopal/ Business Week Looking for somewhere to live where you can find a good job and enjoy a high standard of living? (Who isn't?) But some places are more likely to score on both counts than others—and you might be surprised to find out where they are. Working with Payscale.com, we looked at the 25 largest metro areas in ...

Below is listed the top ten highest annual salaries for Administrative Assistants across the country according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Is your state on the list? Furthermore, are you being paid fairly? Compare your state with all fifty states in "Where Does Your State Rank for Administrative Salaries?" Note: The National average salary for administrative assistants is $40,700. 1. New ...

+Job Description+ Paralegals – also called legal assistants- are the right hand support to lawyers in law firms, corporations, and government offices. One of the most important tasks is helping lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings by investigating facts and organizing legal documents. They might also prepare client contracts, review government regulations, or oversee team projects. People with ...

Among the tips for this stage of the application process: You don't want to be unprepared or too rehearsed, or be labeled an HR stalker Turning off a potential employer is easier than one might think. To score a job, avoid these 12 mistakes that candidates often make during the interview process. 1. "+Being Unprepared for Standard Questions+":http://www.adminsecret.com/benefits/536-twelve-worst-job-interview-mistakes?page=2 2. "+Sounding Too ...

As a support professional, you are the heart of the organization. Without you, there might be total disarray and confusion. You may only be appreciated after you're gone and your employer is left to figure out how you were able to get so much done. Pump up Your Resume Your resume needs to reflect all that you do and have accomplished, ...

To be the successful job candidate in any field, it helps to have a cover letter that can grab an employer's attention. View our sample cover letter for an office manager here (PDF format). Read all of our ’Job Seeker: Resume, Interview and More’ Articles.

There may be less than six degrees of separation between you and what you want from the workplace, whether it’s a new job or new skills. But you’ll never know if you don’t make the right connections. So get out there and start networking. These tips will help admins leverage their connections into a broader pool of people who can help ...

Our increasingly litigious society is carving a niche for temporary legal professionals, from paralegals and other legal support staff to attorneys, to help busy law offices cope with mounting caseloads. Do you have the skills needed for temping in the legal industry? h4. What It Takes Who are the most attractive candidates? “The bulk of all the temporary positions we handle ...

First impressions count in the job search, and that's why a dynamite cover letter can mean the difference between success and failure. But what makes a dazzling cover letter? Several career experts share their advice. Get to the Point State the purpose of your letter in the first paragraph. Small talk is generally a waste of space. "Most of the cover ...

What do I wear to the interview? It's a question millions of people agonize over on some level while looking for a job. The bad news is that there are few cut-and-dried answers. As the saying goes, there's no accounting for taste, and each interviewer has his unique sense of what's appropriate interview attire. The good news? Deciding what to wear ...

Being president of the United States is the toughest job in the world, and running for president is the second toughest. Current and former candidates like Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama spend years gearing up for this ultimate job competition. As a job hunter, you can learn from both their successes and gaffes. Here are five lessons right from ...

I recently gave a communications lecture to a group of big city police officers. Most of the men and women were lieutenants preparing for the most important job interview of their careers—promotion to captain. The selection process is intense. These officers only get the opportunity to apply once every four years, and only a few will make it. Some are nearing ...