Focuses on the training and development needs of admin professionals and features topics such as hard skills (software competencies, writing, communication, filing) and soft skills (teamwork, time management, leadership).
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/280999
P R O F E S S IO N A L D E V E L O P M E N T F O R C A N A DA' S O F F IC E S U P P O R T S TA F F Administrative Assistant's APRIL 2014 PM #40065782 UPDATE PM #40065782 P R O F E S S IO N A L D E V E L O P M E N T F O R C A N A DA' S O F F IC E S U P P O R T S TA F F Administrative Assistant's APRIL 2014 UPDATE On APD take time to refl ect It's that time of year again—Ad- ministrative Professionals Day/ Week (APD). It's the perfect time to step back and think about your career and your opportunities. What are you doing to cele- brate your role in the profession? Whether or not your company or your boss choose to recognize Admin Professionals Day (Wed., April 23), make sure you take time to refl ect and celebrate. You can take yourself out to lunch and concentrate solely on your professional life. Ask yourself: What have you ac- complished this year? Are you still enjoying your work? What would you like to do next? Setting up some goals is a nice thing to do for yourself, and a great way to celebrate Adminis- trative Professionals Day. INSIDE Must be wishcraft . . . . . . . . . 3 Build a six-person team to help you achieve your goals. Procrastination . . . . . . . . . . 4 How to stop stalling and get going in the right direction. Photo books . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 They're not just for weddings. Creating photo books to commemorate offi ce events. Site for sore eyes . . . . . . . . . . 7 Know when a site is credible. Time for a raise? Four questions to consider before you talk to your boss You can no longer count on getting an annual salary increase just for showing up and being reasonably profi cient at your job. In today's reality of slowly im- proving economic growth, you have to demonstrate that you deserve more money. But before you ask for a raise, you need to ask yourself these four questions. 1. How valuable are my skills? What skills do you have that your employer really needs, and are there many other administrative professionals at your workplace with the same or similar abilities? Before you ask for a raise, also determine whether profession- als with your skill set are in high demand. If there is a talent shortage for your role, your boss may be more willing to increase your salary be- cause you would be hard to replace. 2. How does my pay compare to my peers? If you're near the bottom of your pay scale, then you have a good reason to ask for a raise. But if you're already at the high end, your manager likely won't or can't go higher. To fi nd out how your pay compares, check out Offi ceTeam's Salary Centre at www. offi ceteam.com (click on "Get The Guide" in the header). There you'll fi nd a salary calculator and estimat- ed salaries for more than 60 adminis- trative positions in human resources, healthcare and customer service in Canada and the U.S. 3. Can I clearly demonstrate my worth? To get a raise, you have to show that you deserve it. Make a detailed list of your achievements of the past year, such as technology innovations you suggested or helped implement, cases in which you saved the fi rm money, certifi cations you've at- tained, kudos from coworkers and professional associations, and any new responsibilities you've taken on. 4. When should I ask for a raise? Like most things in life, timing is crucial. You shouldn't ask for a raise if you've already received one in the past nine months. Also, avoid asking when the company is in fi nancial distress, the middle of restructuring Continued on page 4 Photo: auremar/shutterstock.com 2014 April AAU.indd 1 2014 April AAU.indd 1 14-03-20 1:28 PM 14-03-20 1:28 PM