Administrative Assistant's Update

UPDATE PM #40065782 P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T F O R C A N A D A ' S O F F I C E S U P P O R T S T A F F Administrative Assistant's UPDATE INSIDE LGBTs in the workplace � � � � � � 2 What we all can do about unconscious bias Opportunities on LinkedIn � � � � �3 Some questions you can ask about LinkedIn benefits Politic is or politics are? � � � � � � 5 Some tips on when to use singular or plural Soft skills: Learning by doing � � 6 Tough to teach, soft skills are critical to your success Continued on page 4 By Jennifer Lewington Like many Albertans, Carrie Mittelstadt is feeling the pinch of a downturn in the province's oil- dependent economy. A senior administrative assistant with an environmental engineering firm in Edmonton, she and other employees have to absorb a 10 per cent pay cut in the first quarter of 2016 because of the province's economic slowdown. She joined the company a year ago after being laid off in 2014 – thanks to the plunge in global oil prices – by an energy sector consulting firm where she had worked for eight years. For Mittelstadt, an administrative professional for the past 20 years, the setbacks caused by the provincial recession simply reinforce her desire to add skills to enhance her career. "Whatever I can learn or do that will add value to my current employer is what I am going to try and look at," says Mittelstadt. For example, she is considering a course on project management coordination to add to her resume. "I want to be finding ways to diversify my skills so that if I do get laid off at this place I can pick up and go to the next place and take everything I know and apply it there." Her commitment to professional development runs deep. She earned her designation as a Qualified Administrative Assistant through the Association of Administrative Assistants and currently serves as public relations coordinator for the Edmonton branch of the national organization. As one measure of the provincial slowdown, her chapter has seen a decline in members over the past year. In her professional life as well as her volunteer work with AAA, Mittelstadt describes herself as "a big believer in continuous education," a message she wants to share with other administrative professionals. "You have to keep educating yourself and taking courses." That strategy, she says, is vital to weathering the current economic headwinds that are expected to ease only a little this year. The Conference Board of Canada predicts a "modest recovery from recession" for Alberta, with companies expected to remain cautious about capital plans and con - Worker health key in 2016: report Faced with tight salary budgets in 2016, Canadian companies will look to promote the engagement and productivity of employees, accord- ing to a survey by Morneau Shepell. Sixty-six per cent of employer respondents identified the health and engagement of employees as a top priority for 2016, with com- panies also looking to reduce sick leave and disability costs. "Faced with uncertain econom- ic times, organizations will be in- vesting in more programs designed to improve productivity," stated Randal Phillips, Morneau Shepell executive vice-president and chief client officer, in a press release. For more information: www. morneaushepell.com/ca-en/in- sights/canada-health-productivity- top-hr-priorities-2016 FEBRUARY 2016 Diversified skills drive career renewal Carrie Mittelstadt

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