Your PA Solution – Training Part 2

Originally I thought I should split my training in two, one for bookkeeping training/qualifications and the other for the administration training/qualifications. Now that I come to write the one about administration I realise that most of my “training” has been on the job and gained over the past 20 years of working.

I have done some courses, most of them whilst I was at the Prudential in my first couple of years. I did a “telephone answering” course, a problem solving course and a time management course (I still have and use the filofax that I was given on this course). I also did courses for Lotus 123 and WordPerfect. These are a bit obsolete now though as I don’t think anyone uses these software packages any more. Although, Lotus 123 and WordPerfect were the precursors to Excel and Word and I still use some of the formulas and keyboard shortcuts that I learnt using those.

The training I have had which can’t be taught on a course but rather on the job applies to filing, organisation and time management. Yes, I went on a course for time management but whilst you can be told what you should be doing there is no substitute for putting it in to practice, especially when you have two or more people telling you that their work is most important. You need to be able to ask them for deadlines and then organise your time and work accordingly. I have found that as long as you ask for a deadline and beat it your boss, or client, is happy. However, if you don’t think you are going to make a deadline, you need to be able to see it and let the client know as soon as possible and let them have an estimated time of completion.

I am currently doing the PA Diploma with Pitman to help keep myself up to date with changes in Microsoft Office packages and a few other bits and pieces. That is more for CPD (Continuing Professional Development) though and I will save that for another blog. It is going well and so far I have completed five or six modules and have passed all of them with distinction.

Your PA Solution – Experience

This is the second of my series of blogs “About Me” (and Your PA Solution). This one is about the experience I have which I can bring to assisting clients with the administration tasks in their business.

I have over 20 years experience providing administration support within businesses of various sizes. I started at a large pension provider in 1990. Over the next 6½ years I progressed from junior administrator into a supervisory role with sole responsibility for life assurance schemes within a pension department. I left that role when my son was small as the time taken for traveling to work from home was almost as long as the hours I spent there on a part-time basis.

Following on from life assurance, I went on to be a legal secretary and worked for the Senior Partner of, what was then, a relatively small firm of solicitors with 12 partners. It started out as a job share with another secretary until she went on maternity leave and then decided not to return to the role and I became the Senior Partner’s sole secretary, on a part-time basis working 22½ hours per week. Somehow I managed to organise my time effectively enough to complete all work required of me within the hours I was at work. I left this job, after 4½ years, when we moved from Basingstoke to York – it’s a bit far to commute from Yorkshire to Hampshire!

Following our move to York, I went to work as a legal secretary, this time in the wills and probate department in a small firm of solicitors. Unfortunately, I did not feel I was being used to my full ability and capability so I left to return to the financial sector, working as an administrator for a small pension provider. Although the administration work kept me busy, I wanted a change in direction so left administration behind and returned to full-time education in September 2004.

Whilst at college and university where I obtained my HND in Sport & Exercise Science (Therapy) and BSc in Sport & Exercise Science, I started working at a supermarket chain whilst studying. This enabled me to gain new skills in the customer facing market as well as continuing to hone my organisational, time management and other lifestyle skills. The benefits of working there are so good that I am still there after 7 years! Only for 7½ hours per week though.

Upon graduating in 2007, I decided that although I was interested in sport and exercise, my passion is paperwork so I returned to a business support role as PA to two partners of a commercial finance brokers. This role was very varied and no two days were the same. Unfortunately, when the recession hit I was unable to continue my employment with the company and left in June 2010.

For the past 18 years, I have also provided full administration and bookkeeping support for my husband’s business, Teach-2-Drive Driver and Instructor Training.

Coming next: Training – bookkeeping