NOVEMBER 2016
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 UPDATE
PM
#40065782
INSIDE
The new tech landscape . . . . 2
Whatever the nature of your
organization, it competes in a
digital world
Social media and your exec . . 3
Engaging your clientele can give
your organization an edge
Admin credentials evolve . . . 5
Changes refl ect elevation to more
strategic responsibilities
Project management . . . . . . . 6
Details, details: Four steps in the
life cycle of a project
By Jennifer Lewington
First the bad news: administrative
assistants are among the most at risk
from advances in technology, accord-
ing to a report from Ryerson Univer-
sity published earlier this year. The
authors of The Talented Mr. Robot: The
Impact of Automation on Canada's
Workforce estimate that 96 per cent
of admins are vulnerable in future to
replacement by various forms of artifi -
cial intelligence and robots.
Now the good news: colleges,
universities and professional organi-
zations are raising the bar to equip
admin professionals with sophisticat-
ed skills for the workplace of today –
and tomorrow.
"The market is
getting educated
and requires higher
level of academic
qualifi cations for
all types of jobs,
including execu-
tive assistant positions," says Sylvia
Ranson, chair of the School of Business
and Hospitality at Conestoga College in
Kitchener, Ontario.
In fall 2017 (pending anticipated
Ontario government approval)
Conestoga plans to offer a one-year
administrative management graduate
certifi cate for those seeking a career
as a top executive assistant with
organizational, analytic and people
skills to support a leadership team.
The program includes segments on
fi nancial and managerial accounting,
project management and leadership,
with candidates required to have a
college diploma or university degree.
"What is happening in the market
is that positions have morphed into
high-level administrative positions,"
says Ranson. "The trend is defi nitely
to the higher end: admins are required
to do more of the management."
A similar theme underpins a new
post-graduate certifi cate in business
administration, offered for the fi rst
time in September 2016 through the
School of Continuing Studies at York
University. Six of eight courses are
recognized towards earning the Quali-
fi ed Administrative
Assistant (QAA)
designation of-
fered through
the Association
of Administra-
tive Assistants.
The new pro-
Going paperless
Small steps can get you going on a
paperless path.
Ditching the paper cup at the
coffee shop, using a mobile board-
ing pass, printing on both sides of
a sheet of paper, asking for virtual
pay stubs and holding paperless
meetings are tips offered in a blog
from Convene, a meeting app
developed by Azeus, an IT service
provider.
Convene is designed to man-
age meetings without all attendees
having to be in the same room. It
keeps meeting papers, notes and
follow-up actions in one accessible
place. www.azeusconvene.com
New admin programs
raise the learning bar
Continued on page 4
recognized towards earning the Quali-
fi ed Administrative
Assistant (QAA)
designation of-
fered through
the Association
of Administra-
tive Assistants.
The new pro-
Continued on page 4
Sylvia Ranson