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: https://digital.hrreporter.com/i/652932
APRIL 2016 2 E D I TO R ' S N OT E George Pearson Admins Day: 'Thanks' vs. respect April 26 is Administrative Professionals Day/Secretaries Day, a grand idea to mark the contributions of admins in North America to the fortunate organizations that employ them. Successories, a company that sells "motivational" gifts and parapherna- lia, displayed this headline on its web- site on the day that this issue of AAU was being put together: Administra- tive Professionals Appreciation Day 2016. Under that headline: Whether you are celebrating Administrative Professional's Day which is April 23rd, 2015 or celebrating Administrative Professional's Week from April 24 – 30 2016, Successories has the gifts to truly show them that you have noticed and appreciate how much they contribute to the organization. I have copied the above mes- sage exactly as it appeared on the web page, which also included a box counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until April 23rd, 2015 (Admin Appreciation Day). Certainly no administrative profes- sional was involved in the production of this embarrassing message. If one had been, that message would have been cleaned up before publication. One other thing that tickled me about the message was the claim that one of the company's gifts would "truly show" an admin that her (or his) boss noticed and appreciated that admin's contribution. It is a nice thing to show apprecia- tion, but it doesn't compare to a boss showing day-in, day-out respect for the admin's performance and profes- sional development, and appreciation for contributions to the organization. At AAU, every day is Admin Day. We look for personal stories of admins who share helpful insights and infor- mation. We are constantly discovering new sources of inspiration. Rosemary Hughes is one of those discoveries. Determined not to be a "victim" of layoffs, she made choices that fit her evolving perception of her personal needs and her professional development. It wasn't easy and it took some time, but she took charge of her own career and now enjoys a rewarding work situation. She is also reaching out, through her professional association affilia - tion, to help other admins. She was willing to share her experiences with us so that we could share them with you. To us, Rosemary is emblematic of today's successful admin: self-driven, highly professional, a lifelong learner, a survivor and an enthusiastic pro- moter of her profession. So the gifts and thanks will flow on Administrative Professionals Day April 26. But what is behind those gifts – or not – will tell the real story. Is professional certification for you? Interested in certification as an administrative professional? Few admin job openings require certification, but it can make the difference when equally qualified admins com- pete for the same job. Certifica- tion also sends a message to a prospective employer that the candidate is committed to the profession. The Association for Admin- istrative Assistants (AAA), Canadian based, offers the Qualified Administrative Pro- fessional (QAA), with course- work available in selected colleges across Canada. AAA also offers workshops, webi- nars and other professional development. Visit www.aaa.ca for more information. The International Asso- ciation of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) offers the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) designa- tion. CAP candidates prepare for the comprehensive exam with an IAAP study guide and other resources. Learn more at www.iaap-hq.org. Administrative Assistant's Update is published once a month by Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. Director, Carswell Media: Karen Lorimer Publisher: John Hobel Editor: George Pearson george@adminupdate.ca Associate Editor: Jennifer Lewington jennifer@adminupdate.ca EDITORIAL OFFICE (519) 271-6000 Administrative Assistant's Update Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. 1 Corporate Plaza, 2075 Kennedy Road Toronto, ON M1T 3V4 CUSTOMER SERVICE (416) 609-3800 (800) 387-5164 FAX (416) 298-5082 (877) 750-9041 carswell.customerrelations@ thomsonreuters.com Contents copyright. All rights reserved. © 2016 Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. Contents may not be reproduced without written permission. Brief extracts may be made with due acknowledgement. Annual subscription: $189. Publications Mail Registration No. 40065782 GST# 897176350 UPDATE Administrative Assistant's