Administrative Assistant's Update

3 Administrative Assistant's UPDATE Lara Dodo Positioning yourself to succeed By Staff If you're a lifelong learner with the drive to rise professionally, you al- ready know that you're the key person to put you in a position to succeed. The successful administrative professional of today and tomorrow will be a tech savvy self-starter who supports one or more executives, constantly adds skills as needs and software change, looks analytically at operations and finds new ways to con- tribute to the organization's success. Moving to ever more challeng- ing and rewarding responsibilities is within the grasp of the admin who plans for the future, carefully and deliberately laying the foundation for success. AAU asked Lara Dodo, regional vice-president of OfficeTeam, what steps she recom- mends for admins to put themselves in a position to succeed, whether within the admin's current organiza- tion or beyond. Here she lays out basic consider- ations that should come before a deci- sion about a career move: • Don't take the decision lightly. Carefully consider what you can gain and what can you lose from making the career move. Go over the pros and cons associated with leaving your current role or accepting a new one, compared to staying in your existing role. Professionals consider- ing job moves should evaluate not only salary but also where they will have the greatest opportunity to build skills and advance their careers. • When was the last time you made a career change? Leaving for a better job opportunity can be a smart career move, but you also don't want to come across as a job hopper. Chang- ing jobs every three to four years is one thing; more frequent moves could indicate the inability to dig into a role and put employers on guard. • What kind of compensation do you want to make in the new role or at a new job? Do your research on how much you can expect to earn if you make a career change, and to figure out what roles are out there that you may not have considered. Industry reports such as OfficeTeam's Salary Guide can serve as a great starting point. • Why do you want a new oppor - tunity? Once you have the answer to this question, it will help you determine if you're really ready to make that leap into a new job. Does the new role offer the opportunity to gain new skills, or develop your net- work? If you're looking to challenge yourself and broaden your responsi- bilities then a new role is likely the way to go. • Is the timing right? Make sure the timing is right before making your exit and that you're not leaving your team in a lurch. • What do you enjoy most about your career? Identify what gives you the most job satisfaction. Will you need to make a move to focus on what you love? Consider if a new company will be a better culture fit for you, or if changing up the team you work with is the career refresh you need. • Make sure you're up-to-date with current job search and interview trends. Once you've made the deci - sion to change roles, it's essential that you're ready for the search. What does your online presence say about you? Virtually everyone leaves some sort of "digital footprint" these days, and by following a candidate's online trail, employers can obtain a lot of information about a job seeker. • It's critical to learn how to man- age electronic information about yourself and ensure that it presents a favourable, professional image of you, and is updated to reflect any new areas of expertise/responsibili- ties you have. • As well, video interviewing is increas- ing in popularity, and it's essential to be prepared with new technology requirements and an understanding of how to handle yourself to make the best impression possible. NEXT MONTH: Positioning yourself for a promotion; gaining visibility Credit: docstockmedia (Shutterstock)

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