Administrative Assistant's Update

MARCH 2017 6 6 Bree Austen Career paths Finding the right fit is worth the investment By Bree Austen In my last article, I talked about the role of passion in making career path decisions. Regardless of how straight and narrow your path is (or completely topsy-turvy, like mine has been), it is a wonderful feeling when you can finally say you've found your "right fit," a motivating and stimulating role that supports an executive, organization or industry that you truly believe in. A position that provides opportunities for you to utilize your talents and skills and contribute in a meaningful way to the success of the organization as well as continue to grow and develop along the way. Whether you are fresh out of post- secondary school and full of enthusi - asm to apply your newly learned skills or are a seasoned senior executive as- sistant ready to take on new challeng- es, the first step in landing your dream position is understanding yourself. Be self-reflective; write down what is important to you so that you can clearly articulate your core manifesto. What are the talents, skills, values, motivators and goals that make you unique? Build them into your resume. Then, take the time to research the industries and specific organizations that appeal to you based on your core manifesto, and be selective about the positions that you apply for. Make sure their corporate value statements align with your personal values. Then, in the interview, observe the environment that you are considering entering. All the very best interviews are two-sided conversations and the posi - tions that best qualify for the term "right fit" will satisfy a lengthy list of needs for both the employee and the employer. Self-reflection, for me, came several years into my career. I was at a cross- roads between having invested nearly a decade towards building a career in the hospitality industry and know- ing that I wanted a change of direc- tion, more opportunities to develop administrative leadership and a way to reignite passion in my work. My investigation turned me back to my alma mater, the University of Cal- gary. I was lucky enough to be offered a position with both leadership oppor- tunities and opportunities to learn from experienced leaders, and I knew com- ing in that I had a strong connection to the value of post-secondary education. After several years and a couple of different positions, I applied for and was offered the role of executive as- sistant to the dean at Haskayne School of Business. So, what made that role different? For me, the right fit was a mix of a positive rapport between the dean and me as well as many of the other faculty, staff and business community members that I had the opportunity to work with on a regular basis, as well as opportunities provided to engage in a variety of different types of tasks on a regular basis. In short, I was engaged, motivated, supported, trusted and respected. And, that's no small feat for any role in any industry. The path towards a fulfilling career in administration has many roads and paths, but all of the roads start with you. About Bree Austen AAU interviewed Bree Austen for our coverage on mentoring and collaboration (Aug. 2016). Shortly after that Ms. Austen accepted a position as Manager, Operations and Facilities, at Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, where she had been EA to the Haskayne dean. AAU thought Ms. Austen's career path would interest readers who are looking down the road at the potential for their own careers. So we asked her if she would describe that path from her entry into the office professional field up to her present position in management. Next month: The professional and personal growth she experienced as EA to Jim Dewald, Dean of the Haskayne School of Business. Core Manifesto - Consider ways that each of these items can be applied in your office environment for the benefit of the organization but also to help you stand out amongst your competitors in the interview process and be a top performer in your organization. Talents: Understand your natural aptitudes and have a plan in place to apply them. Skills: List the education and experiences that have brought you to this point in your career. Values: Identify the top three key principles that you stand firmly by. Motivators: What drives you to perform at your very best? What environments are most engaging for you? How do you feel valued for your contributions? Goals: What would be the logi - cal next step for your career after you have mastered the current goal? What experiences, educa- tion and contacts do you need to get there? – Bree Austen

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