Administrative Assistant's Update - sample

AUGUST 2017 4 recruiter about an opening at Ohio Health, a large health care system in the state. The organization, for whom she had worked from 2004-2008, was in search of an executive assistant to the executive vice-president and chief operating officer. Over the next six weeks, Margard rode a rollercoaster about her future at the university or a possible move back to the health care sector. "My emotions were churning," she told AAU. "My boss was leaving; what was going to happen to me?" Still, she says, "I was particularly focused on making sure I was ready for any circumstance." For starters, her resumé was in order. Margard manages a long-form resumé, updating it with professional learning, on-the-job accomplish - ments and other employer-relevant information. The long version pro- vides the basis for a one-to-two-page resumé of professional qualifications. As well, she nurtures her vari- ous networking relationships. She decided to accept the overture from the recruiter to return to Ohio Health because says she knew and admired the organization and had stayed in touch with admins and others there. "I knew almost all of the admins that are here in the C-suite [at Ohio Health]," she says. "When my name came up as a possibility, I know that had I not maintained good relationships with the admins here I am quite certain I would have got the thumbs down." The value of established profes- sional relationships cannot be under- estimated, says Margard. "Don't burn bridges, especially if you are going to be living in the same community. Over the years, it is amazing how many times people have cropped up again, whether it was an executive, an admin or a board member." By the third round of interviews with Ohio Health, Margard learned that her university boss's interim replace- ment likely would bring the admin he already worked with at the university. "So I was even more in limbo," she says. She chose to manage the uncer- tainty instead of being ruled by it, putting her energy into the unexpect- ed overture from Ohio Health. "You have to be an advocate for yourself," says Margard. "You have to be prepared for yourself whether it is a happy surprise situation and someone says 'hey, I want you,' or a less fortunate situation." Being an advocate, she says, means promoting oneself profession- ally. "I don't mean that in any egotis- tical way but there has to be a point when you are tooting your own horn because you can't count on anyone else to do it," she says. For example, Margard ensures her resumé includes specific accomplish- ments and a record of continuous learning. "The professional development is essential and it is one of those things I have been very intentional about," she says. "I seek out any possible opportunities and there are so many good-quality free resources." She dismisses excuses by admins who say they have no time for learning or that the boss won't pay for a course. "I am trying really hard to forge my own path and make sure I am staying current with what is going on in the industry as far as the kind of skills that employers expect admins to have," she says. "I am developing those independent of what my cur - rent job responsibilities are." In December 2015, Margard's six- week "whirlwind," as she describes it, ended with her landing the C-suite admin position at Ohio Health. The experience of rejoining a former employer has gone "amazing well," she says. "It is truly a bless- ing in disguise." She describes the university for which she worked as "a great organization to work for – but so is my new employer." Margard's message is simple: "You need to be ready any time." Admin pro steers own ship Continued from page 1 Tips to enhance your readiness By Staff Katherine Margard, executive assistant to the executive vice-president and chief operating officer at Columbus-based Ohio Health, offers some tips on being prepared for an unexpected job search or opportunity: • Be resume ready (your job is not guaranteed, espe - cially at the C-suite level) • Nurture professional networks (and don't burn bridges) • Develop a social media presence (especially on LinkedIn, a top job site for employers) • Know your "brand" (and know what is the word on the street about you) • Be your own advocate (don't count on others to be your champion)

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