Symmetrical foods. Laid out in parallel lines, of course.    

I've always been a bit of a Diva.  Symmetrical foods it is, then.

My desk is set up ergonomically correct, which is a great thing.  My company pays attention to these things, which is great.  For example, we had new chairs supplied to everyone recently.  I used mine for a week or two and realized that it was causing me a lot of pain; my company bought another specially for me.  Every part of it is fully-adjustable and it's just perfect. 

My keyboard is an ergonomic keyboard, which helps keep my hands in good shape, and I have oodles of natural light.  Being in a corner office has its advantages.

Best wishes,

Celeste

People are sometimes far too "precious" about food, particularly when they eat in public.  There are people who won't eat this or that thing because it isn't cool, fashionable, or it's a class (i.e. snobbery) issue. 

In your place, I would pay absolutely no attention whatsoever to Ms Food-Police, who seems quite rude.  Food isn't just fuel; it is also about pleasure and enjoyment.  As long as you are healthy and enjoy your food, then nothing else matters. 

We all have different tastes.  I happen not to like chocolate puddings and will rarely eat a chocolate cake unless it is Sacher Torte or Chocolate Nemesis.  However, give me good, neat, chocolate (in bars or chocolates in a box) and you're my friend for life!

There is really no comparison between my first and current jobs.

For one thing, I was very much a junior in my first job.  The equipment and techology back then were much more basic, and I didn't have much in the way of responsibility or authority.  Nowadays, I have top-notch equipment and technology, and oodles of responsibility as well as a very large slice of authority.  Next month, I will be promoted to Company Secretary and will be in charge of establishing a charitable foundation for my company. 

I didn't set out to work in an office, but my career has been very good indeed so far.   That is just the result of taking advantage of every opportunity that has come my way, and hijacking those that are just "passing by" on the horizon.

Best wishes,


Celeste

I would concur with Gee's opinion, here.  It all depends on how ambitious you are and where you want to get to and why, or how desperate you are to pay for your study. 

I am ambitious and have always taken advantage of every opportunity to gain prestige in my work. Ambition, of course, is not the same thing as being competitive.  The latter is about trying to prove you are better than other people and not very pleasant.  I have always had very demanding jobs with quite high stress levels, and maybe that isn't such a good thing.  However, the rewards, status and prestige are good.   

Choosing to stay where you are is not an indication of LACK of ambition; it is recognition that what you have is good.  If you do make that choice, then it may take you a while longer to pay off your study fees, but you may have more job satisfaction. 

Only you know what is important for you, as a woman, wife and professional.  It isn't easy fitting work into that mix.

All I would say is that while I have a challenging job, no amount of money would tempt me to take a job where going to the lavatory was a problem for my employers.  As one of my former colleagues said to me once "up with some things I will not put". 


Regards,

Celeste

You will encounter this type of person wherever you go, sadly.  It is a waste of time enquiring why they are like they are; it is rather like asking a fire why it burns.  However, you do need a strategy or several to deal with them.

Ignoring this person is always and option, but I fear it won't work; such people flourish like weeds if they are not challenged.

The first thing is to "start small" and approach the person yourself for a quiet word or to pick them up the very next time they start stirring the pot.  You could tell this person that you understand they have said ABC and this is unfortunate because it isn't true, you don't appreciate what they are telling people because it is incorrect and causing confusion, yadda-yadda.  Depending on the seriousness of the "misinformation", you can mention this matter to your manager and explain that it concerns you because you are getting lots of flack, and let him take over.

The other strategy is to say, with as much humour as you can muster, to people who approach you "Oh, you must have been talking to (Person's name).  That's a bit of a mistake!"  Chances are that they will go back to her and challenge her, so you don't need to.

The third strategy is to go straight to your manager, although he might not thank you for it.  It is unlikely that this person, if she is known to be a strong personality who stands up to management, has escaped their notice. Her card will no doubt have been "marked" ages ago; management just wouldn't tell you.

If you are working at a senior level, you will have access to all sorts of privileged information.  When people ask me about things, I either answer that "I don't know" (often untrue, but I can make it sound convincing) or that "I'm not at liberty to say" (always true and generally silences people immediately).

I hope you find this helpful.   

Celeste

There is nothing like a personal visitation to facilitate signing of documents, but my company offices are relatively small so there is no place to hide. 

Sometimes that isn't possible.  I may enlist the help of a Director's Assistant or write a note saying I appreciate they are very busy, but need the document back by such-and-such date.  Alternatively, I may take documents (as I did last week) to a meeting where I knew the signators would be present and asked them to sign there. 

I use electronic signatures, which I hold for Directors and our Chairman, where appropriate. 


Celeste

Peaches,

I empathize with the difficulty in disengaging that you mention.  It's almost like a type of bereavement: acknowledging the good relationship you had with someone.  And then you have to build up a relationship with someone else and maybe become accustomed to new working methods. 

A lot depends on how much change you have to manage in the rest of your life.  One of my friends is married to someone in the armed forces so moving house, and even moving from one country to another, is just yet another thing.  That doesn't mean it doesn't register or cost any effort but it is very much part of her life.

Celeste

Haven't had time to discover the hardest thing about my new job.  The hardest thing in a previous employment was sitting through a morning's dictation (yes some high fliers way back then still wanted an assistant who did shorthand!) and then having correspondence completely amended or scrubbed out altogether.  That was such a waste of time. 

The other hard thing about some jobs is the little Hitlers one meets along the way. 

Celeste

On the whole I like most people with whom I work.  I don't really have to like them, but I do have to get on with them!

My strategy, when I have to work with that less than pleasant person, is simple.  I keep all my contact with them straightforward, pleasant, courteous and professional.  If they really get up my nose, then I try to find SOMETHING that is likeable about them.  I used to work with a colleague who behaved like a thoroughly spoiled child.  The trouble with her was that no manager had ever been strong or firm enough to put a stop to her behaviour.  I still believe that they did HER a disservice by not dealing effectively with her outbursts.  On the other hand, in her very late middle age she took on responsibility for several of her grandchildren when the parents were declared by the authorities to be unfit to take care of them.  So she must have had something good about her.

I also, when harrassed by other people, reflect on these things:

I don't have to live with them 24/7.  They have to and if they are unpleasant then they must be their own punishment.

We must never underestimate the forebearance that other people extend to us.  Or, as an old woman, in my home village in Yorkshire, said to me when I was a child, "Ay love.  Everybody in t'world is queer but thee and me and even tha's a bit queer". 

Wise words. 

Celeste

Gee,


I have just started a new post and knew when I was recruited that I would be taking on extra duties in the coming months that will entail longer hours.  I will be paid for those hours and eventually my current post will be "refurbished" and reassessed.  My colleagues have had pay cuts for the past two years and are facing no pay increases in 2011 as well as having to take on new tasks because our company is being reorganised.  These are very difficult times and many companies are seeking to cut costs or to manage work without recruiting too many new personnel.  One feels fortunate to have a job, but at the same time it shouldn't mean that one is just used as a doormat.   The effect of a workload that is too heavy combined with no increase in pay is a decrease in morale and motivation and an increase in sick leave. 

Being a newby I am not sure precisely what you do or what level you are at in your team.  On the face of it this looks like a completely new job.  You are asking some very pertinent questions and probably need to explore them with your manager and personnel department.

Asking for a pay rise may not win you any favours at this stage.  I would wait and see what the reorganisation brings and negotiate from there for a reassessment. 

I really feel for you and hope all these changes are not the prelude to redundancy.

Regards,

Celeste

My new boss is just back from leave today and I have already noticed that he is quite self sufficient.  He keeps his own diary and deals with his own emails, although I have access to both.  I have other things to occupy my time including specialist areas of work so I shall be very busy.

I would advise any Assistant who is wondering along your lines, Pappasmom, to see if there is any other way you can add value and perhaps expand your role.  There may be some area of work that you can hijack and make your own.  In my last job I snaffled the Company Secretary work from the MD and also managed to obtain some professional development out of that move.

This is often easier said than done. Some support roles are quite narrow in scope and just don't have any room for development.

A lot depends on how ambitious you are.  You could look around and take some further training and use your current role as a jumping off point to something else.  We are living in hard times and things are, unfortunately, going to get harder, so the more strings to your bow and the more you can add value to your personal profile the better.

Regards,

Rocket

I'm just enjoying some peace and quiet at the end of the day and am stepping in here to say "hello".  I've been in here a couple of times so far but this is my first posting.

My name is Celeste and I've just recently started at my new job as EA to CEO.  It's been great so far.  The lady who was here before me told me about Desk Demon and what a good website it is.

It's a bit quiet in the office with most people away on vacations including my new boss.  It's a great opportunity to have a clear out (although my predecessor was very organised) and I've spent the past few days cleaning filing cabinets and clearing out old papers.  I've found out a lot about the company that way too.

I look forward to participating in some of the discussions.


Regards,

Rocket