Oh technology is a curse.  Most of the photos were taken by digital camera.  THis means that they are then emailed and once they have been emailed they can no longer control the distribution.

Shirley

Well after three months of big question marks over my life (due to hubbys indecision over a new job) we finally know that we are leaving London and I am handing in my notice today - or will be if I could work out how to tell my line manager (on maternity leave).

We are off to the Leicester area and should both be up there from begining of June.  However due to the length of time it takes to get up there and the amount of holiday I have I am not able to interview in Leicester while still working so once again there is going to be a period of temping (I hope) and so I come to the question and whole point of this post:

Does anyone know a good agency in Leicester?

Many Thanks & I will keep you updated on the situation.

Shirley

I think I am fairly well paid on the whole but feel that the company needs to keep a closer eye on the rate of increase in other factors of living in London.  I can't afford to buy a house so am renting and my pay rise this year will not allow me to stay in my flat given the rent increase and council tax increase.  

When asked why my rise was so low (in comparison to the last years) I was told that it was because our profit related pay was high this year.  Now correct me if I am wrong but isn't the whole point of PRP to be a bonus on top of the monthly salary.  Therefore shoudn't the monthly/yearly wage be allocated without any thought of the PRP.  I realise I am being a little picky but I would be happy to do without PRP if I knew my salary would cover my living expenses.

Thanks for the chance to rant a bit.

Shirley

I put them in plastic folders in a ring binder with labels on them of when & where published & what contents - I then file by date.  I also log in Excel (I can create the labels from the log with Mail Merge).

I can alsway seem to find what I need

Good Luck

Shirley

I'm going to buck the trend here and say that I don't think trouser suits are Ok for interivew.  

In the UK when we go for interview we often don't know what the usual dress style is for a company and a lot of the banks in the city of London still do not allowwomen to wear  trousers - therefore by arriving in trousers at interview you are already jeapordising you chance of getting the job.
I feel that you should always stay safe at interview as you don't want to burn your bridges for a fantastic job just cause you chose to wear trousers to the interview.

Gave that advice to my younger sister (fresh out of Uni) and she said that she had never thought of it like that.  Luckily she is now in work after only two job interviews (lucky things) and is allowed to wera trousers but she did not know this prior to the interview.  She also says she wears her interview suit at least once a week as it makes her feel more professional.

However I think universally everyone will agreee about the cleavage issue.  It is not a case of if you've got it flaunt it!! You want to dazzle them with your skills not your "assets"


Shirley

Sorry to hear about your monster monday.  GLad to see though that you are already looking forward to a new job.  Good luck and keep us posted.

shirley

My company operates a give as you earn policy when you can nominate the charity of your choice and donate as much or as little as you like each month  (out of your pay packet) to who you want to support.  The did a failry big push to get people to sign up to it but if you choose not to that was not a problem.

Also the company gives and extra 10% and the government gives an extra 10% to top up your donation.

I am a UK based PA so I don't know if there is such a thing in the US but I feel that I can finally give without any pressure and if I feel like giving to someone else during the year I can.

Thanks for your advice all of it makes sense and has given me a starting point for this proposal.

I already take my Lunch break after eveyone else in order to have a quiet time and I have started to log everything I do the phone calls I make & answer (how long it takes to deal with them), emails sent and received.  Reports and documents I create and how long it takes to complete and any meetings, collection of visitors, how long I spend on Lunch.

It has actually made me feel more productive already as I can see what I am spending time on and I can see at the end of each day that (even if the reports aren't finished) I have managed to get some work done.

The journal feature of Outlook is quite good once you get the hang of it.

I will keep you updated on my application for Flexitime.

Many thanks
Shirley

Has anyone got any experience as to how flexi time works for a PA?  I am trying to write a proposal (to justify my request) to work Flexi Time.

I understand the need for justification however I am not sure how to write the proposal without sounding like a complainer.  All the reports I have had to write before and I can't seem to get this one right.

I work for 1 very demanding boss and 3 not so demanding bosses as well as adhoc work to their teams (a total of 30 people) and my desire to work flexible hours stems from the need to get work done when there is no one in the office.  I came in at 7:30 the other day and in the hour before anyone else arrived I got more done than the previous morning 9-1pm.

Any advice on this would be greatfully received.

Many thanks
Shirley