We’ve come across a variety of timesaving technology tips, apps and devices which we thought we’d package together into one cut-out-and-keep page Prepare “ready responses”Answering the phone and dealing with email enquiries can take up a lot of time, especially when you’re dealing with the same thing more than once. Create a template in Microsoft […]

As businesses around the world are recovering from the financial crisis, roles that were eliminated to save money are now becoming the focus of an increase in recruitment. In New Zealand, it would appear that experienced executive assistants are back in demand and can expect an average pay rise of 7.8% as a result. Several […]

Networking is one of those buzz words that resonates within the PA community, but it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s an excellent reason to sign up to the Little Black Book coaching session presented by celebrity PA Donna Coulling at the PA Life Training Day. Donna will talk delegates through the […]

With a growing number of assistants deciding to set up on their own as VAs, working remotely from your boss is becoming increasingly common. Here are a few pointers to follow to make a long-distance professional relationship work. First off, remember there’s little about working face to face that you can’t replicate online or on […]

A new study shows employees across the UK have been committing astonishing acts of revenge on their colleagues and customers. From harmless pranks to stunts that cross the line of legality, anonymous workers have confessed their sins in a tell-all survey. The research, conducted by national health and safety consultancy protecting.co.uk, compiles a list of […]

Personal assistants write hundreds of emails to their bosses every week and often correspond with clients on their manager’s behalf. If the goal of a message is to inspire someone to take action it’s important to focus on the psychology of the reader. Here are some tips for writing more effective emails. Consider the circumstances […]

Sewing your boss’s trousers. Not exactly the kind of daily duty you’d expect today’s high-flying PAs to be doing. But is there anything they can do about it? In a recent survey, recruitment company Crone Corkill revealed the extent of the problem. Despite executive assistants being hired for their secretarial and organisational abilities, almost half […]

Delegates at this year’s EXECSec Summit will be able to pick up some vital tips to help them do their jobs more effectively, including maximising their brainpower, becoming a PA brand ambassador and setting boundaries in the workplace. Author and international trainer Sue France kicks off the proceedings with a presentation on neuroscience that looks […]

We all know that having strong team and work relationships makes your job more enjoyable. One particularly rewarding aspect of a team situation can be the opportunity to coach. The ability to unlock a person’s potential to maximise their own performance through guiding rather than teaching is an excellent skill to develop.   Whether you are […]

As many as 83% of business travellers use time on their trip to explore the city they’re visiting. Nearly half of them (46%) add personal travel days to business trips every time they go away. In its report on the “bleisure” market, (leisure and business travel combined) serviced apartment operator BridgeStreet Global Hospitality reveals that […]

It’s not just our bodies that we need to exercise to keep us fit and healthy – our brains too should be treated to a regular workout in the form of meditation and mindfulness if we are to harness our full potential, says Sue France The brain is a fascinating subject and the development of […]

With spring in the air, now is the perfect time to think of taking a mini-break from work. That’s why PA Life has teamed up with Butlins Conference & Events to offer one lucky reader the chance to enjoy a weekend away at any one of Butlins’ three seaside resorts at Bognor Regis, Minehead or […]

Most people find it easy to prepare themselves for a one-on-one interview with a potential manager or recruiter. However, some companies prefer to use a group of interviewers to test how well candidates interact with multiple people at once. Here are some tips to help you get ready to face the panel. Build rapport While […]

The virtual assistant is often seen as somebody who writes letters, responds to emails and does the filing. However, businesses are starting to outsource more and more tasks in order to save time and money. If you’re thinking about branching out on your own, there is a wide range of duties you may be looking […]

Most PAs use Excel and Outlook on a daily basis, so it’s vital to ensure that you get the most out of them. If you are self-taught and have some gaps in your knowledge, then you could certainly benefit from a session at the forthcoming PA Life training day moderated by Kim Middleton, who is […]

Management assistants are often given a multitude of projects to work on at one time, as well as keeping up with their daily tasks and supporting their boss with anything that crops up unexpectedly. However, research shows that multitasking can be detrimental to a PA’s ability to work effectively. While many people claim they can […]

PAs who look after celebrities – both past and present – have been in the papers recently, with X Factor winner James Arthur resorting to dismissing his personal assistant after his phone was allegedly used to send abusive text messages to a model. 25-year-old James denies sending lewd texts to glamour model Teddy Edwardes after […]

There are many accounts of the shocking tasks celebrity assistants have been asked to do and now a new tell-all book shows that Hollywood’s show business executives are getting in on the act too. Lydia Whitlock worked as an assistant in various sectors of the entertainment industry for five years. While none of her bosses […]