We sat down with Juliet Tolley, PA at the Home Office, Digital Data and Technology department, with over 30 years of experience within the Government, to uncover what her dream job looks like.
How did you come to be a Personal Assistant?
I always wanted to be a secretary! I was born organised and really enjoy helping make other people’s lives easier. As soon as I finished school, I enrolled at Pitman’ Secretarial College, now knows as Pitman Training, and spent two years studying Business Management and Administration.
What’s your typical day like at the Home Office?
I have a one hour ‘focus’ slot in my diary every morning when I check for any calendar changes, my to-do list and reminders for the day and pull together any info and docs my Exec needs. I attend a lot of meetings, but some are just for my benefit to understand what is happening. My afternoon is usually spent with any ad-hoc requests that have landed and catching up with my Exec and the team.
Are current political movements in the Government, Brexit and the war in Ukraine affecting your role, and if so, how?
In times of work surge or crisis at Home Office all the teams and departments pull together to support, volunteer, or be deployed where needed. I volunteered to assist with the ARC project (Afghan Resettlement of Citizens), helping Afghan families at hotels where they were staying, answering any questions and ensuring they were ready for appointments, had papers and were on the right coach at the right time to go off to Government sites to complete their citizen applications.
For Ukraine, teams were working around the clock to develop electronic systems and procedures that helped staff process thousands of visa applications, it was a huge task for everyone.
To help with Summer Surge travel, I volunteered to train as a Border Force Officer and was deployed when needed at Gatwick Airport, saving summer!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I have a very rewarding career where I am truly valued and empowered to learn new skills, organise my own work and make decisions for and on behalf of my executives. Unlike any other role, a PA wears many hats and gets involved at the very highest strategic level of the business, becoming important and trusted partners among our Executives.
What do you find most challenging in your role?
The Home Office is a high profile, politically emotive area and demands can change rapidly. Whilst I do see the negative press coverage, I see first-hand and am involved in the every-day incredible work being achieved here. It is well known that 99.9% of the work done by the Home Office is not a headline!
What tool, technology or service you couldn’t do without in your job?
My Outlook calendar! I literally put everything in it, notes, reminders, deadlines, things to do, all the birthdays, holidays, daily ideas, end of week achievements, monthly folder clean ups. It is the only way I keep my boss and myself on track!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
‘Grow wherever you are planted’.
This issue’s theme is sustainability. What are your top tips organising a sustainable Christmas party?
Electronic invites, reusable serving ware, rent tablecloths and napkins. Use local food providers who make and deliver by hand, and under-cater with food numbers to avoid waste, or give out food bags at the end of the evening. Use potted plants as table decorations and give them away at the end, ditch the balloons!
You can connect with Juliet at LinkedIn
