I think it's standard to list at least your last school and subjects (but maybe not grades if not relevant)

I don't have a degree and only list my 2 A level subjects but not grades (D and N!)

Didface, are you familiar with the Insert as Hyperlink facility on e-mail (Office 2003)?

You may find you need to use Rich Text format but:

Insert File, highlight the document, click on the arrow next to Open to Insert as Hyperlink

Hopefully that's a bit of a compromise for you and your bossie - you send him the link and he opens it on the server.

No, I certainly don’t want to do things online – it’s fine if your Mrs Average, fit into all the boxes or have a specific request but if you’re slightly off average or don’t agree with the options given, you’re stuffed!  Then once you’ve keyed everything in, your PC freezes or it comes back with an error message, particularly if you haven’t got broadband!  Let me speak to a human being any day (presuming they don’t mumble and pass you on to 12 different people)!

Outlook is great for room bookings and I often e-mail initial enquiries.  Our IT department ask us to send e-mails to log a call unless it’s urgent, which again is fine for simple things but sometimes you just want to speak to someone!

I’d love to do my food shopping on line – I agree with Valang about the savings, not to mention the savings you make by not buying things that aren’t on your list when you're in the shop!  However, again I find I need a broadband connection to cope with it.

I rang my boss when he was on leave to pass on a private e-mail message that was time-sensitive.  He apologised profusely for asking me to reply to it and said “I know I shouldn’t ask you to do personal stuff but” which surprised me.  It didn’t bother me one bit but explains why he doesn’t ask me to do much personal stuff except get him a sandwich at lunchtime (which is quite often as his diary can be horrendous).

I am quite happy to do little (or big) odd things occasionally because we have a good relationship and, like Bethalize says, I can help his work/life balance.  However, I understand and respect his professional approach.

Glad it's not just me - it must be the time of the year!  

I was so excited at getting a slot in the CX's diary for a meeting with her, my boss and another director from another site.  On the day, when I asked my boss why he was back so quick from the meeting, he said the other director hadn't turned up - when I looked in the calendar I'd forgotten to invite him!  Oops ...  

Just couldn't bring myself to own up to that, just decided to take some time off to get my brain back in gear!

We have an internet and e-mail policy which states that the company accepts use for non-business related activities which should be occasional and, wherever possible, outside normal working hours.  E-mail is also monitored and screened for viruses and dodgy words/attachments etc

I believe this is a fair policy.  Like uberpa says, the company is looking after its security and reputation.  I’m lucky enough to have a PC at home but it’s like some personal telephone calls, some e-mail communication has to be made during the working day.  Trust is a key thing between employer and employee but unfortunately the minority who abuse these privileges can make it worse for the majority.

I don’t think the salesman deserved to lose his existing job.  How can you sack someone for trying to leave?  He should have been given a warning first for not thinking through his actions.

And quoting the Office Team poll - approachable and encouraging.  I have at last found a good boss and because of all his good points, which include many of those listed above, he motivates me to do my job well which helps him and, in turn, the company.

Unfortunately a lot of managers are put in management positions for various reasons other than having any people/management skills!  When will they learn?!

The only things I'd add to all the above is communication and networking which link together.

Communication between you and your new boss(es) is important so you can build a rapport and feel at ease with each other.  Particularly in the early days you need to give 2 way feedback to how you are going to work/change ways of working.

Communication and networking within the company and outside is also key - talking/meeting with other people that you deal with regularly/the people that your boss deals with regularly.  When you build up a rapport it is easier to approach people for help/contacts for information etc.  You will also probably be approached as the font of all knowledge so keeping a note of useful information/people is handy.

Unfortunately I just can’t help leaping to the defensive!  I haven’t yet learnt the art of listening to the evidence and keeping my mouth shut before trying to justify my actions.  I'm on a continual learning curve though and will note the comments of others here!  Fortunately I work in a no-blame culture at the moment with an approachable boss so feel I can hold my hand up without too much intimidation or loss of face.  It's never easy to receive criticism, particularly when you try and be as professional as you can most of the time, but its made easier when you respect the critic and their opinion and how they say it is important.

Supergirl I think your mad by subtracting your overtime hours!  But I can understand your thinking ...

I would certainly not work with my partner - we have enough trouble coping when he is directing and I’m choreographing in our am dram group!  Artistic differences, I guess!

I’ve dated colleagues in other departments in the past, although not in an office environment, and although things weren't serious, when things did go wrong, it caused an atmosphere and ruined the friendship we once had.

I guess being in different departments helps, the bigger the company the better and you both have to be professional about it as said in the previous posts.

I only update mine when I need to go job hunting and review the layout and content then to make sure I'm happy when I send it out.  I also tweak it for specific job applications.

I’ve applied for numerous jobs over the years and read loads of advice from agencies, books and sites likes this so hopefully keep up-to-date with my CV presentation.  It really bugs me that people STILL don’t keep their CV to 2 pages and I understand it’s harder the more experience you have and want to include but …

Like Coz, I hope not to put my present position on for a long time!  Although I guess I should review it every 6 months to add specific projects and achievements.  I like Countrigal’s idea of getting independent reviewers too.

Unique, Office Team released an Admin Staff Salary and Workplace Survey 2003/04 and Gordon Yates/The Guardian have also done an Admin, Secretarial & Support Staff Survey 2003/04.

I've got copies of both if you'd like to PM me but you can also probably obtain them via their websites.

I believe I am paid what I am worth but its taken me a long time to REALISE what I am worth but luckily this organisation realised it before I could say anything to the contrary!

I have only been in this position for 7 months so am happy to justify my worth at the moment, settle into the position, manage my workload until I feel confident to increase it.  I would hate to jeopardise my position by jumping into anything too big at the moment.

Peana –  we don’t have temporary holiday cover either but we spread our workload across the other admins in our division, despite being at different levels, which seems to work.  There will never be the same cover though – I still have to organise/do certain things before I go on leave.

We're having a breakfast networking meeting at work - you could "bring your own" to save money.  It's a chance to network and share information - we're going to have information on hand about objectives, other departments & company info/leaflets as well as information on IQPS membership, supplements & journals and of course secretarial websites.

I have no idea where my time goes – no hang on a minute, interruptions!  That’s the thing about this role – you can plan as much as you like, but when your workload comes from others you get interruptions via phone, e-mail or in person.  I also spend a lot of my time at my desk replying to and dealing with e-mails, although I try and reply by phone sometimes to hopefully cut down receiving any more!

Typing up minutes takes the longest because I need to think about it, decipher my writing, remember what was said if I can’t and I procrastinate on them … never ending story that one.

I have a daily list of tasks which includes recording/dealing with the internal and external mail, organising boss’ brought forward file, dealing with the tasks that he has given me to do and monitoring/dealing with his e-mails.

I can sympathise with jahdra – I am always waiting for my computer to stop freezing and catch up with my brain – I think I read somewhere that we lose about an hour a day due to IT problems …

And I can also sympathise with mbajjada – I spend a lot of my time opening the door for people who’ve forgotten their pass … rah rah rah!