Training courses

[happyclappy]

What training courses do you attend/have you attended?  I've seen the adverts here on the website from Castalia about "PA Retreat".  Has anyone attended similar courses and did they really help you with your aspirations to be one of those PAs who work with eminent businessmen/women?  Do you think such courses are worth it or would you recommend getting an honours degree in Business Administration or an MBA?

Thanks in advance.

Lucy

[gee4]

I looked at the cost of the PA Retreat and wondered if any of my bosses would pay the money or think it worthwhile....probably not is the answer.

I have attended lots of courses and seminars over the years.  I guess it depends on what you as a PA are striving for and what you want to get out of any particular training course.

At the moment I am not in a position to pursue any training or development until I am made permanent and am informed of the company's current training policy.

To be honest at this stage in my life I am not really interested in pursuing any more qualifications or diplomas which is why I am happy to be in a role that doesn't require me to.

Post A Level Certificates include -

- LCCI Certfication for Bi-lingual Secretaries
- MOS Master Certification
- Train the Trainer

Seminars -

- The Indispensable PA
- Admin Professional's Day - this included a half day get together with other admins  in my company in 2006, and attendance at an annual conference hosted by a local BBC journalist in 2007.

[debbienealuk]

Hi there - I arranged for Susie from Castalia to do a one day 'away day' for me and the team of Exec PAs at the company I work for.  I thought it was really worthwhile.  Although our away day was tailored to what our team were looking for, I think that this kind of training is useful for anyone who wants to improve their relationship with their Exec -- moving away from being in a purely reactive role to taking a more proactive or even managerial role in the relationship.  We covered lots of useful things e.g. negotiating, influencing, even body language.  I really enjoyed it and I think that most of the team got a lot out of it.

[happyclappy]

Thanks, Debbie.  I'll look into it.  

I'm currently doing a law degree and expect to go in a slightly different direction in time. I work for a "high-flier" just now, so that sort of course might be helpful even though we covered some of those topics at college - nothing is ever wasted.