Our company is complying and straight away, we were told we should put labels at the back of any letter (we were given some by the receptionist!) until we get our envelopes pre-printed (the already have our logo on).

Makes sense for businesses, I think!

Bea

Our IT department takes of care of this too.  They have installed such a powerful spam system that even emails from our other subsidiaries get stuck in there and unfortunately they do not check it regularly to 'release' the emails wrongly stuck in the spam....

Bea

I feel for you too.  Can you get on the internet to look at jobs during your working hours, do you not feel comfortable with this?
reed.co.uk is usually very good as is fish4.co.uk.  Fish4 actually advertises jobs that have been put in the papers, as you might know.  I am sure there's loads of jobs where you are.  Keep positive, you may find something better.
Are you part of a networking group?  Someone might know of a vacancy?
Good luck
Bea

Gee

I did the same.  I hate filing so I always mention that as my weakness.  However I turn it round by saying that I've created an interim filing system so that I could always find things!!!

Bea

Just reminded me.  Got a phone call last Friday ''Beatrice, thanks for coming to interpret at the meeting next Tuesday'', me ''what, when, where, who?'
Basically my boss arranged a meeting but in his absence, said I would attend the meeting in his place to do the interpreting [French/English] and obviously he omitted to copy me!!

Didface / UberPA  - so funny you two today!!!!  Stories to brighten up a dull day!!!!

My boss called - last day today before his holidays - he's not coming in, was limping yesterday and going to hosp' to get it checked!!!  Everybody says he's a big Drama Queen when it comes to stuff like this!

He needs some travel documents so we might see him for 5 minutes, unless he asks for them to be delivered at his house, which a habit of his on Fridays.

However this means I'll finish ON TIME today!!!!  I am also off on my hols'!!!!

Bea

Thanks Gee & CaroleAnne

Actually the spreadsheet reads like this:

June                                           | July    
wk23 wk24 wk25 wk26 wk27  | wk28 wk29 wk30.....

Difficult to reproduce here but I will put the week that has 3 or 4 days in one month under that month.

Thanks
Bea

Something always puzzled but it never occurred to me there might be a rule to this!!

How do you split the weeks that have two months it.  For instance this year week 27 has 3 working days in June and 2 in July, so which month will have week 27?

I have been given a spreadsheet where I have the months on a row and week numbers on the row below, I am supposed to put the week numbers in the relevant month...

How do I split week 36, 2 working days in August and 3 in September, etc...

Someone must have the answer somewhere!!! Simple I am sure.

Thanks
Bea

That would be great!  I text my boss every now and then from my own personal phone then re-charge the company but claiming for £5 worth of text msg every few months seems ridiculous (I still do though!).  I had tried some websites but then my boss can't reply to me directly and I must admit, it's quicker just using my phone.  There are also restrictions on the number of characters you can use on a website when texting.  If DD can find a good tool, I wouldn't mind trying it out too!!!!

Back to the original question: notepad and my personal phone as, like I said above, my boss texts me if it's more convenient for him when he travels.

Bea

Believe or not!  I know a PA who got a job by networking at her gym!!!  She got chatting to someone who knew someone who was looking for a PA, two interviews later, she got the job!!!

I always got my jobs by crawling through adverts on websites on the internet...  I thought there was loads of legal secretaries jobs available.  Are you in the UK?

Sorry I can't really help.

Bea

Quite right to sound interested in the company you want to join.  My boss actually asked me at the interview 'do you know what we manufacture', I knew and said so, and thought it was a strange question, then he said 'believe me, some people think we make mars bars'.  He obviously meant that some people turn up not having researched the company, so my advice would be to go on their website and get some background, think of a couple of questions about the company.

Ask if they have a job description to show you - that would be great to see what's listed.

I would also wear a suit, if you have one, you do need to look professional at the interview (or borrow one from a friend?).

If if it's quite a drive and it gets hot in the car, I now keep some little individual deodorant wipes.  I used them last night as I drove in the heat for 1.5 hrs and went straight to the bathroom when I arrived to use them!!!  

All the best of luck

Bea

What I hate about corporate culture is all the politics that there can be.  I am stopping from being too pro-active in this job because it backfires on me!!  When I tried, my boss said, 'oh you should have discussed this with me before replying' etc.  I found this very fustrating at first but then I have no choice so I have to run everything through my boss, and sometimes things that I could act on can linger only because I can't get hold of him....

Apart from that the atmosphere is 'okay'.  There are little groups and some people are right down miserable, never saying hello, etc.  

Sorry, I feel like I am moaning now!!!

Bea

I work in an open plan office and the windows are behind me and way up so unless I turn round, I don't see daylight and anyway there is only the sky to look at through these windows.  In my previous job, I had big windows just opposite me and the office was only for 2 of us so that was a change.

I am glad you enjoy.  I too adapted to a noisier and unnatural bright lighting and except for the effect of the air con on my contact lenses and my skin every now and then, I reasonably enjoy it.

Glad you're okay with it!

Bea

There is a Novotel with 16 meeting rooms just off Euston.  Have you tried them?
From their website www.accorhotels.com:
address :
100 - 110 Euston Road
NW1 2AJ LONDON
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel : 020 7666 9000

Good luck
Bea

I don't mind the odd errand but they hardly ever happen in my present job.

I dropped him off once or twice at the garage to pick up his car.

I organised his private US trip two years ago and I might help him book his holidays.

Bea