Career Archives
Did you miss something in the Career section? Don't worry, we've archived our past articles to make sure nothing passes you by!
Managing a Difficult Boss
Dealing with difficult bosses has been a common theme in the questions you’ve posed to Paul Pennant, DeskDemon’s Agony Uncle. Paul takes a look at the issue and provides tips on how to forge a closer working relationship with your boss. more…
How to identify workplace bullying
How do you identify workplace bullying? We asked Lyn Witheridge, CEO of the Andrea Adams Trust – the first worldwide charity formed to combat the issues that surrounded workplace bullying – to explain. more…
Flexible benefits – choosing a motivation scheme that works for you
Flexible benefits can help drive performance and improve staff motivation. Kuljit Kaur, Head of Business Development of The Voucher Shop explains the ins and outs. more…
Give Back - Be a Mentor!
A successful mentoring partnership is a career development experience to be enjoyed. If your company does not currently have a mentoring program, pioneer the trail. more…
How to Ask for a Raise
Many people feel uncomfortable when on the subject of money and the old adage of "If you don't ask you won't get" rings true in these cases.
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Boardroom biscuits can make or break a meeting!
We had no idea that the humble biscuit was so important! But, new research has shown the biscuit-fare served in meetings plays an integral part for creating the right first impression, and improving the likely success of the meeting. Here's the low down on the top 5 biscuits to impress your clients!
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Make My Day - Achieving Assertiveness
PAs by nature are helpful and often acquiescent to their bosses. But, what about when you feel your own needs and priorities are taking second place to everyone else's? Paul Pennant gives advice on asserting and defending your rights. more…
Danger at the Desk!
The role of PAs and secretaries is becoming more dangerous by the hour! Workers who don’t take regular breaks from their desks double the risk of a blood clot. Find out what you can do to avoid DVT. more…
What an amazing experience!
Soft skills are at the core of a person's ability to perform in both personal and professional environments. Sharpening them will help you in both work and your personal life. more…
Common Job Interview Questions
It is important to be prepared when you go for interview. Here is a run-through of 20 of the most common interview questions, so you can organise your thoughts beforehand. more…
The Five Habits of Effective Executives
To be an effective executive you need to form strong habits. Discover how you can develop the five habits that will make you a dependable, efficient and effective executive. more…
The History of Mentoring
More and more business people - including CEOs and managing directors - are seeing the value having a mentor. A mentor can help you achieve your short and long-term goals. more…
Just for the Record - Perfect Minute-Writing
Learn why the minute taker is up there with the chairperson as the most important person in a meeting. This article by top trainer Paul Pennant explains key areas to consider - including preparation and research - if you want to become a great minute taker. more…
How to Answer the "Why were you fired?" Question
"Why were you fired?" is about the most difficult question you could ever be asked in an interview. Being honest and open with your interviewer will show you as a mature and responsible person. more…
Top Seven Tips to Get a Job Promotion
How come that career promotion never arrives? This article explains where you might be going wrong and seven simple ways to give yourself the best chances possible. more…
A Request for Your Day In The Life Of...
Our Day in the Life of series has been very popular. We always like to hear more from you and about what your day involves. If we publish your submission, we'll give you a £25 Marks & Spencer voucher as a small thank you token from us. more…
What not to Wear for Presentations
A speech can fail simply because of the speaker's choice of clothing. This article shows how to ensure that you're dressed in a way that compliments and not detracts from your speech. more…
How To Charge the Right Virtual Assistant Rate
Setting your freelancing rates correctly is key to your success as a freelancer. This article gives a run down of the main factors to take into consideration. more…
Making The Most Of Your Time: Tips For Handling Tasks
Through modifying your behaviour and attitude to time it is possible to gain hold of the hours again. Adopt some of these ideas to make your day flow more smoothly. more…
Ten Ways to Boost Business Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a vital part of modern business. Read these ten tips to find out how you can make the most of your colleagues' creativity and put together exciting brainstorming sessions. more…
How to Reduce Tension Before Your Presentation or Speech
Performing in front of others can be daunting. These tried and tested tips for relieving tension just before giving a presentation means you'll be able to give as good as you can. more…
A Day in the Life of...Toni De Feo-Mayers
Toni De Feo-Mayers is the PA to the Director of Training and Development at SolusNU. She sees adaptability as a key skill a PA can have in the workplace. more…
Top Ten Tips for Self-Confidence
A lack of self-confidence damages happiness and the sense of fulfilment. This article offers ten top tips to help give you the edge on it and believe in yourself. more…
Six Safe Decorating Ideas for Your Workspace
We spend a lot of time at work, labouring away in our workspaces. This article suggests some ideas of how to make a workspace your own and still preserve the integrity of surfaces. more…
What Is Managing Up?
"Managing up" is an effective way of building success for yourself and creating a positive working environment. This article explains what managing up is and how to do it. more…
Improv Comedy Lesson: One Step Away From Innovation
Improv comedy is all about testing yourself against new situations. This article offers some insights into how the art and science of improv comedy can be applied to other areas of your life. more…
S-I-M-P-L-E Organising Strategies
Through the S-I-M-P-L-E strategy outlined in this article, it's possible to bring order to the chaos and clear the spaces in your life, leaving you happier and more relaxed. more…
Just a Moment of Your Time
The role of PAs and secretaries is, by nature, about supporting others. But, if you're constantly at the beck and call of others, your own work can suffer. We asked Paul Pennant to give his advice on how to stop interruptions. more…
Safety in the Workplace: Everybody's Concern
Safety in the office can often be overlooked, but it is a serious issue requiring serious attention. This article highlights ways in which you can ensure your safety planning is comprehensive. more…
How to Earn Your Boss's Respect and Get That Promotion
Ever wondered what it takes for you to be promoted? This article gives some dos and don'ts to give yourself every chance of career progression. more…
Innovation: Thinking Outside the Box
We all know the expression "thinking outside the box", but do we know how to do it? This article explains what the box is and how to think in alternative ways. more…
What Are Communication Skills? And Why Do You Ask?
Communication is important, but how do you become an adept communicator? This article goes back to the building bricks and shares the essential components of successful communication. more…
Workplace Communication: What About Sarcasm?
Sarcasm weakens teamwork and reduces morale. This article shows you what to change if you are a sarcastic person and what to do if you are the butt of sarcastic jokes. more…
Five Personality Traits of Success
Successful people - in whatever fields and in whatever way - all share certain personality and character traits. We don't need all five, and it is possible to work on the ones you think may be important to your own success. more…
How To Improve Self Confidence At Work
Low self-confidence in any area of your life and especially at work can make life miserable. This article outlines the main causes and ways in which to address them. more…
Interviewing the Interviewer: Five Questions to Ask
We all speculate about what we're going to be asked in interviews, but just as important is interviewing the interviewer. Here are five questions to ask at interview. more…
You've Been Passed Over for Promotion, Now What?
You've been passed over for the promotion you believe you deserved. This article sets out a plan of action to turn the setback into a net gain, leading to better things in the future. more…
Five Tips for Dealing with Criticism or Rejection at Work
We all get negative feedback, rejection or criticism. It's a part of life. It's tempting to take it all to heart, to either lose some self-esteem or to lash out. However, there are better ways to deal with criticism. more…
A Simple Tip for Managing Office Politics
When you start a new job it is wise to learn the office politics of the new office. This article offers some simple tips to help set you in the right direction. more…
Wise Words on Failure
Everybody has that feeling of failure at some point. But, as this article shows, self-belief and determination have helped some of the world's greatest thinkers and leaders. more…
Day in the Life of...Emily Robe
Emily Robe is a PA to the MD of Specialist Equipment at Ashtead Plant Hire Company Ltd. Despite dealing with five directors and 56 depots, Emily says her current job is the best ever. more…
Thought Stopping, Thought Distraction & Negative Self-Talk
Thought stopping is an excellent way to eliminate negative self-talk. This simple technique involves using a verbal or physical trigger to halt undesirable thinking. more…
Transform Your Office and Increase Your Energy
Your office environment has a huge impact on your performance. You can do a number of things to make it a place to aid productivity and quality of life, rather than sap your energy. more…
Positive Self-Talk: What Should You Say?
Positive self-talk helps. Saying, "I always have this problem" doesn't motivate you as much as, "I'll do better next time." Find out how to turn this around. more…
How to Deal With a Toxic Colleague
You love what you do and your boss is a gem. But a toxic colleague is stopping you from being happy in your job. Learn how you can successfully deal with them. more…
How to Abolish the Top Five Time Wasters
Time wasting is of the key reasons stopping businesses performing to their potential. Find out more about the five top time wasters and how to combat them.
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Cubicle Sweet Cubicle: Making Your Workspace Appealing
Let's face it, being boxed in for eight hours a day isn't exactly appealing. Make the blandest, smallest cubicle more appealing while maintaining a professional work environment. more…
Three Ways to Say "You're Wrong"
"You're wrong" is often a tough phrase to use, especially at work. But you can subtly get your message across and improve the situation without saying, "You're wrong". more…
Cupid, Coffee and Copiers
Dating colleagues is fraught with danger. This article presents some points to ponder if you find yourself thinking more about romance than the work you should be doing. more…
Conference Call Etiquette
Conference calls are an important business tool and so it's imperative to get the best out of the service. To make them bring results, you need to follow good conference call etiquette. more…
How To Break Through Negativity
Negativity can make life unappealing. However, the negative feelings can be fought and defeated, allowing you to recapture that joy of being alive. Find out ten strategies in this article. more…
How to Write and Format a Business Report
Many reports suffer the fate of not being read by their intended readers. But if you write and format the report following accepted conventions then there is a much greater likelihood of a positive response. more…
Master the Art of Leaving Messages
Want to get your calls returned, and quickly? The seven tips in this article will help you improve your voicemail practices and increase your likelihood of getting your calls (happily) returned. more…
Have You Said "Thank You" Today?
How much time do you spend complaining? When you look closely there's probably much to be thankful for in your life. Find out how to put your worries in perspective and make life take a positive turn. more…
Innovation: Top 10 Tips
What makes the difference between success and failure? Some projects might seem to have what it takes, but still fail. A study of 65 leading companies puts forward 10 key tips for innovation success. more…
10 Easy Steps to Improve Your Self-Esteem
Your self-esteem affects your life in all sorts of ways, in both your business and personal life. Here are 10 practical tips of things you can do to feel happier with yourself. more…
Be a Better Communicator
A large part of improving your communication environment at work is improving your own ability to communicate. Find out how to strike that right balance to move away from the impersonal and into the interpersonal more…
The Best Way to Resign
Sometimes it takes great courage to leave the safety net of your current employer. This article explores some of the things you should and shouldn't do when your time to resign comes. more…
Top Tips to Boost Your Professional Reputation
As we near the end of the year, now is the perfect time to re-evaluate yourself and your relationships. Focusing your energies on positive outcomes can have dramatic effects on your happiness and wellbeing. more…
Dealing with Difficult People
As we near the end of the year, now is the perfect time to re-evaluate yourself and your relationships. Focusing your energies on positive outcomes can have dramatic effects on your happiness and wellbeing. more…
How to Deal with a Disrespectful Boss
As we near the end of the year, now is the perfect time to re-evaluate yourself and your relationships. Focusing your energies on positive outcomes can have dramatic effects on your happiness and wellbeing. more…
Resolve to Leave the Office Earlier
As we near the end of the year, now is the perfect time to re-evaluate yourself and your relationships. Focusing your energies on positive outcomes can have dramatic effects on your happiness and wellbeing. more…
Your Year End Review
As we near the end of the year, now is the perfect time to re-evaluate yourself and your relationships. Focusing your energies on positive outcomes can have dramatic effects on your happiness and wellbeing. more…
Use Those Longer Evenings
The art of achieving success in life is to ensure that you see every challenge or opportunity in its most positive light. Attaining this state of mind can change your life for the better. Self-examination is essential to guide this process along. more…
Make the Most of the Job You Have - The Top Five Ways
Maybe you're not in the job of your dreams, but now what do you do? There's only one thing for it - try to enjoy it. Here are the top five ways to make the most of the job you have. more…
In PAs We Trust
As part of everyday duties, many PAs see or control confidential information. How we deal with this knowledge affects the very fabric of the office. more…
Tips To Improve Your Memory
The fundamental principles underlying the use of mnemonics are imagination, association and location. If you apply these principles, you can improve your memory and your performance. more…
Achieving a State of 'Flow' at Work
Do you ever feel like your mind is a million miles away? You aren't hearing a word of what is being said. Read how you can achieve a productive state of flow. more…
The "6-D" Information System
There are only 6 things you can do with any piece of information. Read what these things are and how they work into the 6-D Information System. more…
Are You Old or in Your Prime?
Very many people are now working longer, either because they want to or because they have to. However, age discrimination is a problem. Find out how you can beat the stereotypes pushed on you. more…
Developing a Great Relationship with Your Boss
You have landed the perfect job and it is now time to start building that strong relationship with your boss. Read some advice on developing that oh so important relationship. more…
Developing Your Soft Skills
You just need to look the job market to see how much soft skills are valued. Problem solving and negotiation skills are vital in the modern workplace. Find out how to brush up on your skills. more…
Increase Your Self-Confidence in Three Easy Steps
In one way or another, we are all plagued by a lack of self-confidence. If you wish to increase your levels of self-confidence, there are three easy steps you can follow. more…
Get an Autumn Tune-Up
Using a career coach can do wonders for your career. To get even more out of coaching it can be a good idea to take part in post coaching "tune-up" sessions - to see how far you have got and what else you need to do. more…
Bad Review out of the Blue
You think things are going along well at work, or at least adequately enough, until your boss summons you to his or her office and delivers a shock: A Bad Review! more…
Listening is Priceless: 5 Goals for Effective Listening
Poor listening can lead to challenges in relationships, lack of credibility, lost contacts, inaccurate reporting, rework, dissatisfied customers and lowered productivity. Find out ways to be an effective listener to avoid these pitfalls. more…
Office Politics: Survival of the Savvy
There's one skill everybody at work wishes they were better at, but you won't find it taught in MBA courses: office politics. more…
Asking for Feedback
Were you caught unaware by your last performance review? This article describes how to get feedback at the office before your formal review comes around. more…
How to Influence People
Influencing others is a skill and an art, without which working in today's workplace is very difficult. Find out what can be done to make yourself a more effective influencer. more…
How To Tame Speaking Butterflies
Learn how you can tame those speaking butterflies. This article points out how you can become a more confident public speaker - and so move forward in your career. more…
Day in the Life of...Julie Phillips
Julie Phillips is the Office Manager and PA to the Director at TPAS Cymru. She shares her experiences of life in an organisation that is aiming to change with time. more…
Nine Steps to Corporate Success
Being successful in corporations today is more challenging than ever, with downsizing, bankruptcies, and outsourcing. There are nine steps that new employees can take to maximise their opportunities for corporate success. more…
Communication Tips for Men and Women
One of the challenges facing women's advancement involves communication differences between women and men in charge. But communication is also a challenge for many men - in charge or not. more…
Boost Your Work Performance
It's always the right time to look at ways to boost your work performance, so that your boss and colleagues wonder how they ever coped without you! more…
The High Cost of Poor Listening
There are no shortcuts to becoming a great listener and the price tag for poor listening is high. Listening well can reduce misunderstandings while increasing knowledge and delivering better results faster. more…
The Performance Review Puzzle
You're completely baffled by your performance review - but your boss refuses to explain what you did wrong. What can you do? more…
The Five Worst Traits in a Boss
As PAs we must represent our managers. Leadership is part of the job even in non-leadership roles. Learn more about what the bad managerial traits are. more…
The Lunch Buddy Solution
Do you have that one annoying colleague who constantly tags along at lunch? Can't figure out a way to ditch them "politely"? Here are some tips to take back your lunch hour. more…
Are You Sexually Harassing the Men in Your Office?
New statistics show that men are increasingly being sexually harassed in the workplace. According to WebWombat, sexual harassment of men in the workplace has risen to 7%. Are you a perpetrator? more…
Top Etiquette Skills Critical to Your Success
Want to succeed in the administrative profession? Remember this: Manners matter. They distinguish today's most sought-after and highly compensated assistants from those who are "great", but don't advance to better jobs. more…
7 Simple Steps to Get More Out of Your Day
Would you like to get more out of your day? This article provides 7 simple steps to get the most out of the time you have. more…
The Art of Negotiating During a Job Offer
When someone offers you a job you need to stop telling them why you deserve it and start thinking about how to make the situation work to your advantage. more…
7 Questions that Get Your Boss to Love You
Looking For a Fast Track to Career Success? Ask yourself these questions to increase your chances for promotion and recognition. It might even make a difference to your next raise. more…
Company Picnic Ideas and Planning Tips
The company picnic is a beloved tradition at many firms. It's an opportunity for employees to mingle and "let their hair down". Pick up some picnic and planning tips for your next picnic. more…
Day in the life of Susan Beadel
Susan Beadel at Motorola tells us the challenges she's faced, the skills she needs and her plans for the future. Find out what it takes to succeed as a PA in sales. more…
Sound Off – Smoking Breaks
Do you have that person in the office that takes a smoking break every hour? This week's sound off focuses on how much time co-workers spend on smoking breaks. more…
The Invaluable Modern Office Professional
Professional Secretaries Day was on Wednesday, 26th April. What better time to take a look at how invaluable the modern office professional really is. more…
Affirmations of PAs, Secretaries and Office Professionals
An affirmation is a statement asserting the existence or the truth of something. Writing your own affirmations can be very enlightening. What are your personal affirmations? more…
Sound off - Second Class Citizen
Sound Off!! This week we hear from Hanna, who is sick of not being taken seriously by her colleagues and so being treated like a 'second class citizen'. more…
Best Ways to Keep your Professional Edge
Joan Burge of Office Dynamics, Ltd. brings us an article on being a star performer. Check out what does it mean today to be "professional"? more…
The Dynamics of Small Actions
The best solutions are not dependent on dimensions. Small actions have the potential of greatness within them. Small actions act as levers. They can move the world by slight adjustments. Small actions produce change. more…
Mother's Day, Sunday 26th March 2006
Mother’s Day, a day on which people frantically phone the local flower shop and beg them to do a last minute delivery, is on the way. more…
Five Tips for Dealing with Challenging Conversationalists
The colleague who won’t stop talking, the person who won’t say a word…Here are a few tips on how to deal with challenging conversationalists. more…
Be Ready to Answer the Top 10 Job Interview Questions
Don't risk the future of your career by flying by the seat of your pants. Prepare yourself by developing answers to the most commonly asked questions. more…
Top 10 Ways to Survive Today's Office
Life at work can be fun, serious, confusing, and rewarding. Sometimes it happens all in the same day. Here are 10 things to learn, not only to survive, but to thrive! more…
Setting Clearer Performance Expectations
The annual performance review. One of the most critical parts of this event effectively – setting clear performance expectations. more…
How to deal with Micromanagers
Micromanagement is the excessive, unwanted, counterproductive interference and disruption of people or things. Learn how to deal effectively with a micromanager using the following strategies. more…
The 7 P's of Business Phone Etiquette
Millions of business phone calls are made every hour and day. Improve your understanding of how to use the phone effectively with these phone etiquette tips. more…
What do you prefer to be called?
We asked you what you prefer to be called: woman, lady, girl or none of these. Here is what DeskDemon’s poll results said. more…
My Career: Scotland
Let's take a look at life and opportunities in Scotland! The country has lots of exciting plans to capitalise on its strengths and plenty to offer the visitor. more…
Why learn a language?
The Council of Europe has declared the 26th September to be the annual European Day of Languages. What does that mean for you? more…
Top 5 money-saving tips for Virtual Assistants
Watching the bottom line is important for any business. Virtual assistant Caroline Melville has some great money-saving tips for those of you who are VAs more…
Building your role and career
Pippa Bunker is enjoying a hugely rewarding working life with OfficeTeam in their Milton Keynes office. more…
Take control of your career
Here at DeskDemon, we firmly believe there are exciting times and opportunities ahead for you all. So how can you make the most of them? We spoke to Phil Sheridan, UK District Director of OfficeTeam for his advice and thoughts: more…
How to interview
When the time comes to take your seat at the hiring side of the interview table, it can strike fear into even the bravest secretary's heart. more…
Colour me happy
With drab beige, cream and brown seemingly the most popular colours for office walls in the UK, it's no wonder that office workers feel tired and uninspired. more…
Working abroad
The world is said to be getting smaller and it's more important than ever that, if you're going to work successfully in a company which has a global reach, you can work across cultures. more…
Alpha or Average
Who hasn't met an Alpha and envied them? If you're unfamiliar with the term, Alpha individuals are those 'lucky' people who are confident, capable and seem to have the world at their feet. more…
Professionalism is a prerequisite to a successful career as a PA, and over
the decades I have learnt to copy the behaviour of people more successful
than myself. more…
Moving on up
So you've decided to take that all-important next step and make your career dreams happen. more…
Just say NO!
Saying 'no' can sometimes be a tricky business as Nancy Reagan found out about 20 years ago. more…
