Welcome to The Effective Admin, a leading authority specializing in professional development and training for administrative assistants, executive assistants, secretaries, and all other administrative professionals of any job title. Learn practical tips to advance your administrative support career and perform or simplify your job duties through the self-study printable and audio products you'll find here.

NEW - LATEST IN THE EFFECTIVE ADMIN TIP SHEET SERIES:

***Tip Sheet #18:  Tips, Techniques, and Strategies for Prioritizing Your Workload – Especially for Administrative Professionals*** Click here for more details.

Also, don't miss any new products. Enter your e-mail and name in the boxes to the right to subscribe to receive periodic updates on services and products for sale at The Effective Admin Store of use to administrative support professionals. (Recommended for administrative assistants, executive assistants, and any administrative professional interested in professional development, training, and learning ongoing – whether you've been on the job 30 days, 30 months, or 30 years.)

LISTEN CAREFULLY: You do NOT need to know and implement a lot of information to be satisfied and successful in your administrative professional job performance and career. Or to get the results you want in it. You only need to know the RIGHT information. Your time is valuable! Learn what others won't tell you, or don't know to tell you, to get ahead in your career and perform most effectively in your administrative professional job. Read onward...

"If You're an Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant or Other Administrative

Professional who Continuously Strives

to be a Better Administrative Professional,

This Letter is to you:"

Dear Administrative Professional,

• If you are looking to become or remain highly effective in your daily performance as an administrative professional and/or savvy in managing your admin career, you have come to the right place.

• If you're looking for the answers that will help you achieve those results, you've come to the right place.

• If you don't even know what questions to ask to achieve those results, you've come to the right place.

The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach

1)... helps administrative professionals like you to do a better job.

2) ... helps administrative professionals like you to do a faster job or to perform, even simplify, your job duties and tasks.

3) ... helps administrative professionals like you to advance in your career or make the most of your current position -- whichever you prefer. The Effective Admin is all about helping you get what you want and need.

Learn to be the Best Administrative Professional Possible While Getting Benefits you Deserve

This is the place where administrative professionals like you come to learn how to be the best administrative professional possible WHILE getting the benefits you deserve as a career professional.

You probably clicked on this site while proactively searching for job and career tips to help you in your chosen profession -- that of the administrative professional. Or perhaps a friend or employer told you about The Effective Admin. Regardless, you're here, and through The Effective Admin I'm reaching out to YOU. I help administrative professionals like you -- ones who are willing and actively seeking to help themselves -- get the answers and results you want in your job and career. I'm your ally in the admin profession.

Through my informational products for aspiring and current administrative professionals, you'll learn tips for things like how to:

• increase your daily productivity -- so you can get it all done more often.
   
• boost your work quality -- so you shine, make fewer mistakes, and get those higher level assignments that work to your career advantage.
   
• reduce your stress -- so you go to work happy and go home happy, all in the same day.
   
• set and manage goals -- on the job, in your performance appraisal, and in your career.
   
• get salary increases, promotions, and perks -- no one can promise those things to you but you will learn concepts that can help you to put yourself in the running for those items.
   
• get challenging assignments -- since if you're like many administrative professionals you thrive on variety and putting your mind to work. Plus savvy admins know that more challenging assignments can lead to job satisfaction, salary increases, and even advancement or lateral moves within your profession.
   
• stay motivated in your job -- and enthusiastic in your work and day.
   
• get more respect at work -- since this directly impacts your daily satisfaction and motivation to even go to work.
   
• get recognition for your ideas -- because you have lots of them, deserve credit for them, and can benefit by knowing how to best voice them to your manager and others.
   
• communicate more effectively -- so you get the results you want when you talk to people, or write or e-mail them.
   
• work more efficiently with your manager -- to make him or her more effective, to make your day operate smoother, to attain the best ally you'll ever have in your job and career (besides The Effective Admin, that is).
   
• save time on tasks and manage your time better -- so you get more of the right things done as well as get it all done.
   
• improve your admin specific work skills -- and just keep up with the ones you need because you need to stay current with the hard skills and soft skills needed by today's administrative professionals.
   
• handle conflicts at work -- so if you can't prevent them, then at least you can manage them, even turn them into useful conversations and feedback.
   
• have better conversations with your boss -- so both of your needs get met.
   
• increase your visibility -- so the boss even notices you and your hard work, along with the right attention from your colleagues, co-workers, and others.
   
• manage that endless flow of incoming information -- because e-mail, paper, cell phones, landlines, etc., keep bringing it, possibly more than ever.
   
• feel better at work, both mentally and physically -- so you can have a productive day at work and after work.
   
• get current job satisfaction -- because if you can't enjoy your job and aren't engaged in it, you have no fun at work.
   
• and much more

You've Found This Decade's Resource for Today's Administrative Professionals

Founded in the year 2004, The Effective Admin is this decade's resource for administrative professionals like you. Use it to manage your job and excel in your career as an admin. The Effective Admin changes with the times ongoing, just like your job description does -- so it can meet your needs in the office and in your career ongoing.

So I know a lot about the needs and desires of administrative professionals (and even your supervisors). Together I take that information, mix it with my professional attributes and research, and use it to help provide admins like you with top notch and relevant information focused on your administrative professional job and career.

Get the Same Tools and Resources These Administrative Professionals are Using Now to be Successful

My satisfaction not only comes in operating my own company, The Effective Admin, but in feedback from your administrative colleagues whom I've helped.

• For instance, the admin who told me: "When I have needed your assistance with an issue you have been quite prompt in getting back to me. It makes me proud to be a part of The Effective Admin. You are the best!!"
   

• Or the one who wrote: "Just wanted to tell you how much I still enjoy the Effective Admin e-zine. I read it top to bottom and encourage any admin I know to subscribe."
   

• Another administrative professional wrote me: "I so appreciate the time you took to help me figure out how best to handle these situations. You are, indeed, a most valuable resource. Thanks again."
   

• I cheer with the administrative professionals who tell me success stories like the one who told me: "I am moving out of [company x] and over to [corporation y]. I am receiving a $10K raise and doing what I do over here. I am very excited."
   

• Or the one who wrote: "I must say my career was never the same since I started receiving correspondence from you." [And though I can't share the rest of her confidential letter with you, be assured she meant that as a compliment.]

The Effective Admin is for Administrative Assistants Everywhere -- Across the Nation, Across the Globe -- New or "Seasoned" Admins

Though based in the United States, The Effective Admin touches the lives of administrative professionals globally. Based on reader correspondence and feedback, The Effective Admin affects the lives and careers of administrative professionals coast to coast nationally ... from Florida to California, from Texas to New York, even Alaska -- every state.

Globally many who benefit from The Effective Admin are located in Canada ... but others are located as far away as South Africa, Dubai-United Arab Emirates, Haiti, Spain, France. Okay...I don't speak or write materials in all of the different native languages but obviously some of the admins requesting my products either speak English or are having them translated. Actually, one overseas administrative professional told me she was even using my materials to help her learn English. Regardless, The Effective Admin touches lives and admin careers globally because many admins worldwide share the same issues in their jobs and careers.

Some of these administrative professionals call themselves "seasoned" admins, others say they're "newbies." Which are you? No matter whether you're an administrative professional of one year, 10 years, or 30 years, you'll find help, advice, and support at The Effective Admin.

Learn Only the Information That is Going to Help you Achieve the Results you Want in Your Administrative Professional Job and Career - Your Time is Valuable!

But I know your time IS valuable; therefore, I don't just want to give you a bunch of stuff to read or listen to. Savvy administrative professionals don't read everything thrown on their plates just because it is there for the taking. That's acting in a reactive manner (and savvy admins are proactive) and that's also a waste of time. So at The Effective Admin, I filter the information I give you -- just like you do for your manager or executive when you sort his mail or highlight her reading material -- so that you get only the practical and relevant nuggets of advice at your fingertips ready to read and use ongoing. You get the information that matters -- what will really get you the results you want in performing your job and managing your administrative professional career.

I personally produce all of the exclusive informational material sold by The Effective Admin -- such as the special reports, tip sheets and newsletter. As I emphasized, one of my goals is to serve you with quality information, not quantity. None of us have time to read hundreds of articles and tips daily -- not me, not you. So in my online store and e-zine and even on this website, I try to deliver less quantity but that contains more quality. Remember, your time is valuable. Don't let anyone treat you like it's not. And while I don't and will never claim to be the biggest, best or largest anything -- I do claim to specialize in delivering highly focused, relevant, even personalized, information to administrative professionals like you who want satisfaction on the job and success in your career.

And one more thing ... and this is very important, so listen carefully: You do NOT need to know and implement a lot of information to be satisfied and successful in your job performance and career. Or to get the results you want in it. You only need to know the RIGHT information. That's selective tips and advice you can implement that will get you the results you want for your employer AND for yourself in your job and career.

Learn What Others Won't Tell you, or Don't Know to Tell you, to get Ahead in Your Career

Through The Effective Admin, you'll learn how to be the best administrative professional you can be WHILE getting the benefits you deserve as a career professional. I provide you with information to perform your job superbly every day; BUT I also tell you things you can't learn from your admin peers or other colleagues, such as tips and tricks for getting ahead in the workplace so you get the results you want in your career.

The fact is that you can't learn this stuff from those who don't already know it, no matter how well-meaning their intentions in helping you ... but I know it and I know experts who share with me what I don't know -- and I deliver that information to you in The Effective Admin informational products. Think of me, or The Effective Admin, as your ally this decade in the workplace. On behalf of The Effective Admin, I'm here for today's administrative professional: YOU.

I've developed material exclusively for administrative professionals and I've dished it out in downloadable informational products so that I can serve you and your administrative colleagues at the same time  -- because there is only one of me and only 24/7 in a week but many administrative professionals who need and want answers globally and often. So if you need help being or remaining satisfied and successful in performing your job daily but also in your long-term admin career, get my information. It's not available anywhere else other than here: become An Effective Admin VIP

Warmest Regards,

Karen Porter

Karen Porter

The Administrative Professional

Job Performance and Career

Success Coach

and Founder and President

of The Effective Admin

Contact Me

----------------------------------

The Effective Admin is the place where good admins come to learn how to be great admins and where the best administrative professionals never stop learning.

Two months from now your manager or executive could think you're the best assistant he or she has ever had ...

...or you could be standing in the unemployment line thinking, "What could I have done differently?"

Get Top Notch Professional Development and Training PRODUCTS for Administrative Professionals including:

►Become An Effective Admin VIP Self-Study Package (best value offer for savvy admins)

►How to Set Administrative Assistant Goals and  Executive Assistant Goals (especially useful when writing goals in performance appraisal evaluations)

►How to Take Meeting Minutes (Learn to actually take minutes, not transcribe he said, she said style.)

►The Effective Admin Newsletter (latest issued released is October -- you get 8 issues per year.)

►Plus view the latest products featured

PRODUCTS for Managers and Executives of Administrative Professionals:

►Tips for Managers or Executives Who Work With Administrative Professionals (87 Ways to work effectively with your administrative professional)

Do you have a question, problem, or dilemma related to your administrative professional job or career? Get help and answers here.

ARTICLES AND COLUMNS:

►Articles for Admins

►Advice for Admins by OfficeTeam

►Books for Administrative Assistants & Executive Assistants

►Administrative Professionals Day & Week

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT JOBS AND INTERVIEW ADVICE

►Get an Administrative Job

►Administrative Job Descriptions

►Administrative Professional Job Titles

►Administrative Assistant Resume and Cover Letter

►Job Search and Interview Advice Articles

Great administrative professionals thrive on the job and in their careers -- not just survive on the job. Never stop learning to be or remain the best administrative professional. Get actively engaged in your job and admin career choice. Stay engaged. Learn new skills; refresh current skills; be the best admin; remain the best admin!

"Thanks for making me appreciate my job as a Business Support staff. Your newsletters have made me appear and sound professional. I have developed confidence in myself on the job. I have also realised that irrespective of your position in a company, you can become a professional and stand out."

Judith Okakuro
Business Support
Nigeria

"I just wanted to give you an update on my situation. I turned in my position questionnaire. It was finally reviewed by our compensation group and a recommendation was given to my boss regarding my position. They recommended the promotion I was looking for, along with another 15% pay increase! Things are still going GREAT! Thank you so much for your guidance! It really helped lead me in the right direction."

Name withheld for privacy
Administrative Assistant
Arkansas

“Your goals setting publication allowed me to think of my goals from a completely different perspective and [this] was the first time in 20 years that I have not stressed over my annual review. I was prepared for it and in fact, looked forward to it."

Judy Santiago
Executive Assistant
San Antonio, Texas

Debbie Ryan
Admin Assistant
Santa Clara, CA

"Hi Karen,

I have been implementing the tips in the materials you have sent me and so far it works well for me. When I was still in my previous job, I started using one of the tips you mentioned in the time management materials....After two days, the record was a painful fact. I realised I have wasted my time in wondering what to do next in my list, chatting on the phone, doing one thing after another without proper planning. This resulted in less efficiency, not delivering results, more time in the office, going home wondering 'Have I finished my tasks? Why do I feel incomplete?'

In my last remaining days with my previous job, I started doing corrective measures on how to ensure I manage my time wisely....Now I go home peacefully, knowing that I have covered all my responsibility for the day and report to work fresh and happy the next day.

Today, my new manager gave my tasks in the morning, and before the day ends, he asks me if I have some feedback. To his surprise (and mine as well!) I have done all the tasks he had asked me except one because the person I was calling did not pickup his phone the whole day!

The time management materials have helped me manage my time in the office. Using the tips in the materials you have sent me, things have really improved."

Many thanks
Margaret Medina
Executive Assistant
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

"I purchased Effective Admin VIP because it seemed like a good source of material all in one location. The information is very helpful with lots of good tips. I printed it and put it in a binder for future reference. As I get the newsletters, I add those as well. I have purchased many of the books recommended and now have a wealth of information.

Executive Assistants often feel that nobody understands their isolation. We work closely with Executives and are privy to so much confidential information, yet we are not members of the Executive. Knowing as much as we do also means we cannot join in the conversations with other administrative staff as we are often asked to reveal things we cannot. I also must remain loyal to the Company while others discuss their frustrations.

Your publications and suggested readings have helped me to understand that this is all part of the job and that feeling this way is normal. If I did not feel this way, I would not be doing my job properly! I have learned to put things into perspective and I now feel like I am a part of a large organization of professionals all with the same concerns."

Barbara Tait Persaud
Executive Assistant to the Department Head
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Canada

"I just want to thank you so very much for such an incredible publication....Because of your publication, I was able to land the job of my dreams. At almost 50 years of age, I was extremely nervous to even attempt the job search process, thinking that "at my age, who is going to hire me?" I was stuck in a very dead end job for 5 years and only stayed because of the great benefits and salary. Because the agency I worked for was funded by the state, as the state budget kept getting cut, so did my salary, hours, and benefits.

I had not been in the legal field for over eight years and did not think there was any way possible I would be able to do so again. I knew that is really where I wanted to be, so I followed your resume writing tips, job search ideas, etc. and here I am --- an administrative assistant to 2 partners. Every day I walk in the door I am treated like gold! This is not just a "job" for me, but a career where I truly look forward to being each and every day.

Have a great day and once again, thank you so much for helping to change my life in such a positive direction."

Sherry Lynn Adam
Administrative Assistant

"I finally found time this morning to wrap up some training I've been doing and to read the latest edition of The Effective Admin Newsletter. This is the first newsletter I have received and I was VERY impressed with both the content and the layout. What was more impressing was how after reading this I could immediately put several items to use. Thank you so much for creating and publishing such a great newsletter!"
 
Michele Ritchie
Executive Administrative Assistant

"I just recently purchased the VIP Effective Admin Professional package. I have only managed to read the second newsletter but wanted to congratulate you on providing excellent worthwhile information to the admin professionals of the world. I am currently a full-time mother to my little one but will be going back to EA work part time next year. My learnings from the VIP Package plus the two business admin courses I am currently completing by correspondence, will certainly negate the time out of the workforce when I present myself as a star candidate at interviews.

I look forward to reading the rest of the package over time and see it as a valuable resource for my return to work."
 

Kind Regards,
Bianca Szabo
Melbourne, Australia

"Just wanted you to know that I really enjoy your website and your publications for Executive and Administrative Assistants. Keep ‘em coming!"

Thanks,
Julie Berthelote
Executive Assistant
Seattle, Washington

"I find the information on your site very helpful and share a lot of the information with the other admins. Keep up the good work. This is a great resource for information. Very helpful."

Thanks,
Linda Oliver
Sr. Administrative Assistant
Santa Clara, California

“I just wanted to send you a little note to say ‘thank you’ for doing such a fantastic job with the Effective Admin. I always look forward to reading up on your articles, tips, etc. Thanks again – and keep up the great work!"

Take care,
Richard L. Adams
Staff Assistant
Towson, Maryland

Best Regards,
Tammy Sparkman
Administration Manager; and
District Secretary/Treasurer
Spirit Lake, Idaho

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You are at the home of The Effective Admin, the store, website and newsletter that assists administrative support professionals. Admins from around the world come here to read advice for administrative professionals to manage and improve their performance on the job. The Effective Admin store sells self-study resources for administrative assistant training on current topics admin professionals use today on the job and in their careers. It's information for this decade's admin. These resources will help administrative professionals who want to do a better job, a faster job or advance in their careers.