A stellar career portfolio captures your progressing skill levels, professional recognition, career enhancements, development activities, and impressive accomplishments. However, a common mistake many assistants make is believing that a career portfolio is only needed once in order to obtain employment or is compiled haphazardly once a year as a corporate requirement. To be very clear, a career portfolio’s primary purpose is NOT about job hunting, and I’m a firm believer that anything done haphazardly is not worth doing.

A notable professional portfolio that will serve you throughout your career should be carefully planned out and well-executed. It should impress executives and peers alike. It should be maintained and updated for as long as your career lasts. Why? Because whether you decide you want to move up in your chosen field, move out of your current profession, or stay where you are, a career portfolio will be an incredibly valuable asset. It’s worth doing because it’s simply not enough to tell people what you do and what you have accomplished. It’s not enough to give them a short resume. A career portfolio can efficiently demonstrate to leaders and peers alike that you are:

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To Our Clients and Colleagues:

30 years is a long time to sustain and build a business in a very unique niche . . . one that I created . . . administrative training and development. There have been many ups and downs over the years but I would not have chosen any other path. To this day, I am passionate as ever about championing assistants, pushing them to be their very best, and teaching both assistants and their executives to build strategic partnerships. In my video, I share with you what prompted me to start the company.

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We all know how hard it is to mentally get back in our work mode after a holiday—especially a long holiday like Christmas season. Here are some tips to help assistants refocus on business and their priorities.

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We live in a day and age that has forgotten which word comes first in the phrase, “business casual.” Too many professionals lose focus of their lofty career goals in the day-to-day grind. Dream big, but don’t forget that the key to achieving those dreams often lies in the little things you do every day.

One of the biggest impressions you make on leaders and co-workers is how you look. It may sound superficial, but it matters. Sure, the person in ripped jeans may be just as competent and intelligent as the one wearing the sharp suit, but many people may dismiss them simply based on their appearance.

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Optimization is like administrative skills and attitudes on steroids (in a good way!). Optimization means to enhance the effectiveness of something; to make something function at its best. When I read the definition of optimization, I immediately think of two things:

1. Part of my “job” is being brought into companies by senior leaders to help make their administrative partners function at their best. I have all the tools and answers to help administrative professionals be successful. Whether or not they choose to listen to me, take my advice, trust me and are willing to adopt new behaviors is another story. I can’t make anyone change anything, as is true for me. I attend educational events, read and am exposed to a variety of talented, smart subject matter experts but it is up to me to make changes.
   
2. Part of my “job” is to work with already-successful executives and their executive assistants to enhance their effectiveness. I go to the client’s facility and work with the leader and assistant one-on-one. I watch everything they do, listen to what they say, learn their processes, absorb their environment and dynamics and, basically, get inside their heads. When I do this kind of work, I can best help that team.

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