mypeace, this is to let know that i appreciate ur contributions on this forum.
honestly secretarial work is what i dream and is what i enjoy doing, though i am still young on the job, despite the challenges i am facing as a beginner in my place of work i still believe i will overcome them with time.
honestly i want to get to the top of this noble career, with God on my side and hardwork i will get there.
i encourage all secretaries/pa out to be dedicated to their work and stick on the ethics of the job, surely we have nothing to regrets as secretaries/pa.

I really appreciate this good work you guys are doing. this forum has really encouraged me and i belive so many others.

my dear, big congrats to you.

Hi MyPeace, i saw your post about bin a PA / Confidential Secretary.
Please, do you know any organisation that need a front desk officer (i believe one can start from there). I need a job and i wouldn't mind to work as a front desk officer but if there is anyone that will employ a HND graduate in Science Lab. Tech. as a PA, i will be most grateful.

hello everyone, this forum is indeed great. I really appreciate all the advice and responses. Its wonderful to know that there are secretaries that love their jobs. I am a secretary in a Church, though the job is hectic but i love doing what i do and am proud to be a secretary. I dont face the challenge of harrassment from my Boss cos he is a Pastor, but the greatest challenge i face is that of members coming for counseling at the wrong time and i always have to tell them to come at the dates chosen for counseling and prayers. They always believe i should grant them audience with boss but he is always occupied with either sermon notes or guests from outside the church. Explaining to those people that Pastor is busy at the moment is like looking for a needle in a hay sack. But am glad there is a forum like this where we can all share our challenges on the job and the excitements too.

Big up to everyone. Mypeace i appreciate what u have started. Kudos to you. I admire you alot.

Hi everyone,

I want to appreciate all the newcomers to this forum and say a very BIG WELCOME to you all.  You have really made good points and inputs, especially (twinstaiye), thanks alot for your contribution.

One thing l sure know is that Secretarial Profession has come of age, the eras of copy typist, chief typist etc have gone. We are in the ara of Office Managers, Administrative Managers, Personnel Managers, then the need for further education can never be overemphasised.  All l know is that, if we are determined, we shall move the profession to an eviable position, where we shall separate the WHEATS from the CHAFF and retain the glory of the profession.


_{I have my contact email in this forum for whoever wants to contact me.}[size=8pt][/size]

You know MyPeace I ve come across this post before but then I hadn't registered as a member of naira land. I'm happy that u reposted this exciting topic about secretaries.

First, I want to ask, can assume the role of a receptionist, secretary and P.A at the same time? Can they be the same thing?

Again, I think concerning how to handle ur boss' visitors he does'nt want to see, I think the best thing to do jjust as mypeace said is to politely tactfully discharge them. for those who prove sturbon, u just post them.

About having a 'busy-doing-nothing' boss, this really gives me concern. what actually will be the work of a P.A whose boss just loiter about the office or just monitor events in the office?

My case in this discussion is: I'm my boss' P.A but most time or say all the time, he does'nt tell me where he is going, I dont attend meeting with him, and most time I get to know what is happening in the office thru senior colleagues. This really make the work so boring for me. so pls what is ur advice?

@Chigotex, Welcome to this forum.


On the case of doubling as a Receptionist, Sec/PA. Professionally, NO, These are two differet job positions with different job specifications. However in smaller companies (especially one man business) Yes, it does happen.

Wherever its the case, the Secretary can never function professionally, mostly in the area of protecting your boss from unwanted visitors. In well structured companies, they have Receptionists, Secretaries and Sec/PAs and different job functions, as we know.

On the issue of your boss going out without telln you. I want to ask, are you newly employed? l had this problem when l newly joined my coy, l think my boss was not used to me then, so l assumed she was "afraid" of telling me her whereabouts. But now l have made her, with my actions to have alot of trust in me, that even the Snr Managers get information about her from me. If she didnt tell me about her whereabouts, means that no body knows it in the coy. However, l am diplomatic on how l relate to the snr Managers about my boss whereabouts.
Trust, confidentiality is necessary in this profession, if your boss has ever told you something and later heard it from other source, means you have to rebuild the trust between the two of you.

If you dont attend meetings with your boss, dont get worried about it, l dont attend with mine too. Every boss has different need for a PA. However, you should function during Management Meetings and other smaller meetings in the office.

Cheers

This will be useful for all of us, especially those of us that are still young on the job:
www.secretarialsite.com/telephone-etiquette.htm

Hello mypeace thanks for your reply. The irony is I'm 3 yrs old in organization. And not sure of letting the cat out of the bag before. So what?, Again in as much as I don't attend out side meeting with him except when he thinks there will be need for light refreshment, then he can let me know so as to arrange for it.

Functioning in the management meeting I 'll say is an overstatement because I don't only to get them water for the meeting. This actually make me feel the work is degrading.

But I pray with time I will leave the firm for a better one that will offer me the opportunity to actually display the best of this profession.

Thanks my peace and the rest in the house I appreciate.

Big Welcome to all our new members, I believe you will have a lot to gain from this forum.
@twinstaiye, we look forward to tap more from your experience. You are welcome.
@Mypeace, how are you doing? Am back again.
@Beau1, what's up? No recent post?

Coming to Seun's post, my greatest challenge recently was when I travelled with my Boss to his home town last week. He was on political appointment, I was all alone with him in his guest house. His sister that normally attend to him travelled, so I had to do my normall official work, then take care of the house and make his food. Ah! it was wasnt easy especially as regards his food. He doesnt eat outside and although his girls friends do come around, he wouldnt want them to make his food. Actually, making his food is out of my scope of work, but I had to help him. I will like other members too to comment on this issue.

Apart from that, there were series of meetings both day and night, too many visitors and relations coming in and going out; I barely slept throughout the 9 days we spent there. Above all, I thank God I was able to sail through and my Boss appreciated it.

hi teena,
i just read ur last post, and if u wouldn't mind i like to know this .
are u married? if yes how do u cope being away from ur husband for nine good days with him aware that u are somewhere in ur oga's village and both of u in his quest house. because i believe that 99% of Nigerian men cannot take that.
secondly are u comfortable with that arrangement.
as a secretary i will not take that, being with my boss in his hometown and at the same time doubling as his cook ,any way everything depends on individual and the organization one is working i thank God i am presently in an organization that such schedule will not come up. even if i should be away with my boss it should be in a place where everything is taking care off, i have never come across where duties of a secertary include cooking ones boss food. u can prepare tea in the office for him that one is acceptable.
another thing is that, i feel nine days with ur boss is rather a long period of time just attending to visitors.
pls this just my opinion!

Hi everyone, Mypeace, Teena, Beau1.

I've really gained from your discussion on this forum. I'm a secretary too in the Aviation industry,
though i'm not a trained secretary (a graduate of Agric. and a holder of certificates in Fares and Ticketing),
i av worked as one for four years.

I intend to work my way to the managerial level, and with what i've learnt from ur discussions,
i think the next thing is to get an MBA (correct me if i'm wrong). Someone suggest i go to Alliance Francaise
instead or enrol as ICSA member, but i've not really decided. I hope you ladies will be able to advise me on what next to do to further improve myself considering that :

1. I'm a graduate of Agric
2. with Four years experience as a secretary (though not trained) (Aviation)
3. I don't intend to be limited to Aviation if opportunity arises elsewhere
4.I'm enjoying my job as i love working in a corporate environment
5. Got to decide fast to meet up with acquisition of form at unilag if i got to do MBA.

I'm happy to be part of you and expecting ur responses soon.

Hi Tina, Welcome back, Hope your boss won the election, plenty money for us ooo

@Chinemeran
l really appreciate your response to teena's post, one thing is that some bosses especially the male are so attached to their secretarys that they see them as "office wife" that's why must of them dont employed married ladies or some prefer male secretaries. Though what she did is out of her official duty, but its unfortunate that most secretaries do them. The last place l worked l used to prepare my boss's morining, afternoon and night foods (then he was on fruit diet) and he believed l would do it better than his wife. l dont see anything wrong with it, in as much as Teen does not go beyond her 'limit' also the boss.

@brownbaby,
Welcome to our forum, if you actually read our discussions well, you would understand that we concluded that its better we do our masters first before any professional exam, with your masters you will get lots of exemptions from the professional body. If the unilag form comes out, dont hestiate to inform the house. Happy staying in here, as we look forward to more contributions from you.

After tomorow, l will be away for 3weeks. hope to meet this forum moving.

Welcome brownbaby,
From my own point of view, doing a programme at Alliance France should not obstruct your Masters programme. They are two different things. From my experience in School, my course mates that did Bilingual Secretarial Course were more versatile both in academics and social events. Especially with your career in Aviation Industry, a second Interantial Language will be of a great advantage to you. So if you can; while waiting for your Masters, you might start a course in Alliance France; they do it in bits, as in months.


Mypeace, b4 your 3wks off, read and reply my mail ooooooooooooo
Thank God, the election has come and gone.

Thanks for your responses Teena and Mypeace.

@Teena, I'm really encouraged by your response,thanks so much. Pls does anyone know Alliance Francaise's
office address here in Lagos, I will really appreciate information about the school as soon as possible.

Love you all.

@Chinemeram

I agree with you, I dont think a secretary's work should extend to cooking the Boss' food,
but like mypeace said, it all depends on the motive of the secretary and the boss himself.

My Boss is very understanding and nice and I do my possible best to discharge my duties too.
I actually worked with him for 3yrs in a airline and he left for another airline,and when the former airline
had problems recently,he helped me into the new airline he went to, and i tell you no strings attached,
he is just nice and appreciates my loyalty to my job i'm sure.

If he wants me to cook his meal, I will, though I know he wont request such of me,and will never harrass me.
I'm sure thats the kind of trust teena has in her boss, some of them are as level headed as that.

But no married woman should be involved in such arrangement (cooking) there is no explanation for that.

Love u all.

I appreciate ur reactions to my post so far.
@Chinemeram, I hope you read it well.   Anyway, its one of challenges of the job.  Meanwhile, I work in a small organisation and I think there is a high level of understanding and trust b/w my Boss and I without any strings attached.  If I may ask, if you were to find yourself in such a situation as mine, what would you have done?  Pls I encourage more contributions.

@Brownbabay, The Alliance France Address:  I dont know d house No. but its on Herbert Macauley road, yaba b/w Alagomeji bus stop and Casino b/stop.  Then there is another one at Ikoyi.  Goodluck!

Please I woild love to know if it is possible to do your NYSC and study for your Masters' at the same time?

Hi MYpeace your God sent indeed. i love the job of a PA
its really fun u will be seen as an important person in the organisation
but coming to my own case.
i work in a good org. but the job is not challenging
is that how PA jobs are sitting down, answering calls , scheduling meeting
please if u can help me to get a better job when there is more to do
i will be grateful

Assuming you work with a boss that is too secretive it is so frustrating u don't
even konw anything concerning his movement i feel so bad.
Like if he travels i wont hear anything about his movement wat i do is not even
to call him Is it rite

Hi Everyone, oh mine!!! am really blessed to av met u guys, teena n peacemy u guys re just too sweet well loaded!!!
hmmmmmm, am a secretary by profession and am inluv wit d job. i've actually be blessed with the kind of boss i av. well trained n true child of God. Am arounding up my HND in yabatechnic presently am in my final.

U guys av really opened my eyes for a better vision. am grateful and i av d openness is gud.

i dnt av much to say, bt i knw dat i truely blessed the day i came across u guys


luv u

@Lady M, Welcome I hope we will have a lot to share together as no one knows it all.

@ Chy, Welcome, I understand how you feel My dear, but that shouldn’t worry you so much.
Moreover, this secretarial job is a very sensitive one; it has a lot to do with TRUST. If you are new in your job, never mind. Your boss might want to get used to you and ascertain your level of confidentiality before disclosing certain things to you.

My advice is that you should relax yourself and study him, try and find out why he is like that. If it is his personal trait, there is nothing you can do about it. On the contrary if you have ever given him any element of doubt in your cause of work, it might take sometime to restore that TRUST again. You are supposed to know about your Boss’ movement, do not push too hard. Be tactful; try and establish a good official relationship with him; prove to him that you can keep his ‘secrets’ secret. You can only enjoy this job if you are at ease with your boss.

I encourage you in your search for a better job, but I would want you to prove yourself in your present job before you leave so that your boss and your colleague will ever miss you.

Check the previous postings; Mypeacee has mentioned something similar to this. I hope when she comes back next week, she will have something more to contribute.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi guys, hw was d wkend n hw life generally, teena tnx 4 ur reply! pls wat is happening?  

Hi friends, How are you guys, l just resumed today.

I missed every one of you.


l say a big welcome to newcomers on board.


I  actually took my annual leave for my wedding that took place on the  19th of May 2007.  

Please wish me happy married life

am happy 4 u peacemy bt u didnt invite us oh!!! am so happy 4 u Happy Married life oh!!! hw is it? Mine is fast approaching oh! and am a little scared kind of sha, well God dey sha.

Mypeace, congratulations!!! I wish u a happy married life.

Lady M, you dont have to be scared, God is in control. Relax and you'll be amazed at what the outcome is going to be.

Cheers

Please, do we have any ICSAN Student on this thread? I really need to know more about this institue.
Its a pity such an institute doesn't have a url.

You are welcome mypece, we really missed you


CONGRATULAIONS!

JUST CUT AND PASTE OUR CAKE HERE


@LADYM what's happening I don't understand.

Hi Teena  you are online now, let me put one pix for your view. its not all that good, its a camera pix, my real pix are not out.  l just hope you view it now, because l will take if off right away.

Hi everyone, Thank you for your wishes.
LadyM, dont be scared, commit everything into Gods hand and it will surely work out well.

@desoriah, read the contributions here well, you will get info on that. Thx for joining us.

Thanks MyPeace, i'm new to this thread, but i'll try to read contributions on this thread.

Thnx for encouraging the secretarial profession.

I'll give details of myself later in the day.

take care

Hi MyPeace, congrats. i saw your post about bin a PA / Confidential Secretary.
Please, do you know any organisation that need a front desk officer (i believe one can start from there). I need a job and i wouldn't mind to work as a front desk officer but if there is anyone that will employ a HND graduate in Science Lab. Tech. as a PA, i will be most grateful.

Please i need help how to construct minutes of meetings
i mean contemporary minutes not old fashion please
i mean steps to take
Thanks