NEWS
C A R EER
Professional development tips for executive-level PAs
INDUSTRY EXPERT INDUSTRY EXPERT
ALEX JONES DWAIN RICHARDSON
Job hunting in the
digital age The power of a
charity event
While the traditional approach to recruitment is
rapidly changing, there’s still a clear path to job
search success and looking for a new role in the
digital age isn’t as scary as it may seem to those
who’ve not experienced it yet. Here’s how to
prepare for the task...
w Be aware of the new recruitment landscape
– employers now look to proactively ‘find and
engage’ talent rather than passively wait for the
right applicant to apply for an advertised job.
Digitisation means organisations are using clever
tech and data science analytics to reach deep
into candidate pools, prepare shortlists of the
most suitable people (which span far wider than
active jobseekers) and gauge how open to new
opportunities each potential candidate is.
w EAs should aim to stand out and sell themselves
online in order to be found. So, update your
LinkedIn profile, be confident in your unique
selling point and use the right keywords to
ensure you appear in search results. Not sure on
keywords? Look at job descriptions for your ideal
role and note those commonly used.
w Add facts, statistics and links to your online
profile and CV as proof you did your previous jobs
well. One trick is to combine keywords with an
action verb – for example: “I reduced the amount
of time my executive spent on correspondence by
45% month-on-month by reading and routing on
her behalf as appropriate.”
w It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for endorsements
and testimonials from former employers and
colleagues to feature on LinkedIn – so do it.
w Search for and join relevant LinkedIn groups –
and participate. Start by liking relevant content
then, once you are more confident, consider
sharing or even contributing a post.
You’re then ready to connect with relevant
recruiters on LinkedIn – although given the power
of tech, they may have already found you! S If you’re an EA trying to come up with an event
that ticks all the boxes for the team (different,
memorable, fun) plus benefits your career
development at the same time, then consider
aligning your next event with a charitable
income. Here’s why it’s a winner in terms of your
professional development:
Alex Jones is senior regional director at Hays Office Support Dwain Richardson is the managing director at Corporate Challenge Events
66 Chief of Staff | April/May 2018
Increases your event planning capabilities
These events are pretty different from your usual,
stock standard corporate functions – you could
be doing anything from building dog kennels for
an animal shelter or landscaping for a newly-
constructed community facility, to cooking and
packaging meals for the homeless. It’ll require a
different skill set in the lead up and on the day,
plus, potentially, more creative thinking than
normal to sell the initiative to team members
who’d prefer the standard corporate get-together.
w Showcase your social responsibility
At the end of the event, you’ll understand and
feel the impact that your contribution has made
on someone less fortunate than yourself and it can
be a very empowering experience. Suddenly your
role at work has taken on greater significance as
you become more socially responsible.
w Expand your community networks
You’ll liaise frequently with the charitable
organisation your team is supporting, which could
open a whole new – and possibly valuable – set
of contacts for you. So, this regular engagement
not only deepens your connection with the cause
but provides a good future network in the not-for-
profit sector.
w Rejuvenate yourself for your regular tasks
Charity teambuilding events are ideal to inspire
and refresh everyone taking part, and bond you
with your colleagues. You’ll be rejuvenated for
your normal day-to-day tasks which will boost
your productivity and morale – and so will your
team, and the boss. S
w