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These days, being a PA is no longer seen as a ‘stop-gap’.  It has become a career in its own right.  Several professional associations promote networking and PA training, and now these organisations are promoting Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Personal and Executive Assistants.

Refreshing and acquiring new skills is vital to stay ahead in your career.  As you climb the career ladder, your role will encompass a wider and wider range of ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills.  Your PA training should reflect this.  You may need certain ‘hard’ (technical or IT) skills in one role.  In another, perhaps a promotion, you may need to build on these technical skills and also gain others, such as ‘soft’ skills (e.g., time management, dealing with interruptions).

CPD, networking and training go hand-in-hand.  Professions such as the law and medicine actively encourage this.  However, it is important to keep up to date in any industry – whether or not there is any formal or on-going PA training.

Take the time to read trade magazines and tap into your PA network, too – at work, online, or even one of the many informal groups around the country.   Keep abreast of what’s happening in the world of PA training and take advantage of the networking opportunities this presents.

It is an investment in yourself and in your professional status.