Are you part of the UV-AP Club?
30/11/2005
If so, today’s the day to cancel your membership of the UV-AP Club. If you’re an administrative professional, chances are you belong to the “undervalued-administrative professionals” club.
Professional development consultant Eth Lloyd knows all about the general undervaluing of people – generally women – in these roles and is doing her darndest to change it.
The immediate past president of AAPNZ, Eth is quick to explain that the undervaluing isn’t deliberately unkind, it’s just how it has developed over the years.
“This undervaluing by others is compounded by the undervaluing of the role by the administrative professionals themselves,” she points out.
“What administrative professionals need to do is value themselves as individuals, their work as contributing to the bigger picture of their organisation, and seeking to have their role recognised as a profession.
“The only way to do this is to recognise the skills you already possess, gain new skills whenever and wherever you can, gain a recognised qualification and then stand proud of what you do and what you contribute.”
As well as gaining new skills – and check out the new roles in the “office of the future” article further on – there’s a new certification process which can align existing and new skills under one umbrella.
“AAPNZ Certification is a valuable professional development goal,” says Eth, a driving force behind it. “Certification takes account of not only formal qualifications but also all the informal learning you have undertaken in your work role, plus your work history.
“Certification is a statement of the skills you take with you from role to role. It gives value to those skills and recognises that you are a professional at the work you do and have a certificate to prove it.
“It is your opportunity to say to the world at large that your skills are valuable, they are recognised and that you meet the benchmark required todo your job the best you can.
“This is your chance to value yourself so that others value you.”
For further information on how to begin your certification process, check out www.aapnz.org.nz.
