[rswood]

I am very involved in piloting a knowledge transfer program at our company and I am interested in what others are doing?

Gina Wood CPS/CAP
Southern Company
Birmingham, AL

[aschoene]

Where I work, new Admin support team members (usually Admin and Executive assistants) get a full week of training in different modules presented by fellow EAs. This is to teach our company's procedures, and to give tips on our office culture as well as on using our common computer applications down to the nitty-gritty of T&E and other policies.

In addition, each new hire is assigned a Colleague who will take the new employee under her wing - go to coffee, lunch - to discuss any transitioning issues and just make the new hire feel welcome and comfortable. It's a great help to have a point person to go to with questions when first starting in a medium-large sized office where you can feel a little lost at first. Once the new hire has been in the job for 3-6 months, she can select her own official Mentor who can be there to support, help with professional development ideas, discuss any conflicts, etc. This gives you a person to talk to who isn't in HR, who can keep things confidential if you wish, or help you with ideas of how to mediate tough situations. The company supports this with a modest annual budget alloted to expense these Professional Development lunch meetings, etc.

[mazeppa]

Our company is more sink or swim. Training money and programs tend to go to management and not support. I have had to push for any training that I have received.

[Lametria]

At my firm we do have a mentor program in place. New admins have a full week of training at our main office, then from that point, depending on what area of practice you're in, you are placed with a mentor. My firm does have monthly mentor meetings as well.

[mazeppa]

In my company as well, you have to push for what you get. The employee handbooks are full of words about career planning and employee development but it is not for admin support. We are mainly invisible.

I develop the budget for my VP each year, and make sure there is money in it for courses. As well, our company has a tuition reimbursement plan that I have used extensively, working towards a business degree. Not that it has helped me much in my career, but the knowledge is mine to keep and it has not cost me a penny.