Thursday, June 10, 2010

My Fashionable Office Picks



As a personal assistant, I'm usually trapped behind my desk for hours at a time. And since I'm in the office 5 days a week (sometimes 6), I want my workspace to be bright, fun and comfortable.

Other PA's and receptionists, I know you feel my pain!

I also know that most offices don't allow you creative reign over your personal work space, so here are my top picks for fashionable office accessories that are discreet enough to pass under the nose of management, but fun and funky enough to make work just that little bit easier!
  • Purchase a fashionable wall or desk clock. It could be digital or analogue, red or black, you name it. Not only is a wall clock essential to organising schedules, it's imperative you know when your next break is coming up!
  • Invest in bright coloured document holders, staplers, pens and other stationery items - Officeworks, Kikki-K, Smiggle or David Jones are great places to start
  • Hang a white magnetic board with Command hooks above your desk and decorate with funky magnets, personal pictures, timetables and more. The white of the board will blend in with the wall, and the command hooks ensures no marking on the walls (and ease of removal if a manager catches you out!)
Stay tuned for more hints for the workplace very soon!
Until next time,
CC xo

Friday, June 4, 2010

An Interesting Experience

Yesterday I had an interesting experience that I thought I should share. 

Seated at my desk strategically placed outside Mr. X's office, a client appears with a request to see The Boss. He's staring, and not in the "Pleased to meet you, I need some help" way, but in the "I am imagining you naked" way. I fumble around, trying to look elsewhere as he steps forward to my desk.

"Hi, I have an appointment with Mr. X…"

"No problem, please take a seat and he will be with you shortly."

The man doesn't move.

"Busy day?"

I try to hold back rolling my eyes, I'm too busy for idle chit chat.

"Very busy"

That's right, I think to myself, keep it short and sweet.

"Mmm.. Perhaps a nice lunch will take your mind off things? Care to join me?"

I'm shocked. What to do? What to say? I have a boyfriend at home but risk offending said client and ruining Mr. X's professional relationship with him. I wish I could crawl into a hole.

In the end I look him in the eye and politely decline, citing other plans. Luckily for me, he takes it no further and happily resumes contact with The Boss. Today is not the day for clingers. 

*Phew*, I sigh.

Has anyone else been put in a position like this?

The Man-Style Girl


This totally goes against my femininity, but I'm oddly attracted to the notion of man-style dressing. Maybe I'm spending too much time in a male-dominated office.

But if you see me out on the weekend I'll be decked out in black, silver sequins and pletty of GLITZ & GLAMOUR ('Cause that's what I'm about!)

Until next time,
CC xo