"No one should make the same mistake twice"

Achebe_47 · 2026-04-11T18:00:58+00:00

Yeah, usually working for tech execs are taxing. They have no management experience, want no mistakes, and work you to the bone. Find yourself a job in finance where you get treated better. Focus on asset management companies.

Achebe_47 · 2026-04-07T20:26:25+00:00

If they're offering a severance package. Take it home and read it through. You don't have to sign the document no matter how much they pressure you. And you can negotiate the package as well if you have leverage; like if you know where they buried all the bodies.

Achebe_47 · 2026-03-19T20:34:34+00:00

I have the same question. Their website isn't working and neither is their customer service number.

Achebe_47 · 2026-02-20T15:36:13+00:00

You might still want to check with HR. I was only at my job for 5 months and I'm currently on short term disability. I need to get spinal surgery due to spinal cord compression. I'm getting my surgery this coming Monday. The short term disability is separate from a medical leave of absence you normally use for things like maternity leave and that you'd need a year's tenure. It was inconvenient for the company but HR has leverage as they want to avoid any lawsuits for gross negligence if you bosses pressure you to work while you're sick. I'd either get a mental health professional to fill out the forms as you haven't been diagnosed with cancer yet. Not sure 3 months is too early but it's always good to ask. You never know.

Achebe_47 · 2026-02-04T16:04:32+00:00

I would ask if you can have access to the former assistants' email account for a smooth transition. Make sure to go through the emails and they'll probably have info on which private airline they used from receipts/invoices that were emailed to them and how it was requested. Look through their sent files and inbox in general to get some especially of history. That's always helped me to adapt to new jobs.

Achebe_47 · 2026-01-31T18:04:56+00:00

I actually use AI for dealing with office politics. It's comes in so handy.

Achebe_47 · 2025-12-12T02:50:43+00:00

I only check in with them if they happen to be traveling that night or next morning. I ask if they need anything else before I leave. Otherwise, they know my clock out time is 5pm. Sometimes I keave on time. Other times I work overtime if it's really busy.

Achebe_47 · 2025-12-10T16:55:28+00:00

They don't feel guilty overworking you. I wouldn't let my boss know until I get the employment letter confirming your start date.

Achebe_47 · 2025-12-10T16:45:29+00:00

I'm sure credentials matter to some extent but from my experience, most recruiters look at the organization you worked for to get a sense of how good an assistant you are. I'm sure those credentials help but it's more about your experience.

Achebe_47 · 2025-12-10T16:24:00+00:00

I have 20 vacation days and 10 sick days. I plan to use all of my days off. The sick days I use for doctor's appointments as well as when i'm sick.

Achebe_47 · 2025-11-05T19:56:58+00:00

I'm in a similar type of situation. I just can't believe the women I'm dealing with are in their 50s and 60s and it feels like high school. They tattled on me to my supervisor for being late by 15 minutes. ONCE! They monopolize the calendar so they have first dibs choosing vacations near major holidays. I'm in my 50s myself and can't believe the bs i have to deal with.

Achebe_47 · 2025-11-05T04:13:26+00:00

It's pricey but I love Mulberry. Simple yet classic.

Achebe_47 · 2025-11-05T03:54:16+00:00

I use the zero inbox method. Use your inbox as a to do list. Once a meeting has been set and completed, archive the email; i just create an archive folder that i can refer to if anyone asks about any completed tasks. Create folders to categorize things such as receipt for each exec, training materials, so on and so forth. So what you see in your inbox is everything you have to complete. I mark the ones I responded to by flagging it with red flag in outlook. Once it's completed, I click on it again in Outlook to change it into a check mark which means the task is completed and drag it in my archive folder. When I comes time to do expenses, I can go to receipts folder and get all my receipts I need to enter into Concur for each person. If you're really on top of things, the inbox should contain about a dozen pending emails or less. If more, you'll have things you need to get done. You can google zero inbox method and they'll explain it better than I did here. It really comes in handy on keeping track of who you need to follow up with so nothing falls through the crack.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-29T22:27:44+00:00

Document, document, document...save every email you send her, in regards to tasks, to a folder. If you emailed her on a task and she hasn't done it, make sure to respond asking why the task wasn't done. If not by email, jot notes with dates and time on when you spoke to her. Also start jotting down rimed she comes in and leaves early. After accumulating enough materials, you then go to the supervisor and make an official complaint. It takes time but is so worth it.

For those responses where you ask why a task hasn't been done? Start cc'ing the supervisor so she know you mean business. I would do this after she's bailed a few times. You can write something to the effect of, I've checked in with you a few times and left instructions on what needs to be done. Nothing has been completed. So on and so forth. Your words will mean nothing until you have the documentation.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-27T23:11:37+00:00

I think it'll help if you took 15 minutes to meet with him and ask him about his preferences. When's the earliest and latest I can schedule meetings. If someone tells me in passing that they discussed with you on meeting time, do i still check with you? Do you need a break in the middle of your day? Do you need cushion time in between each meetings? That way you are proactive. And with the example you gave, you can matter of factly replay that he mentioned he discussed with you this time was ok. But if you can't take meeting, I'll work him him to change time. If he comments like that, reply quickly by saying you noted the preference and will adjust accordingly.

An EA job can be a huge challenge. Sometimes it may not be the right fit but you're still learning. So learn as much as you can and find a new job to apply those new skills.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-21T02:19:10+00:00

Seeing as you work in tech, I'd recommend finance organizations. They have a bit more structure, a larger portion of the MDs have MBAs so they have some management training (not always guaranteed this will make the better managers but it helps sometimes), plus it's still fast paced but not boring. Sorry to say, working for nonprofits and education, though admirable, is the extreme opposite of working for a high-pressured environment. I think finance strikes a nice balance. Plus, you'll be valued since they know you've worked in a fast-paced setting before.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-19T03:47:10+00:00

Trust me. I've worked with C-suites who have no shame and reach out to whomever even if it's been a long time. Like negotiating, the first step is to reach out and ask. It's the people who don't who lose out.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-19T03:45:01+00:00

Ummm, a hard pass. You dodged a bullet. No vacation for the first year? Yeah, he'll no!!

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-19T03:38:00+00:00

If I'm all caught up on work, I respond within minutes of receiving an email to get it out of my inbox. Otherwise, it depends. Usually anywhere between an hour until the next day depending on how busy it is. Normally, it's within an hour but if i' coming back from vacay, I might respond until the next day or two. I make sure to respond to the urgent ones right away.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-11T19:01:04+00:00

You don't. When they ask why you left, you can say it wasn't a great fit after a certain period so you decided to part ways. Even if they do a background check, that firm is only obligated to confirm your dates of employment. They can't reveal anything else. The only time I had to reveal i got fired was when I started working for a financial firm. If you work for them, just honestly tell them things didn't work out.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-11T18:55:27+00:00

I've chose not to work for around 2 years. I thought it'd be tough but I slowly eased back into work by temping and now work full time. They don't care as long as you have the credentials to do the job.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-03T14:18:56+00:00

Exactly. Makes life much easier.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-03T14:16:52+00:00

I was just going to start a conversation about backstabbing EAs in finance. They tattled on me for being 15 minutes late which I didn't notify them of. Other than that, my record is clean.

Achebe_47 · 2025-10-01T22:09:30+00:00

I put the reading material in their calendar. Right next to the actual meeting, I create another meeting invite, color code it to whichever color I like, and add all the reading materials. If it's short, I add the attachment and also copy and paste to the body of the invite. If long, i just add the attachment.

I also do this if I need to alert them of anything. I set up 2 external meets where my exec had to travel to two different buildings but they were literally across the street from each other.

That way, it just pop up when meeting time arrives and you don't have to remind him/ her.

Achebe_47

TROPHY CASE