Introduction

Goals

Subcommittee

Program Establishment

Training Options

Objectives for Levels of Performance

ARS General Information

ARS-Specific Systems and Programs

Office Professional Curriculum

Training Resources

In 1995, the National Secretarial Advisory Council initiated action to develop a Training and Planning Guide for ARS Office Professionals. This Guide was prepared with the goal of helping ARS management and office professionals identify strategies for building a bridge from the traditional secretary to the modern office manager or executive assistant that are required in the modern office environment.

This Guide will serve as a reliable tool for ARS office professionals in developing meaningful training plans designed to assist them in achieving their professional goals.

Responsible for formulating the Guide in 1995 were:

Kay Carr, SAA

Carmela Carrick, NPS

Libby Fouse, PWA

Marcia Jenkins, MWA

Olga Lee, NPA

Angie Marchetti, AFM

Elaine McGuire, BA

Mary Silva, NAL

Joyce Smith, NAA

Michelle Snowden, OA

Anne Steele, SPA

Cecelia Stortzum, HRD

Genevieve Swartzberg, MSA

Toni Walls, HRD

Responsible for revising the Guide in 2007 were:

Sandra Ball, NAL

Patricia Berry, HQS

Patricia Coyle, NAA

Debra Duckworth, SAA

Drusilla Fratesi, MSA

Barbara Hodges, SPA

Elizabeth Jackson, NAL

Shelia Jackson, SAA

Wendy Jacobs, BA

Veronica Laird, PWA

Heather Lewandowski, MWA

Sharon Peterson, NPA

Rhonda Sampson, OCIO

The Secretarial Review Task Group, in its report Stepping Into the Future, recommended that ARS establish a Training and Planning Guide for office professionals. By memo dated April 1, 1994, Dr. Essex E. Finney, Jr., Acting Administrator, established the ARS National Secretarial Advisory Council and issued a charge to the Council to develop a training program. The National Secretarial Advisory Council changed its name to the National Advisory Council for Office Support Personnel and then redefined it to the National Advisory Committee for Office Professionals in 2003.

To build a bridge from the traditional Secretary to the modern Office Manager or Executive Assistant required in the 21^st century and for ARS office professionals to be recognized for the professionalism and training excellence.

The National Council established a subcommittee to analyze, evaluate, and identify suggested training areas for office professionals. The information provided in this brochure is the result of this subcommittee's efforts and should serve as a beneficial tool for supervisors and office professionals in developing meaningful Individual Development Plans (IDPs).

The guidelines outlined on the following pages are provided as a means for identifying training areas and can be used in developing and IDP for office professionals.

An IDP is a written schedule or plan (Form ARS-48) which describes your particular goals for the future. It is a tool to aid you n systematically planning for training in order to accomplish your career goals.

Specific guidance on the types of training classes to be taken to meet these needs, and vendors available to provide these classes, can be obtained by contacting the Employee Development Staff of the Human Resources Division

Formal Training

• Instructor-led workshops
• Government/private sector
• Conferences/seminars

On-the-Job Training

• Detail/rotational assignment
• Mentor/coach
• Shadowing a subject-matter expert
• Project/taskforce/committee
• Cross training
• Studying manuals/bulletins
• AgLearn

Self-Development Activities

• Independent reading
• Audio/video cassette programs
• Public speaking (i.e., Toastmasters)
• Community/civic activities
• Professional associations (i.e., Professional Secretaries International)

• To acquire an overview of the office professional occupations
• To enhance interpersonal communication skills
• To assist management in applying state-of-the-art office procedures
• To acquaint participants with office professional functional knowledge

• To develop, process, and recommend improvement to the administrative process
• To be able to write clear and logical reports and correspondence
• To be able to analyze office procedures

• To interpret difficult assignments
• To present well-developed briefings
• To furnish guidance and information on the administrative process to top-level agency personnel and other government agencies

• Become familiar with ARS/Unit Mission
• Become familiar with USDA/ARS/Unit Organization/Management Officials
• Become familiar with location of ARS'/Unit offices, programs and personnel
• Learn ARS Regulations and USDA Guidelines for Processes
• Become familiar with commonly used forms
• Program-Oriented Training (includes a basic overview of work being conducted in the Unit