Level 7 Admin, Secretarial and PA Skills Diploma - Course Outline
This advanced Level 7 Diploma takes place over the course of 20 in-depth modules, each concluding with an online assessment for submission to your assigned tutor:
Module 1 - The Job Functions of a PA / Secretary
The course begins by carefully examining the primary roles and responsibilities of the PA and secretary. The everyday duties and daily routines of professional admin and secretarial staff are discussed, along with the types of services offered by admin experts and who they typically work for.
Module 2 - Telephone Skills
Candidates consider the importance of advanced telephone skills and a professional telephone manner in the second module. Tips and guidelines for appropriate telephone etiquette are provided, along with the use of voicemail, the potential challenges associated with telephone communications and more.
Module 3 - Mail Services and Shipping
An introduction to mail and shipping services follows in the third module, in which candidates are familiarised with the process of handling corporate shipping requirements as a secretary or PA. The different types of shipping services available are discussed, along with alternatives to primary shipping methods and how to choose the most appropriate mail service.
Module 4 - Travel Arrangements
Making travel arrangements on behalf of others is then discussed, along with the potential benefits of finding and working with a reputable agent. A useful checklist for making transport reservations for employers and third parties is provided, along with the differences between making domestic and international travel arrangements on behalf of others.
Module 5 - Organising Meetings
A detailed breakdown of the process involved in organising meetings is provided in the fifth module, in which candidates learn how to take control of various different types of corporate meetings. Several common problems when scheduling meetings are also discussed, along with how to effectively plan for a conference and source the necessary materials.
Module 6 - Time Management
Learners then consider the importance of time management in the field of secretarial and PA services. Tips and guidelines for controlling procrastination are provided, along with the purpose and objectives of action plans, the benefits of maintaining an activity list and how to effectively prioritise tasks for a more efficient workload
Module 7 - Keeping Accurate Records
Record keeping responsibilities as a secretary or PA are then discussed, in which candidates are familiarised with various common filing and indexing systems. The importance of appropriately organising digital files is also discussed, along with the potential consequences of substandard record keeping and more.
Module 8 - Writing Business Letters
A crash course introduction to the art of effective business letter writing follows, in which learners are introduced to a series of common business communications and their characteristics. The importance of both beginning and closing business letters appropriately is discussed, along with the differences between physical and virtual business communications.
Module 9 - Other Written Communication
Several further types of business communications are then brought into discussion. The functions and objectives of business reports, memorandum reports and other everyday communications are discussed, along with guidelines for more effective proofreading and a series of helpful written communication templates.
Module 10 - Presentation Skills
The secrets behind successful presentations are discussed at length in Module 10, which covers several essential techniques and pointers for putting on an effective presentation. The importance of good preparation is discussed, along with how to bring visual aids into a presentation and the importance of a high-impact start and finish.
Module 11 - Communication Skills
Candidates then examine how effective communication plays a role at the heart of everything the PA or secretary does. An introduction to nonverbal communication is also provided, along with how to plan and conduct interviews, the importance of communication skills in customer service and more.
Module 12 - Active Listening
Further communication topics are analysed and explored in Module 12, which focuses primarily on the functions and objectives of active listening. Candidates are presented with a detailed breakdown of the human communication process, along with the potential consequences of inadequate listening skills.
Module 13 - Administrative Skills
The administrative skills all PAs and secretaries need to succeed in the field are then detailed and discussed. Module 13 provides an overview of the business environment, while also discussing the social responsibility of the business, the role of business ethics in the field of PA services and the different types of business environments.
Module 14 - Office Management & Supervision
The role of the office manager is examined and discussed in Module 14, in which candidates are provided with tips and guidelines for more effective office and workforce supervision. Common examples of ethical issues in the workplace are also provided, along with how to successfully build trust within a team for enhanced performance.
Module 15 - Budgets and Managing Money
Financial management and accountancy from a PA/secretarial prospective follow in Module 15, which covers the skills and knowledge needed to both monitor and manage budgets. The importance of informed, accurate and objective decision-making in all aspects of accountancy is also discussed.
Module 16 - Dealing with Difficult People and Conflict Resolution
Candidates then learn how working in any high-pressure environment means the inevitability of encountering difficult people and challenging situations. An introduction to the art of effective conflict resolution is also provided, which covers the stages of conflict, common causes of conflict and how to reduce the likelihood of conflict occurring.
Module 17 - Business Ethics for the Office
A more detailed exploration of business ethics and corporate responsibility follows in Module 17. Learners are presented with a series of philosophical approaches to ethics, guidelines for developing an office code of ethics and an overview of several common ethical dilemmas that occur in a corporate setting.
Module 18 - Business Etiquette
Several fundamentals of good business etiquette are detailed and discussed in Module 18, in which candidates learn how to conduct themselves appropriately in a variety of scenarios. Along with an introduction to the basics of business etiquette in general, learners consider how the nature and circumstances of a business activity often call for different approaches to etiquette.
Module 19 - Effective Planning and Scheduling
The correlation between effective planning and more efficient time management is then discussed, along with how effective scheduling holds the key to good business performance. The concept of the work breakdown structure is also brought into discussion, along with project risk management from a PA or secretarial perspective
Module 20 - Microsoft Office Skills
Concluding the programme, Module 20 provides an essential introduction to the basics of Microsoft Office. Candidates learn how to perform a series of essential tasks using MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint - all three of which are used in the vast majority of business settings worldwide.
