Executive PA Programme
6 month programme for A Level Leavers
A professional, exciting and supportive training organisation, providing school leavers with the business skills, confidence and attitude that employers are looking for.
The Executive PA Programme
CONTENTS 3
About Quest Professional
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Why Train and Begin your Career with Quest Professional
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Our Executive PA Programme
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Content of the Executive PA Programme
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Future Careers for Quest Professional Graduates
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Social Life at Quest Professional
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Student Accommodation
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Quest Professional Alumni Network
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Come and Visit Us
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“The people you meet and the lessons you learn will help guide you through the good and the challenging times. Let yourself grow and grab every opportunity in order to make the next step in your journey; whilst always knowing that Quest will be there to support you.”
Shannon Wood, March 2014
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
ABOUT QUEST PROFESSIONAL
Who are we?
Quest Professional are an independent, innovative business training organisation offering exciting and dynamic training programmes to school leavers looking for a supportive and workplace-aligned training environment in which to begin their careers.
Our Executive PA Programme is our most established programme, one with a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality, excellently trained, organised, efficient and dynamic Personal and Team Assistants. Today, the Quest Professional team coach and mentor our Executive PA Programme students through a diverse, current and workplace-aligned training programme, which focuses on business skills, personal development and careers guidance. The programme offers students the ideal balance of theoretical knowledge and practical application, with further opportunity to gain commercial experience. The Executive PA Programme is a fantastic starting point for any student looking to begin their career in a support role. - Director -
If you are a student looking for a stepping stone between school and the working world, then Quest Professional may be the right place for you.... QuestProfessional | The Executive PA Programme |
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Q.
A.
Why train and BEGIN your CAREER with us? We offer comprehensive and supportive business training programmes, where students are exposed to a variety of practical business skills and industry sector knowledge. We focus on opening opportunities and, through our training, aim to equip students with everything they need to face employers at interview and begin their first jobs confidently – no matter what industry sector they choose to pursue.
84%
of recent PA Programme graduates have secured a job within 8 weeks of leaving us
Our supportive environment in which students are allocated personal mentors and encouraged to set their own targets moves Quest Professional away from the school environment and towards an appraisal-based working environment. Measuring progress in this way, combined with the practical and employer-driven training on offer, makes Quest Professional a refreshing alternative to university and a great stepping stone between school and that first career.
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
Preparation
Our scheduled career guidance and preparation
programmes, combined with our in-house recruitment team and external client relationships, provide students with a very modern and experienced approach to CVs, job hunting and interview technique. Talks from industry experts, careers fairs, networking events and trips to external companies are used to give students a thorough insight into the numerous career paths and opportunities available upon graduation from Quest Professional.
Confidence
Confidence, attitude and teamwork are three
major factors that are vital to the success of a school leaver entering the workplace as a young professional. Through a thorough Personal Development Programme every Quest Professional student should see these three key attributes developed, enhanced and fine-tuned, optimising their ability to impress at interview and further down the line once their careers have started.
Network
Quest Professional appreciate that a first job may
or may not be a job for life. We therefore have a flourishing alumni network and an open-door policy when it comes to the CV, job-hunting and interview advice needed by our alumni who are looking to make their next career move. We regularly welcome back passionate alumni who give up their time to support the professional development of our current students.
Finally, Quest Professional encourage a healthy work/life balance and are proactive in arranging many fun and varied events for all students to dip in and out of as they wish!
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The Executive PA Programme
WHAT IS IT? The Executive PA Programme is the ideal training programme for those students leaving school post A Level and who want to gain a foundational set of skills before starting out in their careers as Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants or Team Assistants. In the space of six months, this programme will equip students with all of the essential IT skills, relevant PA skills and commercial knowledge required of a Personal or Team Assistant. The content of this training programme reflects the nature of current support roles today, where employees are required to be multi-skilled and dynamic team players. The structure of the training programme is ideal for those preparing for working life and who like to be kept busy every hour of the day.
Our varied timetable with guest speakers, visits to companies, networking events, an ongoing personal development programme and team-building activities looks to develop more than just a student’s PA skills, with its emphasis on communication, confidence building and organisational skills. Each student’s training and development is supported by a personal mentor.
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
Built into the diverse training schedule of the Executive PA Programme is a thorough careers programme, preparing students for the challenges presented by recruitment and working life. Students are exposed to different industry sectors, job specs and roles, and shown how to adapt CVs to each role, write covering letters and answer competency-based questions at interview. When the time comes for job hunting, plenty of networking opportunities are available to students, along with the guidance and connections provided by Quest Professional’s in-house recruitment team.
The Executive PA Programme will equip students with a diverse set of transferable skills, knowledge, confidence and career direction. The team at Quest Professional aim to maximise every student’s potential and open up exciting career opportunities, which students should feel equipped and confident enough to embrace, showing a prospective employer that they have what it takes to face today’s workplace challenges. QuestProfessional | The Executive PA Programme |
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The Executive PA Programme
Training Programme Content: Personal Development Presentation skills Delivering a successful, self-researched presentation Transactional Analysis Myers-Briggs assessment Neuro-linguistic Programming
Events Touch-typing Learning the keyboard Speed and efficiency
Planning and organising successful events Budget management Event evaluation
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
IT – MS Office and Apple MS Word (including mail merge and advanced functions) MS PowerPoint (and business presentations) MS Outlook (and diary management) MS Access (database management) MS Excel (and business finance) Apple IT (intro to MAC OS) Cloud computing Web design
Business English and Text Processing Internal and external correspondence Proofreading Formatting of letters, emails, memos, press releases and documents Use of apostrophes, abbreviations, proof corrections, circled and non-circled errors
Shorthand Teeline shorthand theory Special outlines and word groupings Read and write clear outlines Speed building Transcribe shorthand from passages read at speed
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The Executive PA Programme Introduction to Marketing Product life cycle Business philosophies
Law Contract and employment law Accepting an offer
Finance
Termination of contracts Equal Pay Act 1970
Debt
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Personal budgeting
Race Relations Act 1976
The Budget
Maternity rights
Economics
Duress
Financial markets
Advertisement law
Business documents
Copyright law
Percentages and VAT Invoicing Petty cash Expenses
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
Training Programme Content: Meetings and Itineraries Meeting vocabulary Content and formatting of notices, agendas, minutes Meeting preparation Getting the most out of a meeting AGM Rackham’s Behavioural Analysis Itineraries
Audio Typing Accuracy Mailable copies
Social Digital Media Why businesses use digital media Digital strategy and planning Twitter for businesses Facebook for businesses LinkedIn Google Plus
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The Executive PA Programme Practical Office Workshops
Office Skills
Maintaining a database
Time management
Creating documents
Diary management
Efficiency and response
Telephone manner
Taking instruction and meeting deadlines
Delivery and postage
Proofreading Office supplies and office furniture Expenses Creating presentations Creating itineraries Mail merge
Organising events Corporate gifts Expenses Dealing with common queries or research questions Booking restaurants Booking travel Booking hotels
Dictation
Conference arrangements Industry/CVs
Industry sectors and the differences between them CV formatting and production Complete research report Cover letters CV
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
Work Experience Opportunity to gain practical office experience
Training Programme Content: Current Affairs Political spectrum and political parties Parliament and government Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet Ministers Prime Minister’s Question Time Law-making Voting and elections European Union and Middle East Devolved governments Debates on topical issues
Career Development and Interview Skills Where to find work Application processes Unusual application processes Interview practice CBI practice Group interviews Mock interviews Contracts, P45s, budgeting
“We feel that we have given Charlotte the best opportunity in sending her to Quest and it has been wonderful to watch her grow as a person, in her self-confidence, and to see her enjoyment in all that she has learnt with you.”
– Jeanetta Rabey, mother of Charlotte, who graduated in June 2011 –
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YOUR future CAREER
“Thomas was an absolute pleasure to work with; he integrated very well within the team. He was confident to ask people that he did not know for help and guidance.”
HR Manager, Hilton Hotels & Resorts
“The LK Bennett e-Commerce department has taken Quest students over the last three years. We have found them all to be capable, professional individuals who have fitted exceptionally well into the e-Commerce and Customer Services teams.”
Director of e-Commerce, LK Bennett
“Jemma joined the team in a pressurized environment, and coped very well. Senior members of staff highly rated her, and it is to her credit that she has secured a job with the firm.”
Partnership Administration Manager, BDO LLP UK
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
It is highly likely that you have chosen to train with Quest Professional because of an end goal that you have in mind: to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence that you need to begin your career successfully.
From Day
1
of the Executive PA Programme time is dedicated
to developing a thorough understanding of the current job market, industry sectors, salary expectations and potential career path that a student may choose to make. CV formatting, covering letters, rehearsing competency-based interview questions and undertaking mock interviews are all addressed during the training schedule. Students are also invited to network with recruiters, employers and alumni throughout their time with Quest Professional.
A thorough careers programme, networking opportunities, careers fairs and employer relationships developed by our in-house recruitment team, combined with each Quest student’s proactive approach to job hunting, currently sees a high proportion of students gaining employment upon graduating from Quest Professional.
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LEAVERS DESTINATIONS Upon Graduation from Quest Professional Quest students go on to pursue a variety of careers within a variety of different organisations. Here are just a few of the companies that some of our recent students have gone to work for:
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KPMG
Hugo Boss
Knight Frank
CBRE
Guy Carpenter
Hogan Lovells
Savills
Crone Corkhill
Sky Media
BDO
Marsh & Parsons
JP Morgan
Oakley
Addleshaw Goddard
Montagu Evans
Hatty Blue
Page Personnel
The Royal Household
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Goldman Sachs
Sacker & Partners LLP
JWT Communications Agency
Henry Poole
| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
“Charlie’s career is progressing very well with Goldman Sachs.”
– Clifford Trowse, father of Charleena Trowse, who graduated in June 2011 – “For me, not going to university was the best choice that I have made. At 22, I am working in one of the top four financial firms, in a brilliant role that I thoroughly enjoy, have a great salary, benefits and great prospects for the future.”
– Georgina – “Becky has secured a job with Addleshaw Goddard, a law firm near Moorgate! I just wanted to thank all of the staff at Quest who helped her during, and after her training programme – it has been much appreciated.”
– Jackie and Tony, parents of Becky, who graduated in June 2013 – “We are both delighted with the results of Holly’s time spent at Quest Professional. She has not only developed excellent PA skills, but her social skills have been boosted too. She has secured a very good job, which appears to meet all of her expectations, and even had other offers to consider.”
– Mr & Mrs Wright, parents of Holly, who graduated in March 2013 – “Leaving university and attending Quest Professional was honestly the best decision I could have made, and it has proven to be a total success story. I am sitting at my desk at Savills (about to complete my second week here) and am absolutely loving it – and fingers crossed they are impressed by all of my Quest skills! So, a huge thank you to all, because without Quest, I would definitely not be sitting here now.”
– Isabelle – “Thank you for arranging Gaby’s work placement at BDO which led directly to her being offered a permanent post. At a time when employment is so hard to come by, we feel that Quest has come up trumps and justified the value of the course.”
– Sue Shanahan, mother of Gaby, who graduated in June 2013 – “I love Quest, love the people and the trainers. I look forward to coming in every day.”
– Current Student, 2014 – QuestProfessional | The Executive PA Programme |
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SOCIAL LIFE at Quest Professional
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
Accommodation Choosing a Quest Professional Training Programme and starting to build upon the essential foundations for your future career is an exciting time. With London as a hub, famous for commercial activity, the employment opportunities available to Quest Professional graduates are vast. Similarly as vast, are the social opportunities. Living in London whilst completing a Quest Professional training programme enables students to fully submerge themselves in all that London has to offer. We have a range of accommodation options available to Quest Professional students, with prices starting at ÂŁ224.00 per week.
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Whatever direction your career and life take you, chances are there will be fellow Quest graduates who can help along the way or welcome you when you arrive.
Quest Professional Alumni
NETWORK
The Quest Alumni Network is here to help you stay connected to each other, expand your professional network and to offer you continued support along your career journey, whatever the time of day!
Analysis
Training
Network
Graduation
Career
Success
It is also an important component of the success of current Quest students too! By volunteering, whether mentoring current students, acting as a guest speaker, recruiting from us or referring new students to Quest, you are helping Quest towards a sustainable future and adding to your own personal CV at the same time!
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| The Executive PA Programme | QuestProfessional
If you like the sound of what we offer and are interested in beginning your career with us, then we would love to meet you! Please give the team a call on 020 7233 5957 and we will arrange for you to come in, have a look around and chat with us further.
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*All brochure content correct at time of printing.
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The Executive PA Programme
5 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0BD www.questprofessional.co.uk info@questprofessional.co.uk T 020 7233 5957