What is a 'bring-forward' system?

Gillby1

Hi all,

I'm filling out a job application, and it states that experience of a bring-forward system is required. What is this???

Thanks!

Gills x

Tallymanjohn

The bring forward system is basically forward planning - to see what you've got in your diary next day, week, month & to plan accordingly - I was introduced to it by a 'Consultant' (note capital 'C' - stands for 'Costs more').

Doodles

I keep a 'hard copy' Bring Forward (or BF) system at work.

I work as a PA and I keep meeting papers, agendas and invites in a filing system ie. files marked 1 to 31 representing each day of the month.

So if my boss is attending a meeting on the 25th of the month, I would mark any papers relevant to that meeting (that I had received previously) in the "24th" file - so on the 24th I dig them out and put in his papers along with his diary sheet for the next day.

Basically you must look at your BF system every day to be effective and keep track of things!

Hope this helps.

annie-c

Agree with Doodles. You might supplement the file with a 'Bring forward' diary on which you record regular scheduled events, or plan ahead for events that need to happen in the future.

It's hard to explain without knowing what the job will be, but for example of how it might work:

your new boss may realise, at the end of a meeting , that s/he ran out of time to cover all of the issues on the agenda - in which case s/he might as you to 'bring forward' the remaining items for the next meeting. In your 'bring forward' diary you would make a reminder note to add the items onto the agenda for the next meeting - and you would make the reminder note in the entry for the day the agenda is due to be printed/circulated (not the day of the meeting!). You would then put any relevant papers in your bring forward file and make a note in the diary to remind you where they were.

It's really just like keeping a like a diary in which you record action points as well as appointments - a more structured form of a 'to do' list, if you like.

jen_jen_2

BF's are used by me too. when i need to do work on a file eg i know i will have to check the case in 4 weeks i make that my brought forward date and put that files reference number in the dairy on that date. so when the date rolls around you do all the files listed on that day.

it prevents you forgetting something important,
helps to prioritise (you set the priority when you last work on the file eg is important i will set a date for 1 week, its less important 6 weeks)
it helps to manage the level of work you have (oh 4 bf's for that date but none the week after, will set it the week after)

often you will already be doing these things but have a different name for them

Savvy_Sue

If you haven't used one in the office situation, some people are so organised they use them for birthday cards etc. Get a suitable folder - ring binder with plastic pockets would do - and dividing tabs for each month of the year. Then you stick a bit of paper in each plastic pocket with the relevant dates for that month - 2nd = Dad's birthday, 13th = wedding anniversary etc.

The true moneysavers then buy cards at excellent prices when they see them, and put them in the right folder ready for when they're needed. As opposed to the people like me, who keep a heap of cards in a desk drawer but can never remember exactly what I've got, so I've been known to have several "for my favourite husband" at any one time! :rotfl:

My point is that you can use skills gained out of the office on an application form ...