Module 8.1






Lesson 8.1: Time Management

Lesson 8.1: Time Management

Duration: 10 minutes | Working Efficiently

💡 Key Takeaway: Small efficiency gains add up. Batch similar tasks, use keyboard shortcuts, and learn from experienced staff to save hours each week.

Batching Similar Tasks

📦 Group Tasks for Efficiency

Instead of jumping between different types of work, batch similar tasks together:

✓ Document Review Session (30 min)

Instead of reviewing documents as applications arrive one-by-one:

  • Set aside 30 minutes twice a day for document review
  • Review all pending applications in one session
  • You’re in “document checking mode” – faster and more accurate
  • Generate all document requests at once

✓ Alert Response Block (20 min)

Process yellow alerts together:

  • Open all attendance warnings at once
  • Send templates in batch (system allows multi-send)
  • Document all contacts in one go
  • Saves 15+ minutes vs handling individually throughout day

✓ CoE Generation Session (15 min)

Generate all ready CoEs in one session:

  • Check “CoE Ready” queue once or twice daily
  • Generate all CoEs consecutively
  • System remembers settings from previous CoE – faster each time
  • Quality check all before sending as batch

✓ Communication Time (45 min)

Dedicate specific time to emails and calls:

  • Morning: 10 AM – 10:30 AM
  • Afternoon: 2 PM – 2:30 PM
  • Respond to all student queries in these windows
  • Exception: Urgent/red alerts handled immediately

⚡ Time Saved: Batching saves 30-45 minutes per day by reducing context switching. Your brain works faster when doing similar tasks consecutively.

Keyboard Shortcuts

⌨️ Essential Shortcuts to Learn

These save seconds per action – adds up to hours per week:

Shortcut Action Time Saved
Ctrl + K Open Smart Search (find any student/application instantly) 3-5 sec each
Ctrl + T Open Templates Library 4 sec each
Ctrl + N Create New Note on student record 3 sec each
Ctrl + S Save current record 2 sec each
Ctrl + E Escalate current item (opens escalation form) 5 sec each
Ctrl + D Go to Dashboard 3 sec each
Tab Move to next field in forms 1 sec each
Shift + Tab Move to previous field 1 sec each

💡 Learning Tip: Learn one shortcut per week. By week 8, you’ll save 10+ minutes daily. Over a year, that’s 40+ hours saved!

Mobile App for On-the-Go

📱 Quick Tasks on Mobile

The mobile app is perfect for quick checks and simple tasks:

✓ What Works Well on Mobile:

Check dashboard and alerts – Quick morning scan before you arrive

View student records – Look up info when student calls

Send quick template – Respond to simple queries

Add quick note – Document phone conversation immediately

Escalate urgent item – Flag critical issues even when away from desk

✗ NOT Recommended on Mobile:

Full application processing – too many fields, better on desktop

CoE generation – requires document review, use desktop

Complex data entry – keyboard entry more efficient

📌 Use Case: Check urgent alerts during commute, handle quick queries in meetings, add notes from student phone calls. Save complex work for desktop.

Time-Saving Tips from Experienced Staff

💡 Wisdom from the Team

“Create your own template variations”

— Sarah, 3 years experience

“The system templates are great, but I save personalized versions for students from specific countries. For example, my ‘India – Document Request’ template includes the common documents Indian students need. Saves me customizing each time.”

“Use the status filter aggressively”

— Marcus, 2 years experience

“Don’t view all applications at once. Filter by status: ‘New’ in morning, ‘Awaiting Documents’ after lunch, ‘Ready for Offer’ before EOD. Keeps you focused and makes progress visible.”

“Learn agent patterns”

— Priya, 4 years experience

“After a while, you’ll recognize which agents always have complete documents and which ones always need follow-up. Focus your attention accordingly – saves review time on reliable agents.”

“Set your own reminders”

— James, 18 months experience

“System reminders are automatic, but I set personal calendar alerts for students I’m worried about. Quick check on day 6 of a 7-day document request? No surprises on day 8.”

“Tackle red alerts first, always”

— Linda, 5 years experience

“It’s tempting to do easy yellow alerts first to feel productive. Don’t. Red alerts affect visa compliance – handle them first thing. Everything else can wait an hour.”

“When stuck, ask within 5 minutes”

— David, 1 year experience

“I used to waste 20 minutes trying to figure things out. Now I have a 5-minute rule: if I don’t know the answer in 5 minutes, I ask. My supervisor would rather spend 2 minutes helping than have me stuck for 30.”

Your Weekly Time Savings Goal

🎯 Putting It All Together

If you implement these efficiency strategies, here’s the time you’ll save:

Strategy Time Saved/Day
Batching similar tasks 30-45 minutes
Using keyboard shortcuts 10-15 minutes
Mobile app for quick tasks 5-10 minutes
Status filtering & focus 15-20 minutes
TOTAL DAILY SAVINGS: 60-90 minutes
TOTAL WEEKLY SAVINGS: 5-7.5 hours

🎉 That’s almost an extra workday per week – or less stress if you maintain your current pace!

🎓 Key Takeaways

  • Batch similar tasks together – saves 30-45 min/day by reducing context switching
  • Learn keyboard shortcuts – Ctrl+K (search), Ctrl+T (templates), Ctrl+E (escalate)
  • Mobile app great for quick checks and simple tasks, not complex processing
  • Experienced staff tips: Create template variations, use status filters, 5-minute rule for asking
  • Combined strategies save 60-90 minutes daily = 5-7.5 hours weekly
  • Work smarter, not harder – small gains compound over time

✓ Lesson Complete! Next: Quality Assurance


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