In today's world a "Secretary" has to be able to handle everything that lands on the desk. From making a good cup of either tea or coffee, taking phone calls, organizing the days itinerary and of course dealing with the mountain of paperwork. The only good thing today is that we have a computer or "I pad" to help. However now we also have social media to contend with!
When I started out in this profession back in the 1980's it was very basic. But brain power was used. I learnt to collate a payroll and not forgetting shorthand.
Learning to touch type on a manual typewriter to music to increase my speed.(Bonnie Tyler had a lot to answer for!) Fun stuff you would think but now I feel it was all wasted. I have never used my "shorthand" skills although I do now occasionally brag about this art of writing. All wiggly lines, dashes and dots mean something!
So from leaving College with a handful of qualifications my certificates still wet with ink I made the big step into the world of work of an "Office Junior". This term of employment - do everything, basically what an apprentice does today. Little wages but potential to learn a lot and work up through the "Office Ranks"
A varied job, shuffling paper or filing as it is known. Boy i hated that job!, endless paper cuts, dusty work, endless boredom, but rewarding after a new filing system was introduced and my handwriting was on all the files! But was devastated when I lost an earring somewhere in the files, never found my gold zircon heart stoned hoop lost in the archives forever.
When I started out in this profession back in the 1980's it was very basic. But brain power was used. I learnt to collate a payroll and not forgetting shorthand.
Learning to touch type on a manual typewriter to music to increase my speed.(Bonnie Tyler had a lot to answer for!) Fun stuff you would think but now I feel it was all wasted. I have never used my "shorthand" skills although I do now occasionally brag about this art of writing. All wiggly lines, dashes and dots mean something!
So from leaving College with a handful of qualifications my certificates still wet with ink I made the big step into the world of work of an "Office Junior". This term of employment - do everything, basically what an apprentice does today. Little wages but potential to learn a lot and work up through the "Office Ranks"
A varied job, shuffling paper or filing as it is known. Boy i hated that job!, endless paper cuts, dusty work, endless boredom, but rewarding after a new filing system was introduced and my handwriting was on all the files! But was devastated when I lost an earring somewhere in the files, never found my gold zircon heart stoned hoop lost in the archives forever.