New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-06
THE EASTMAN SCHOOL EMPLOY
MENT MANAGER'S VIEWS.

W. b. Devoe, manager OF tne en-
ploymcnt department Of the Eastman
School, has many interesting views in
regard to steuographers and their en-
ploymcnt
In an interview with the school cd
itor Of The New York Tribune Mr.. Dc
voc made the following statements:
1T is amusing to one in my position
to hear a person say: There are too
many stcnOgraphers; the profession is
overcrowded.' If slang were permis
sible, | should say Tell it TO Sweeney
Never in the history of business has
there been a greater demand for first
class stenographers, but unless you are
business man you are likely to think
differently. You will say: 4 know
Miss Jones, who lives down the street,
and she has beer out of work for three
months, and she tells me that wherever
she applies there are any number of
applicants seeking the same position
Now, right here is where you are mis-
led. Miss Jones, like the majority of
| the others, is not first class stenog-
rapher, and her services are not in de-
mand.
81 have studied this business for sew
| eral years, and know it is more diff
/ cult to-day for a firm to secure the
/ services of a good stenographer than
ever before. You may ask, What is de-
manded of the stenographer Of to-
| day" My answer is, "A good CONNER
ciai training and common sense The
] stenographer of to-day must be able TO
do more than just write shorthand and
operate the typewriter. She must write
a good hand, be quick and accurate at
. figures, understand the elements Of &C
counts, have thorough knowledge of
commercial paper, be able to write and
speak English hueEtly and correctly
and understand the use of modern
Office appliances These qualifications
and common sense will advance her to
secretaryship in less than three
years"
A very interesting comparison Of the
| business successes Of two boys is con.
tanned in the following statement
drawn by Mr.. Devoe from his expert
ence at the Eastman schools:
Il few years ago | sent two young
men, one country boy and the other
from New York City, to one of the
largest railroad companies. Both
started as beginners at $50 q month
To-day the country boy is travelling
about the country in a private car act
/ ing as private secretary to one of the
members of the State Railroad Com,
mission, while the New York boy has
not advanced beyond a clerkship. Dick
the country boy, was of the type that
always does more than he is asked TO
/ do He reported earlier than required
and never watched the clock for quit
ting time. On the other hand, he
would work one or two hours extra
nearly every day, and many times the
, superintendent would ask, Dick, why
/ don't you let that go until tomorrow .
: But Dick believed that tomorrow al
ways provides enough work withou,
/ holding any over from to-day, and it
was this spirit that brought him rapid
| advancement.
"The city boy was q neat, clean-cut
chap, but on the wise order--one who
/ thinks he knows everything and needs
/ nothing explained TO him. If he arrived
/ at the office 10 or 20 minutes early
! he thought il was more profitable to
| STAY outside and smoke his pipe until
! the last minute, and al quitting time he
! considered il an honor to be the first
| from his floor to reach the elevator. II
/ YOU were to talk TO him now he would
I say, oh. well, Dick was always lucky.
| Let me tell you right here that luck
| played no part in Dicks success. The