Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-12

neither here nor there"
mo. sir. You re. rye been going to
school ali my life 20 far. but am anx-
ous to get into some lucrative position
where there are Q lot OF opportunities"
What do you figure on making Of
yourself eventually. young manr
Il want to Ket Rome place whore can
work up to the presidency Of a corpora
tion-that's my ambition Ar. Anderson.
And l am willing to put in my best tcks
to get there"
II don't doubt, young man. but in your
present condition you would stand about
as much chance as a SNOWFALL In Mexico.
You are rushing into this thinu with a
big whoop, trusting to luck to bring you
through AS a matter OF fact, you are
not ready to take a business position OF
any consequence at present. We can't
use you, that's sure"
why not? I've been through college
and all ought to be able to make a
success in business after all the schooling
| I've had"
THE trouble is. your education, while
| good and highly desirable in a way, has
not been along business lines. You have
had no training especially for business.
| Things move too fast these days for the
business man to spend his time breaking
in raw material. Let me explain my.
self little.
You aspire to hold a secretarial posi-
ton. yet by your own admission you are
most woefully ignorant of the duties
and requirements of such a position. In
the first place, you are not a steno-
srapher and can't use the typewriter. That
eliminates you in the matter OF technical
equipment You haven't tho basic tools
Of the profession at your command.
with stenography and typewriting
you need such accessory knowledge as
business English, spelling, punctuation.
the general rules Of grammar and corre-
spondenoe. dare say you never dictated
business letter in your life or even
wrote one yourself"
Il never had occasion to do anything
like that. Mr., Anderson"
How do you expect to do that for
me, then7 That's Just the. point. You
must learn to do these things. Then you
haven't the remotest idea OF filing. You
know absolutely nothing about the var
ious systems and their adaptability to
various lines o. business. There are
number of other things might mention
that you ought to know In connection
with stenography.
"As private secretary, you would have
to have this knowledge In addition to
practical experience In minor positions
first. Ny work here is too important to
trust to anybody but a young man OF
great promise and ample qualifications
THE complete business course, as
, given at any reputable school of busi-
ness. will take care OF what you lack
in your previous education. Your college
training will help IN its special way, but
what we require is a practical training
In business first OF all. In fact. you
can't do much OF anything but clerical
work till you do get that training. It
will take you anywhere from ten months
to a year, but It is training for a life's
work and you certainly wouldn't be-
grudge it. seeing that you've already
spent several at college.
But I'm getting off on a tangent now.
To come back to the main thing-the
matter of a position for you, I'm sorry.
but | can't offer you anything better
than a clerical position at wages which
you wouldn't consider. know. And yet
that would be all you are worth 20 us
the matter.
There are some things in your favor.
young man. You've got health and
strength. you come from a good sub
stantid family, you've had a good edu-
cation as 1t Is ordinarily considered, but
II isn't enough to make you successful In
business. You absolutely must have the
business training.
But. now that you see these things
from the right angle. know youll come
out all right. BY the time you gel
through this special training I may have
something here that will interest you. /
don't make any promises. but we are
making changes every little while-every
business house does that in the process OF
fitting the men 90 the positions and I'll
keep YOU In mind"
We'll. perhaps you're right about this
thing. Mr.. Anderson. l only wish l had
thought this matter over little before
l came asking for a position. But I want
TO thank you for what you've told me
And your time. too-thank you for that"
"weI. good day. You might come
around again when you are really ready
for a place"
Thank you. sir, I'll certainly do that
Good day"
AS the door closed on his caller. Mr..
Anderson pressed the buzzer for his
stenographer and sorloquiEed;
That boy can make something OF him
self II he Will only get down TO business
and get that practical training. But viii
hep That's the question I've put him
on the right track at least. So. here's
hOPing!'