The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1917-03-02
Business Talks to Young Girls
(By Alice Brady, World Film Player)
CHOOSING AN OCCUPATION

CHOOSING AN OCCUPATION
You have made up your mind to
earn your living. Never mind wheth-
er you have arrived at this decision
because you were forced to it by
sheer want of the necessaries of life,
or whether it was because the bread
and butter allotment at home had be-
gun to pail on you and you felt a
longing for jam and cake, or whether,
finally, because you were thrilled with
the idea that a business life is calcu-
lated to open up to you a world of
romance.
You have made your decision. The
motive, of course, has some bearing
on the future and might enter into
consideration, but that would lead us
into being specific, and in this series
of articles it is decreed that l shall
treat only in a general way of this
very broad subject of the woman in
business. So, I say, it is enough that
you have decided to strike out for
yourself.
The first consideration, then, is "In
what direction?" Let us make two
assumptions for illustration: First,
let us assume that you have had
training along some specific line. It
is your cue, then, to look over the
field of possibilities, but be sure that
you approach the matter with an open
mind. Let me assure you, as en-
phatically as l may, that a great deal
more than you can estimate depends
upon the attitude with which you APP
proach this matter of choosing a
career.
Determine first what sort of work
you are best fitted for. If it is the
sort of work you feel you would find
most congenial, you are fortunate. If
it isn't, remember that ability counts
more and that it is easier in the be-
ginning, at any rate, to bend your
inclination to your ability than to
train your ability to suit your i%nclina-
ton. In a word, determine upon the
things you feel you could accomplish
best, the line in which you have re-
ceived training.
If, however, you have had no train
ing, that is, training for any particu-
lar line of work, it will be necessary
for you to take account of yourself
and see what you have to offer to off
set the lack. Trained service is re-
quired nowadays, and competition,
even at that, is so great that the out
look at first for the unframed seeker
for a position is discouraging. How
ever, take heart from this: There are
other things that may be taken into
account as compensation.
A pleasing personality-that counts
for much; accuracy, that also, and
willingness and determination, and
above all, courage. Whether you have
been brought up to the idea of earn
ing your living, or whether yor
haven't, you will need all these
things; but, as l said, they count {
great deal as against training withou'
them.
Now, then, having taken account o,
your stock in trade, send you
thoughts out scouting. Line up il
your mind, the various positions il
which persons you know about arr
placed, line up the persons whose in
nuence might possibly be helpful
Look wei the 'want' advertisements
but only in the most reliable newspa
pers. Make out a list of all thes'
possibilities. Make as many appoint
ments as possible by letter, and tax
care that your letters are business
like, yet characteristic, individual
forceful. In an answer to an adver
tisement, remember that there mus
be something about it that will in
cline the receiver toward you favor
ably in preference to the mass o
others that are sure to come in an
swer to every advertisement thes
days. These things, | say, will coun
for you, but do not weigh them to
heavily on the credit side for, afte
all, the main issue is ability, and no
ever those commendable qualities ca.
take it's place.
Allow your instinct to have som
play in the matter and-your commo
sense. No doubt, you would like t
be a Melba or a Duse, but if 70
haven't ability and, yes, a great dea
of it along their lines, and you hav
ability, say, in an executive way, o
in the way of doing clever thing
with the needle, OIL if you "take to
cooking as a duck does to water
aren't you foolish to strive for a posi-
ton on the concert stage or in tn
theatre?
If you need the money at once, 70
cannot be too discriminating, but S
far as you possibly can let me urg
you to develop the talent you have
Remember it is you who have to liv
the life you are planning for, and 70
want to be as happy as you can a
you go along, and when you thinl
"Oh, if only l could be a great act
~ress!" you see only the goal aheae