The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-01

Weeds Out'
Secretaries
BY JULIA BLANSHARD
NEA Service Writer

new standards in efficiency. deport-
ment and appearance.
This is the opinion of the Bust
ness Education Association of New
York, a group of 100 business COL
Ieges, representatives of which met
mere to talk over the present and
future welfare of Miss Stenographer.
Back in 1923, they decided, she
mad everything her own way. Jobs
we're plentiful and she could pick
and choose.
A pretty one could get by without
WORKING very hard, if she wanted
10, and the less decorative one al
ways could find work.
By 1929 the condition was chang
ing and her heydey was over, though
she didn't know it.
Jazzy Age Is Gone
BY now, instead of picking and
choosing, she is glad to have any
sort of job that yields a pay en-
veIope.
The depression has finished the
Jazz stenographer, just as it did the
Jazz age" said S. G. Estery, head of
The Merchants and Bankers Bust
ness and Secretarial Schools.
Jobs are so highly desirable to-
day that in the business schools this
year is a class Of young women who
are not looking for cinch Jobs, but
who are willing to work to get
ahead.
They are studying languages,
economies, business condition in diff
ferent countries. I venture a proph-
ecy that out of this depression will
come type of business woman who
will actually achieve the equality
that the business world has never
granted her"
Job Different, Too
The ideal stenographer today is
different from the ideal of 1928, Just
as her job is different. Estey gave
the following description of the
Ideal type"
She is of medium height, intelIi-
gent looking as we'll as decorative.
and knows how to make up so well
that she never looks artificial. She
dresses neatly and smartlv, not
theatrically. She suggests a good
background, education and a fair
sense of social grace.
1T never is a hindrance for a
business girl to be pretty. But in
these days of economy she must
not look pictorial at the expense
OF seeming useful.
Pleasant Voice Desirable
"A pleasant speaking voice is
highly desirable, also, because much
Of a private secretary's work these
days is done over the telephone.
"As to particular types, years of
placing Stenographers in positions
have taught me that the medium
sized stenographer has the advan-
tage because of the unconscious
prejudiceS of employers.
Though he may not admit it
himself, many short man does not
want tall secretary. A little man
may reject large Stenographer
who makes him seem smaller.
1.-THE bantam weight Stenograph-
er, however, often loses a chance at
a job because she looks delicate and
suggests fraility, though she may
have great facility"
All Types of Typists
On the relative merits of blends.
brunetteS and redheads, he has this
to offer:
"Ot the extreme blends, there are
two types; one is sensitive, shy,
easily offended, and is an excellent
worker without having any marked
ability.
The other is the more assured,
self-conScious, obviously vain type,
who has given the blond her reputa-
ton as trouble maker. This type
is more likely to marry than pursue
her business career.
1.-THE blond type with brown hair
has the faculty for attending to
many associated types of work. She
meets people well, remembers them,
is resourceful in dealing with them.
Does Shopping, Too
She may make mistakes, but she
knows how to correct them herself.
She not only can attend to her en-
ployer's correspondence, but she will
do his Christmas shopping for him,
escort his children to the dentist
while his wife shops, and become
generally indispensable in his firm.
Though this type attends to
many of the details of his life, it
is the dark-eyed, dark-haGed Sec
rotary who does the thinking for
her boss, This type seems to have
the concentration necessary to look
ahead and keep track of business
for him.
Red-heads Analysed
THE best and the worst Office
workers I have seen are the red
heads. This coloring seems to evil
dence a highly sensitive, often high
'ly intellectual type, but one very
dependent on people and conditions.
When allowed free rein, and
gwen appreciation, SIle is eXcellent
on her job. But she is not easy to
get along with. She often fails in
diplomacy and Office tactics.
she lacks the adaptability of the
blond, and the brunettes ability to
go her own way. She is more con-
scious of the people around her than
other types. She often is a bigger
business hazard, but again she may
be the best secretary in the world.
You never can tell about a red-head
until you have seen her on the Job.
"StenographerS, in addition to
running true to their type, also re-
fleet their time. The stenographers
who were extravaganza and frivolous
are being succeeded by serious,
Woodworking girls who are adjust
ing themselves to changed condi-
tionS. Business is the gamer by this
change, 1t seems to me-"
ALPHA ZETA BETA
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