Evening star., 1937-01-10
STUDY INVOLVES.
ODD DEFINITIONS
Efforts to Fit Men to Jobs
Brings Out Many Un.
usual Occupations.
By the Associated Press.

uSudi OCCupdtiVi'Ss
~ the Associated Press.
A "bracer" is not a drink. 1t Is
three different kinds Of Jobs in the
iron and steel and construction in
dustries.
Nor do "cat head men" and "cat
skinners" have anything to do with
cats. They are types Of work done in
the construction and agricultural in
dustries.
Similarly, "chasers" are seven kinds
Of jobs In the firearm. garage, preci-
sion tool lumber, foundry, paint and
varnish and furniture business. Drag
out men" work in the iron and steel
industry. Jig makers" work in ma
chine shops, but "jigmen" are arti-
ficial leather workers and Zig tend
ers" have to do with mining. Jig
gers" work in watch factories but
"jogeers' are shipbuilding workers.
And there are Ito different kinds
Of operators"
These are few of the job defipi-
tions that have been turned up by
the United States Employment Serv-
ice in its endeavors to figure out a
measuring tape by which men may be
fitted to jobs.
This will be needed particularly
when it becomes necessary under the
social security act for the employment
service to say whether a suitable job
Is open before man shall receive his
unemployment insurance.
Standard Names Needed.
Also, the employment service OFF,
cials found great need for develop
ing standard names and definitions
for different jobs. A "lugger" may do
one thing in the furniture industry,
but he does something entirely differ
ent In packing meat.
And again, to keep the service from
being imposed upon by men who pre-
tended to a skill they do not have.
set of questions is being worked out
by which the managers of the en-
ployment Offices can determine wheth-
er the applicant actually does know
his job.
In still another phase of the work
tests are being developed whose aim
Is to try the aptitude of applicants for
specific jobs in an effort to determine
the likelihood of their achieving sue
cess. These tests are now being tested.
The job analysis work is being done
under direction of William H. Stead in
IL cities. Already upward of 10000
jobs have been described in some 40
industries. Ten volumes have been
put in the hands of Employment Serv-
ice field workers. They cover the cot
ton textile, automobile and construc-
ton idustries. That for the laundry
industry is being printed. Others are
in varying stages. 1t will take about
two more years to finish.
Processes Outlined.
The books outline the processes of
the industry they cover. first in gen.
eral terms, then job by job. They give
the various names for the job, sum-
mary of the duties, a description of
the work done, the tools and material
needed, the working conditions
whether indoors or out and what haz-
ards it may involve-its relation to
other jobs and the general qualifica-
tions for employment.
While the field workers were gath
ering the material for the job outline,
they also picked up the information
from which was compiled series Of
questions about the work.
This set of questions was first put to
men who knew nothing about those
Jobs. The questions these could an
swer were stricken from the list. The
remaining questions were then put to
men fully experienced in those jobs.
The questions these could not answer
were discarded. BY this method, the
service arrived at a test which men
skilled in the work could meet and
those who were unskilled could not.
So that if man applies for a job
as a crane operator but can't say how
he would lower the hoist If the brake
failed or doesn't know the name of
the cable that holds the bucket open,
he isn't likely to be sent out to a
contractor to learn that he can't do
the job.
Tests for Youngsters.
The other tests are being worked
out to help in the cases of youngsters
who have had no work experience,
and oldsters whose jobs have vanished
in a world of changing mechanisms.
Almost half of the applicants of the
Employment Service fit into these two
classes. Between third and fourth
of those looking for jobs have never
worked. About the same percentage
we're in lines of endeavor that have
been swallowed up by new machines.
This phase Is business Of finding
what elements of the job are funda-
mental to success. If the applicant
can do these fundamental things, he
can learn the others. Many machines
are similar. The operator of one can
readily learn to operate another.
But even after the tests are worked
out, it remains to try the tests. The
service started with score OF tests
for salesworkers. Most of them were
useless when tried. Several seemed
worth while. They are still being
tried.
One department store which re-
ceives its workers from this source
has half of them tested, half 1t takes
without tests. Charts are being kept
to see how the tests turn out.
But no test has been worked out
for measuring the personality OF the
applicant, which may be the fulcrum
upon which his success turns.