Evening star., 1960-08-16
Continued From First Page

IOOAASAo OoO nO VJPSWlAVO4o % a oAb-
ing their new appointments.
A cute redhead giggled and
said to the girl at the next
desk, "Oh, Jan, how am I going
to tell Bill that we don't want
that apartment"
Jan giggled and said, II don't
know. He's your boy friend.
Just tell him we're waiting for
a better one"
They giggled.
The redhead said, "Hey! Let's
all type the alphabet 10 times.
The one that wins-well, wins"
They all giggled and started in
on their ABCs, except for one
individualist who insisted on
tipping Now is the time for all
good men to come to the aid
of their country"
I was called in again and
sent down another corridor to
the travel department of the
Office of the Secretary of De-
fense. A very polite and Smil-
ing man explained that the job
open involved scheduling and
keeping track of travelling and
defense personnel. For one who
can't get from Washington to
New York without several al
tercations with the airlines, this
didn't sound too simple.
Polite on Phone
There would be filing. ~Which
comes first, A. B. Cohen or
B. A. Cohn?" came back 10 me
from the Civil Service test.)
And a lot of phone calls.
I grinned. remembering the
handy Government guide to
polite phone conversations I'd
read while waiting in the per-
sonnel office.
Hold the instrument one
half inch away from the
mouth. in line with the tip of
the nose" was the first crisp
statement. Speak clearly and
naturally, express friendliness,
don't gush, be sincere" fol-
lowed. A subtitle named End
ing Calls included the instruc-
tions to say goodby. 1t also
cautioned, DO not make side
remarks before the connection
is broken"
For the travel department job
I would start at GS-3 mini
mum, $3,760 a year, or $3.50 a
week. The pay check would
come every two weeks. With
minimum exemptions and list
ing only one dependent, I'd get
an approximate take-home pay
of $56 a week. There were seven
steps in the GS-3 bracket and
I would be eligible to try for
higher brackets as time went
along. I would work with the
man and three other girls.
Pause for Answer
There was a pause in our con-
versation. I realized he ex-
pected me to give him an an
sWer. There would be references
to check and other formalities
but that did not detract from
the fact that I could have a
job. He waited for an answer.
I thanked him, assuring I
would let him know in a few
days. I smiled at the girls who
could have been my co-work-
ers and started down the hall.
I'll admit I felt a bit elated.
After several false starts out
OF the Pentagon I finally found
the cab stand, thankful didn't
really have to take the job. I'd
spend all my work day trying
to get to and from the office.
I wondered what it would be
like to try for a job in depart
ments not under Civil Service
authority, so I told the cab
driver to take me to the Capt.
tol. I was going to try for a
job ION the Hill"
I went into the Capitol'S
main lobby along with Snuff
ling tourists of assorted sizes
and ages. Against the melodi-
GUS background of clinking
quarters, the tour guide herded
them into a group.
Tour starts-five minutes"
he beloved. Without missing a
quarter he answered me when
asked do you know who I
might see about a typing job
on the Hill?"
"See that directory over
there?" he said, pointing with
a coin-studded paw. Now every
state has its Senators and Con-
gresSmen, see? You find the
ones from your State and I'm
sure they'll help"
Michigan's senator Nc
Namara located in the list, I
started down the cool, tall cor
ridors and asked directions from
a guard.
To the Subway
That's in the Old Senate
Building. Take the subway in
the basement"
THE subway?" I screamed.
/ Yeah. New York's not the
only place with one," he said
with a grin It'll take you right
to the building. Take the one
marked Old Subway"
Wandering down ornate cor
ridors of the Old Senate Build
ing. 1 passed outposts of each
State. Walk in," Come in"
welcome" their doors said.
A beautiful view of Mackinac
Bridge adorned the Mcnamara
door and a pretty brunette re-
ceptionist-secretary adorned the
front desk.
I'm from Michigan and I'm
looking for a typing job on the
Hill"
She looked up, smiled and