Page 24 - 1912 May - To Dragma

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA 0 MICRON PI 143

THE PROFESSIONS OF WOMEN

{Continued from the February issue of To DRAGMA)

T H E POSSIBILITIES OF SECRETARIAL WORK.

The choice of a life work is becoming a more and more complex
matter to the college girl who is preparing to earn her own living.
Teaching, once the almost inevitable choice, is now only one of
many things a girl may do. There is a greater opportunity than
ever before for her to follow her natural bent in choosing a life
work. No work that a girl can do will bring her into closer touch
with the activities of the world around her than secretarial work.
I f she has the inspiration and insight to see opportunities and seize
them, she can get close to the main spring of many a large movement
that is going forward.

The preparation for such work cannot be too broad. Every bit
of knowledge of people and things gained will have its useful place
at some time and every bit of power gained by doing things—•
whether managing college plays or learning the meaning of team
work in basketball will make for just so much greater efficiency
later. I n the matter of special preparation a knowledge of stenogra-
phy and typewriting is usually an essential. A brief course thor-
oughly done w i l l be far more profitable than a half-knowledge
gained at random. One may take this up in a regular business
school or in some of the branches of the Young Women's Christian
Association. Courses are also offered in some of the Universities.
This is simply a tool of the work, and i f one would work quickly
and save time for higher things, one must have a good tool. I n
many of the large organizations and foundations where a great many
secretaries are employed, a good knowledge of stenography and
typewriting and a good general education will be the "entrance re-
quirements" and once in, there will be opportunity for whatever
initiative one has, to develop itself in original and constructive work.

As compared with teaching, the secretary's daily hours of service
are longer and the vacations are shorter. To balance this, there is
less home work, and in most cases the daily strain is less than in
teaching. The salaries follow no fixed schedule, but in general,
range from $ 7 0 0 or $ 8 0 0 up to $ 1 5 0 0 and for special or exceptional
ability go higher.

No quality is so essential for success in secretarial work as a
capacity for sympathetic comprehension of the aims and purposes of
others. You must be able to espouse the cause of another's mind