The OkieLegacy

Castle On The Hill
1937 The Ranger Annual
Northwestern State Teachers' College

My Qualificatons As A Stenographer

by Charles F. Baird

The possibilities of my being a stenographer are rather remote for male stenographers are about as extinct as the horse and buggy. Herein, are a few of my more outstanding qualifications, but I realize that I have it over the reader in that I have a vague conception of what I am trying to say, while you, no doubt, will still be wondering, long after you have finished reading.

First, what qualifications might I present in applying for stenographic work. Naturally, there are two sides to this question, and while one side might outweigh the other, for my own good I'll try and keep them evenly divided. To begin with I have the gift of being able to type. I'll admit that when it comes to speed I am not considered one of the speedier types, in any sense of the word, but if I were fortunate enough to find an employer who wasn't in too big a hurry for his mail, I think I would fit into the picture all right. I have no experience in shorthand, but with present day business conditions changing right along with everything else, that method will probably be displaced, to a great extent in the larger offices, with the dictaphone, and since this machine is worked mainly by the foot. I find it no trouble at all to operate one.

The fact that women are more desirable for stenographic work, presents quite a problem. However, I believe I could do just as well in a number of instances. For instance, the boss' wife would be more apt to let him work late at night if she knew that the stenographer was a man. Then too, I am an ardent baseball fan and would be able to keep the boss posted on the days that the home team was having a game. In fact he might even want someone to go with him and I would always be handy. I might even be able to cut a few strokes from his golf score, for I am a golfer of small repute, and in his practice sessions in his private office I could point out his mistakes, which would prove invaluable to him.

There you have a few of my many qualifications for a stenographer. I'll admit that when it comes right down to the business end of it, I am no prize, but socially, well, what more could any employer want?

Now that we have come this far we will let ourselves go, and stretch our imagination a little further yet. Whether my qualifications are good or bad, we will now assume that I have succeeded in gaining the aforesaid job. On second thought I'll change that to a position, it sounds much better.

In every position there are undoubtedly many trivial jobs which one must do, and so it is with a stenographer, or at least that is what I have read. There are such things as arranging desks, etc., in the best possible arrangement, in order to save time; reminding your boss of various dates, both personal and business; seeing that the office supplies are ordered; and possibly doing a bit of cleaning in the corners where the janitors have overlooked.

In any or all of these small details I would be right at home, with the possible exception of one. If my employer happened to be a gentleman with a short memory and had to depend on me to remind him from time to time to buy his wife a birthday or anniversary present, or to keep an important business engagement, I am afraid he would always be behind in his gifts or late for his appointments. Having a good memory is one of my short suits. There are only two things at which I am very adept at remembering and they are my birthday and my pay day.

There is nothing I get more delight in than the moving of furniture, and this can be attributed to the fact that in my earlier years I was forced to do plenty of it, for reasons better left unsaid. The habit grew on me so to speak.

As for the ordering of supplies I could probably save the company a large amount of money by ordering extra large supplies of stationery, etc.. Naturally, this practice is frowned upon by many concerns, but then they probably don't know just how much paper it takes for me to produce a letter that would be presentable to the public.

I am not one to brag too much on my ability to do things, but when it comes to dusting I am a past master. Having worked in the capacity of a janitor for three years I was able to acquire an invaluable insight on this thype of work. I soon learned that a stenographer does not look on tops of desks and chairs for dust, but will even go so far as to probe into the darkest corners and under books and magazines in her mad desire to find a few particles of dirt. Having had this experience I would be able to cope with any situation which might arise in this respect.

Herein, among other things, I have set down a few of my many qualifications for being a stenographer. I feel that they justify my acquiring such a position, but I'll let you be the judge of that. However, let me warn you not to be too critical in passing judgment, for it may be that after all I'll be the boss and you the job seeker.

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