Follows a young woman through her clerical training and job search. Shows pre-World War II offices and office workers, primarily women. One of Coronet's earliest educational films.
I was the only boy in my 1954 high school typing class. I took some kidding from my friends, but I never regretted learning the keyboard and how to type.
How to be a secretary in 2013 Step 1: Get a useless Master's Degree Step 2: Cry over your student loan bills Step 3: Accept the first job with health insurance that let's you wear clothing.
This movie is actually very accurate. Things had changed very little by the 70s. Since I'd originally planned to become a journalist, I took a second year of typing in 1976. I was the only boy in class. Journalists in those days were expected to master shorthand, too. I would have been the only boy in that class, too, but my plans changed. Computers completely changed everything in the 80s.
I wish they were this thorough in high school nowadays, but I'm sure the sheer amount of students would make that very difficult. But wouldn't it be nice!
I learned how to type on a manual in 9th grade and typed 40 wpm. The following year, got on an IBM electric typewriter, and my typing speed jumped up to 60 wpm. Eventually, I got up to 89 wpm. I've worked in pretty much every field, but learned the most in the legal field. I always read everything I typed, even with the SpellCheck function on WordPerfect and MS Word computer software.
In the 90s I went trough the secretarial workshop course at high school. It was quite hard since I was the only male at the class group and was bullyed by other male students and some girls too. In other hand, I was not aware how really useful it will gonna be for me at the future. I aquired so many skills, redacting different kind of commercial writtings. I was very good in shorthand, even more than almost all the female classmates. Despite shorthand is not in use anymore I still remember how to do it, which has giving me certain advantage in some ocations by that nowadays rare skill.
I am a Secretary and have over 30 years of office experience. I remember learning how to type on the old Royal manual typewriters. I wish my job was this easy.
Wow, I am writing this in 2021, and it is exactly 80 years after this video was made. Imagine how impressed the secretaries and professors would be if you Time-travelled back there with a few laptops, iPhones and printers and set up an intranet in their office and showed and taught them how to use them. They would be in awe
I wish I'd had such a helpful guidance counselor in high school. I think I saw someone in the guidance department twice. Once, when my grades were slipping in 10th grade, and once when I was quitting in 11th grade. Things would have been so different if I'd had any support or guidance whatsoever. It seemed that they only felt further education was necessary (or even possible) for the rich, or for students with a straight-A average who could get a scholarship. It was never even considered for just an average student like me.
My aunt ( 85 years old) learned typing, shorthand, stenography and accounting. Accounting was part of her duties as a medical secretary for a doctor's office
I particularly liked the comment that the duplicating jobs were routinely given to women because they are detail oriented and fast....mic drop, men lol.
My dad was drafted to Vietnam and they asked "who knows how to type?" He and one other guy raised their hand. They chose my dad and gave him an office job. The other guy made it home too but had quite a different experience over there. Moral of the story, learn how to type. Or do administrative work. It is always needed! Physics, not so much.
I was the only boy in my 1954 high school typing class. I took some kidding from my friends, but I never regretted learning the keyboard and how to type.
Hi, I’m here because watching 40-50’s videos is all I do after school
How to be a secretary in 2013
Step 1: Get a useless Master's Degree
Step 2: Cry over your student loan bills
Step 3: Accept the first job with health insurance that let's you wear clothing.
Mr Adams is more useful than all my school career guidance officers 😂
This movie is actually very accurate. Things had changed very little by the 70s.
Since I'd originally planned to become a journalist, I took a second year of typing in 1976. I was the only boy in class.
Journalists in those days were expected to master shorthand, too. I would have been the only boy in that class, too, but my plans changed.
Computers completely changed everything in the 80s.
I appreciate that he's not condescending
I wish they were this thorough in high school nowadays, but I'm sure the sheer amount of students would make that very difficult. But wouldn't it be nice!
I learned how to type on a manual in 9th grade and typed 40 wpm. The following year, got on an IBM electric typewriter, and my typing speed jumped up to 60 wpm. Eventually, I got up to 89 wpm. I've worked in pretty much every field, but learned the most in the legal field. I always read everything I typed, even with the SpellCheck function on WordPerfect and MS Word computer software.
In the 90s I went trough the secretarial workshop course at high school. It was quite hard since I was the only male at the class group and was bullyed by other male students and some girls too. In other hand, I was not aware how really useful it will gonna be for me at the future. I aquired so many skills, redacting different kind of commercial writtings. I was very good in shorthand, even more than almost all the female classmates. Despite shorthand is not in use anymore I still remember how to do it, which has giving me certain advantage in some ocations by that nowadays rare skill.
I am a Secretary and have over 30 years of office experience. I remember learning how to type on the old Royal manual typewriters. I wish my job was this easy.
"So who's your favourite director?"
Wow, I am writing this in 2021, and it is exactly 80 years after this video was made. Imagine how impressed the secretaries and professors would be if you Time-travelled back there with a few laptops, iPhones and printers and set up an intranet in their office and showed and taught them how to use them. They would be in awe
I wish I'd had such a helpful guidance counselor in high school. I think I saw someone in the guidance department twice. Once, when my grades were slipping in 10th grade, and once when I was quitting in 11th grade. Things would have been so different if I'd had any support or guidance whatsoever. It seemed that they only felt further education was necessary (or even possible) for the rich, or for students with a straight-A average who could get a scholarship. It was never even considered for just an average student like me.
My aunt ( 85 years old) learned typing, shorthand, stenography and accounting. Accounting was part of her duties as a medical secretary for a doctor's office
Man am I glad we have modern keyboards
I particularly liked the comment that the duplicating jobs were routinely given to women because they are detail oriented and fast....mic drop, men lol.
the closing shot says it all. just look at how thrilled she is to be working at her job as a secretary!
It may just be me, but in the last shot the girl seems to have the perfect "please kill me" expression.
My dad was drafted to Vietnam and they asked "who knows how to type?" He and one other guy raised their hand. They chose my dad and gave him an office job. The other guy made it home too but had quite a different experience over there. Moral of the story, learn how to type. Or do administrative work. It is always needed! Physics, not so much.
so. they left in the afternoon, but the switchboard operator kept saying Good Morning.. time zones were crazy back then..