Your Career As An Office Worker

Who is the first person you meet when you enter a business office? The receptionist. Who is the first person you speak to on the telephone? Usually, the switchboard operator. No business can run smoothly without the services of the office workers. Is it any wonder that they are in such great demand?

The office is the nerve of any business. Here the long ranged policies of the board of directors and the officers of the firm are formulated, and based upon these policies, the day-to-day operations of the business are directed. You can make your own job in an office. Of course, some people just put their hours in and take their pay. But if you really are interested, office work opens all kinds of doors for you.

Not only can you change the job to suit your abilities, but you can also get real satisfaction out of working. Office work is the most flexible of all occupations. Office jobs include occupations such as bookkeeper, clerk, stenographer, typist, and secretary. In addition, want ad columns advertise for administrative assistants, analysts, biller, checkers, research librarians, supervisors, bank tellers, and many others.

These classifications, however, do not tell the whole story. A typist’s work ranges from simple copying to reproducing complicated statistical tables and manuscripts.

Jobs in bookkeeping include positions from clerk to head bookkeeper in charge of a department. Machine operators may use relatively simple machines to record only one type of data or may perform involved computations on special machines.

The office is a very pleasant place in which to work. The tendency is to improve the immediate surroundings and working conditions of office workers by installing modern office furniture, coordinated carpeting and draperies, and air conditioning. Many of your associations with your co-workers will prove to be enriching and pleasant.

Success in business is based not only on your abilities, and how you work, but also on your attitude toward your work. Suppose you question three co-workers about their work. The first one tells you indifferently, “I’m only a clerk.” The second seems pleased with their work and asserts, “I make a good salary as an order clerk.” The third glances up with enthusiasm and says, “It’s my responsibility to see that the orders are properly processed - as quickly as possible. We have many important customers to take care of?” What distinguishes the comment of the third person? They have pride - not only in their work but in the company. Pride is closely linked to job success and satisfaction. The impression you make on the job is a three dimensional projection of your pride in your performance.

People judge you by your personal appearance, the way you keep your office, desk, or work place, and the work you turn out. The appearance of your work reflects your attitude toward it. Your letters are you. Most bosses will give you permission to make corrections or do over a job if you tell them that you like your work to look professional. The trouble is, we don’t always remember that others will notice our work.

All of these things, your abilities, attitude, and success, show that no matter what job or office position you have, you should never do less than your best work.