Clinton News-Record, 1985-11-27, Page 26•
fl
h Suit& -Shire CIlntotlk New* R fd+ Milt ho!f ilsrocnoistf, a tlrflb. thJttrelth Elttppsitorr
q►t llll�arys Journatll„ i_'ryut. Parkhill- 'rar`r lttetld,' mfhroy Ane iilslputehr W.W4nudinfic
:retdries: Over .40. and Trapped?
By Betty Funke
t
1, sunny if she is 40,
er
secretary," he is a says
Joan, Currie, who
operates her own
busjness, J.C.
•ounting Services, in
tctoria. "Shp has made sure
her skills are updated, she puts
more effort into her work and
she is better educated than she
was 20 years ago. She may be
an administrative assistant. She
is likely a rneniber:of a
professional secretaries
association,."
Currie, a positive person,
believes you can do anything
you want to'. "It's an individual
thing. A positive outlook and
self-confidence will carry you
through."
In office work since the age
of 15, she left Toronto in 1969
for Victoria, where for five
years she was office manager of
a law firm.
Can reaching 40 fence you in?
Not in Currie's estimation.
"1 was over 40 when I
switched careers and I'll
probably witch again."
in her circle she admits career
changes seem to be the norm.
She meets nurses and teachers
who have turned to real estate,
journalists who have become
stockbrokers and secretaries who
have entered the office
equipment sales field.
A good secretary, Currie
feels, can command between
$2,000 and 2,500 'a month, but
she says not too many of them
are around. She sees a good
secretary as a protector of her
boss's time, a supervisor of
staff, a decision maker, one who
can handle reservations, take
minutes at meetings and one
who is thoroughly familiar with
current office technology. '
Most of the over -40
secretaries whortrtte• knows
have made the transition to a
fresh career without leaving their
present jobs. Either the employer
has helped, they have learned on
the job or they have attended
night school.
If you want a change,.Currie
advises staying in your present
job until you know where you
want to go. She points out you
could be one of two types: a
woman who works from
economic necessity and would
quit if a windfall came her way,
or a woman who wants to land a
high-ppwered job, (Even with a
private inconstr' the latter still
needs a job for self-fulfillment.)
According to Norrie Preston
of Ability Personnel Association
of Victoria, reaching 40 comes
as a shock to most women. An
outreach program funded by
Canada Employment and
Immigration Commission, APA
is a free employment service for
men and -women over 45 and
their employers.
Preston praises the over -40s:
They have greater commitment
of careers, the ability to keep
their personal lives in hand,
ston andott4P
folrtl 0.49 k0011cauon enforce
140.,forage.
""if Yett- .thielting of a
career change Wk,to as. many
.people 4S ssib..le who iaaight be
able to help trop."
Preston r'eeomniends
researching the area you choose
to. check that you have the
qualifications . Discuss the field
with people to it 3n decide if yo
would be happy with the same
duties. Get advice on preparing
an effective resume:
A steady stream of over -40s
passes before Preston. Many ane
stunned at being unemployed for
possibty the first time.
Preston served on the
Canadian Advisory Council on
the Status of Women for over
six years, working on issues of
women and employment,
economics, pensions and law
reform.
On a brighter note, she reports
many more over -40s are. now
succeeding in businesses of their
own. Some become independent
secretaries working from their
homes; others start up consulting
firms.
If they have the necessary
capital, they can establish their
own business. She finds women
succeed in self-employment
more often than men. It may be
because their egos do not stand
inrthe. w y, slte.adds.
P
sa . rFP-� trI401
io stray to their presentbs
when uneanpl anent is. igft.
The over -d!) wit,' good
specialited skills shoujd look
while ;they remain working.
"Not - veryr .:oils is tecppttve to
the olse•, woman,°' she says,.
y
ues ' s inmost ' en
Minds
ttQ m s
Q �.
(and most .employers are still
men). How trainable Ia the
older secretary? How compatible
is she with younger staff?"
But, Dragushan .says, older
women often are more serious
about wanting work than
younger women. Some yotang
women, she maintains., tend to
see themselves in a stop on the
circ jt, tilling in time. Some
have. grandiose ideas and have
no skills to offer. Some are not
as motivated as they should be.
-9f you are over 40," she
says, "and your background
suits, such as secretarial or
clerical word processing, fine. .
With most employers you are
employable."'
One field where Dragushan
finds the older women is favored
is medical transcription,
providing she has kept pace with
the newer drug terms. Typing
and transcription are the major
requirements.
Certain key factors determine
whether or not as an over -40
you will get the job, Dragushano
says. Providing your skills are
adequate, such factors include
. Please tin tp.page 2
, ,
"Ready for Christmas Sal 11
APPLIANCES
1...T ER
qt: .
DONT LUG AVACUUM - PLUG IN ABEAM!
BUILT-IN VACUUMS
KITS from $3
Include 1) Machine
2) Attachments 8 Hose
3) All Installation materials
4) 1 year moneyback
guarantee
WORLD'S #1
BUILT-IN VACUUM
SPECIAL VALUES ON
•
LITTDN IMr11011FFRT
MICROWAVES from $275
Free 'Starter
Pack' of
dishes with
eyery IIII
microwavi2
sold.
MCT 2053
tteg. 5599
only
25 5 year Parts & Labour Warranty
on all Microwaves Sold
including Litton -Moffat / Admiral /Tappan
Plus special
prices on
all other
DON'T LUG A VACUUM Wte1 l. k as
- PLUG IN A BEAM - Exeter 63 Main St. S. (Lower level) Telephone 235-1501ctg
1
wc aclaa t9Jr c SSR: i`lJraoaift9fratfztri 44 a d/ra?ira t al4r c i a1L tr `soctw,cod/rnoz df ot9rk1lrtYlra1/r4wcowc4fi if/t' oz
IVIIEDIFIFFST
DISHWASHERS
Model MDB 1260
Deluxe Built -In
Reg. $609
NOW $50
ONLY
LIMITED
SUPPLY
9
Model MDC1260
Deluxe Portable
Reg. $659
NOW $
ONLY 5
•
A
:+7
9
pp
Ccimpbell A liances • E