For those who already have a knowledge of shorthand and typewriting, or who have had a course in bookkeeping and related subjects, or who have had valuable office experience, an intensive course of from 8 to 12 months may be sufficient to complete a secretarial course. For those who must acquire this foundation work a longer period will be needed. It should be said, however, that those who know shorthand and typewriting or bookkeeping can usually begin to earn wages in an office position while continuing their study in part-time extension classes.
Salary Possibilities
Secretarial workers may hope to earn salaries from $1,500 up. There is almost no limit except the man’s ability and ambition to rise.
Opportunities
Opportunities in this field are found throughout the country. Men who are interested in social, philanthropical, religious, or political activities may find secretarial openings that will enable them to be intimately associated with the activity of their choice.
Handicaps
A secretarial worker should be able to get about with a fair degree of facility; he should have a personal appearance that is not repugnant to the public with which he is constantly in contact. He should possess physical endurance sufficient to enable him to meet the rather severe strain that secretarial work makes upon a man; and he should possess good hearing and eyesight. An artificial limb would not be a serious handicap providing it did not interfere with getting about too seriously. It is also quite likely that one hand would suffice for the accomplishment of the ordinary tasks of such a position. The main requirement is that a man shall be keen and alert, and that he shall be able to go about his work with vigor and cheerfulness.
PLAN No. 1095. LIFE INSURANCE SALESMANSHIP
There are more than 200 life insurance companies in the United States having their head offices scattered throughout the chief cities in different parts of the country, with branch offices in each of the larger cities in each State, and resident agents located in most towns of importance. In the smaller towns the life agency is often combined with the fire and accident insurance.
Life companies are divided into the “Ordinary” and the “Industrial” companies, and, combined, employ about 125,000 field agents and about 75,000 persons of other capacities such as clerical, accounting, building and general employees, exclusive of casual employees such as doctors, lawyers, etc.