BEAUTY v. BUSINESS ABILITY “Face Value” in Typists

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6851, 5 March 1929, Page 4

BEAUTY v. BUSINESS ABILITY “Face Value” in Typists

A controversy leginning with the merits of the word “typiste” and developing into a general discussion of the merits and prospects of typists themselves, recently raised the question: “What qualities does the business man look for in his typists 1” Sir Benjamin Fuller, writing in “The Sunday Sun’’ of Sydney, ansioers the question this way: — BOME employers, hardhearted fellows, contend that a plain girl makes a better typist than a pretty one—that a pretty girl flitting about their office is more likely to distract their minds from the clear call of business than one who is not so easy to look upon. Personally, I like my typists to be pleasant looking, and even pretty, but one sees too much of beauty in the theatre business not to realise that it is only skin deep. Four years ago my wife and I were in Hollywood, and we were both impressed by the hosts of really pretty girls that one met everywhere and at all hours of the day. I won’t go so far as to say that in the end the plethora of beauties became nauseating, for plain men can stand seeing a lot of prettiness, but it was with a sigh of thankfulness that we left for other parts of the world where good Jooks 'did not abound quite so much. It was a positive relief to see once more girls with the really good things in their faces—character, efficiency and unselfishness, and a keenness to do something' worth while in life. A pretty typist does not distract mb —I have seen too much of beauty to be affected by it like that—but if other things are equal, I should like my typists to be pretty. It is perfectly true that nature provides compensations all along the line, and only too often good looks are accompanied by attendant disadvantages. A pretty girl does not need to make such a tremendous success of her work. If she does work at all, she takes it up to fill in the time and to provide her with pocket money until she is married. It also affords her further opportunities for meeting "the right man,” and she is often more Intent on having a good time than on making a business success. She goes out at nights, and perhaps she is not so fresh for work the next day as the plain girl who sits at the next typewriter, and who stayed at home to read a book, and then to go to bed early. The latter knows she may never marry, and her business comes first with her. Some Influence

Typists are only like everyone else, and employers treat them in the same way. After taking into consideration their previous experience, the employer judges them by their faces. If they are attractive —and as long as men are human-—that carries some influence, even though the employer is not conscious that a pretty face'has affected his judgment in the least. In business to-day, however, no business man is so rash as to take on a girl as typist merely because she has a nice pink-and-white complexion. When I

say that the Initial, rough judgment is based largely on what he sees in her face, I mean that he looks rather for good temper, the right attitude toward life, intelligence and common sense.

Dress counts a lot. A girl who comes along to work In a sort of evening dress is not going to be any manner of use, and similarly a girl who wears her dress all anyhow and who is generally untidy is most certainly not going to be a neat and efficient stenographer. A quiet, neat and useful office frock is one of the best recommendations. At least one woman in my office earns a salary that thousands of men would envy, and she deserves it. She does the work of three ordinary girls. I know of the case of another, woman in another business In Sydney who, although she has no interest in the business besides her work, draws a salary of £3,500 a year. Fifteen years ago she was getting £3 a week. When a typist is engaged, she may conceivably turn out to be one of these prodigies. That is why we always take our typists on for a week or so on trial —to see what they actually can do in our business, to give them a chance to prove themselves, If they show that they mean to succeed, a plain face is not going to hinder any of them. They may have the sort of beauty that men like to sit down and write epic poems about, but if they lack business qualifications, we do not want them. Besides dress and appearance in the judging of a typist there is bearing. One firm, when it advertises for a typist, calls the few chosen ones in to the office and goes over their qualifications. As each girl leaves the room she is watched carefully. If she

knows how to walk, and steps briskly, then that adds another good mark to her credentials. If she slouches away, and walks slowly, then no amount of certificates from business colleges to say that she is a fast stenographer are convincing. If she walks slowly,' she most certainly types slowly.