KEEN TESTS FOR “ HELLO ” GIRLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17759, 1 February 1926, Page 6

KEEN TESTS FOR “ HELLO ” GIRLS.

FIVE OUT OF SIX FAIL FIRST TIME. Only 1551 girls out of 9325 applicants who were interviewed for posi tions as British Post Office telephone operators during the past year were able to qualify. The Chief Woman Superintendent, in an interview, said only one girl in six passed the initial test. Telephonists must possess clear and pleasant voices; they must have a keen sense of hearing, and their eyesight must be good. The chief causes of failure among applicants are:— Defective or slovenly speech. Undesirable accent. Defective hearing or eyesight. Bad spelling. “Slovenly speaking,” she said, “is usually indicated by a general slurring of words and by the dropping of the flnal ‘g’ or its substitution by ‘k.’ “It always amazes me to find that a fairly large number of candidates who presumably consider themselves suitable stutter or lisp. “Ability to spell correctly is an essential qualification, in view of the fact that the telephone system is widely used for the transmission of telegrams. “The telephone girl is anything but neurotic,” she added. “Her physical efficiency is reflected in her success in sports. During this season our girls have secured six successes in swimming competitions open to all the women in the Civil Service. The-e included two firsts and three sec