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I remember typing pools...

Steve Bridger

I remember my first day at work. The summer of 1981. County Hall. The smell of polished corridors and trolleys laden three-feet high with leaver arch files and buff folders. I opened a door and there it was: The Typing Pool. Page 3 of The Sun were always plastered on the walls of the printing unit whenever I was asked to make errands. We still had a few discussion threads on that topic in the early days here - in 2004!


And I've seen Made in Dagenham, the movie!


I only mention this as the CIPD published a report called Work Audit today, a fascinating look at how the world of work has changed
in Britain since 1952.


I thought we could share our own compelling vignettes of social history comparing changes in the way we work.


What do you reckon?


Steve

Parents

  • Seeing those last posts tickled me.  I just remembered my first HR position working for a tour operator in London.  The Director phoned me in Scotland and said we have an HR admin post in London, but it starts on Monday can you use a computer?  I said yes, (well I had 6 years earlier at college -the cobolt, hole punch thing) and that I would relocate over the weekend.  It was my inroad to HR, what I'd wanted for a few years.


    I did relocate to Bucks and on my first day was faced with WP5.1 - what a shock.  Thankfully one of the interviewers had switched it on for me (it had booted up) and I was able to type letters. (Fortunately I had my own office.)  


    I had no idea how to set margins, so was measuring the screen etc.  Not only that, I had no idea how to print, save or close down.  By accident I found out how to print, so printed everything, but saved nothing.  Every night to shut down I unplugged it, becuase I didn't know how to shut down. 


    I was getting so distressed by the whole process that by the Friday morning I'd resigned myself to coming in and owning up to the Director.  She wasn't in till 10 am.  However, I had an epiphany that morning and by good fortune and some inspirational logic I suddenly discovered the secrets of saving, file directories etc.  I was saved!  I did tell the Director a month later - by which stage I was indespensable.  She was highly amused but congratulated me on my courage and cheek.


    However, I can still feel the horrible dread of having to come clean about my computer experience being from the Ark.

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  • Seeing those last posts tickled me.  I just remembered my first HR position working for a tour operator in London.  The Director phoned me in Scotland and said we have an HR admin post in London, but it starts on Monday can you use a computer?  I said yes, (well I had 6 years earlier at college -the cobolt, hole punch thing) and that I would relocate over the weekend.  It was my inroad to HR, what I'd wanted for a few years.


    I did relocate to Bucks and on my first day was faced with WP5.1 - what a shock.  Thankfully one of the interviewers had switched it on for me (it had booted up) and I was able to type letters. (Fortunately I had my own office.)  


    I had no idea how to set margins, so was measuring the screen etc.  Not only that, I had no idea how to print, save or close down.  By accident I found out how to print, so printed everything, but saved nothing.  Every night to shut down I unplugged it, becuase I didn't know how to shut down. 


    I was getting so distressed by the whole process that by the Friday morning I'd resigned myself to coming in and owning up to the Director.  She wasn't in till 10 am.  However, I had an epiphany that morning and by good fortune and some inspirational logic I suddenly discovered the secrets of saving, file directories etc.  I was saved!  I did tell the Director a month later - by which stage I was indespensable.  She was highly amused but congratulated me on my courage and cheek.


    However, I can still feel the horrible dread of having to come clean about my computer experience being from the Ark.

Children
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