Bookkeepers.—There is a very considerable demand for female clerks and bookkeepers. The necessary knowledge is easily acquired by any industrious person with punctual and orderly habits.
An adult bookkeeping class is held at 22, Berners Street, Oxford Street, the office of the Society for the Employment of Women. On entering the class a student is required to bring recommendations from two householders, who will be responsible for her83 thorough steadiness and respectability. If, as is often the case, the student has lately left school, a letter from the mistress, or her latest school report, is required, and those only are admitted to the class who can write clearly and neatly, spell correctly, and work accurately the first four rules of arithmetic simple and compound. A course of lessons generally extends over four or five months; during that time students are not only taught the principles of book-keeping by single and double entry, but every effort is made to inspire them with a high sense of responsibility, and to make them punctual, orderly, and earnest, in the discharge of their duties. No student is allowed to go up for examination unless her conduct in the class has been satisfactory, and unless she has shown a desire to do her work conscientiously.
Bookkeepers who have gained certificates almost invariably retain their situations with credit. It is often difficult to obtain a first situation, for practical experience is generally required, but in this the certificate is a great help, as it forms a good introduction, and is a guarantee of efficiency and respectability.
When she has once made a fair start, a certificated bookkeeper is seldom unemployed. The class meets on the evenings of Monday and Thursday, at 6.30. The fee is sixpence weekly. A bookkeeping class is also held at the College for Working Women, 7,84 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy Square. The fee is 1s. 3d. each term; there are four terms in the year, consisting of 35 lessons, from 8 to 9.30 P.M. New pupils are only admitted on the first class night of the Michaelmas and Easter terms. Students can be examined by the Society of Arts, and obtain the certificates of the Society free of expense. The membership fee is a shilling a term extra.
Public classes, besides those I have mentioned, are held at the College for Men and Women, Queen Square, Bloomsbury; at the Quebec Institute, Baker Street; and at the Birkbeck Institute, Chancery Lane. Clerks must be prepared to accept low salaries for their first engagements, perhaps 10s. a week; but after they have gained experience, they will be able to secure from 15s. to 30s. a week.
Telephone.—The United Telephone Company, 36, Coleman Street, Moorgate Street, employ about a hundred young ladies, chiefly the daughters of professional men who have received few educational advantages, and no special technical instruction. The requirements being small the salary is in proportion, commencing at 11s. weekly, and rising slowly to 16s. Candidates must be between the ages of 16 and 20. Those whose parents are in trade are not eligible.
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Shorthand Writing.—The power of writing in shorthand is a very valuable acquisition, especially to bookkeepers who also act as correspondents, as it frequently enables them to obtain larger salaries than they could expect without it, and there is an increasing demand for female shorthand clerks. Translators also occasionally employ them to write from dictation, and sometimes it happens they can get work as reporters.
Miss Pritchard, of 83, Edgeware Road, is highly recommended as a teacher. She says it requires nine months to learn, and perhaps from six to twelve months' practice afterwards, to become a proficient writer, so much depends upon the individual ability. She herself began to earn money by it at the end of the first nine months. Her charge for tuition is a guinea for thirteen lessons, one every week. She can usually arrange to give the lessons, if desirable, in the evening, so that they need not interfere with any daily employment in which her pupils may be engaged.
The rate of pay shorthand writers expect to receive is twopence a folio (72 words). Of course for this they have to make a fair copy of their work in ordinary writing.
The Metropolitan School of Shorthand in Chancery Lane undertakes to ensure proficiency for a certain86 fixed charge. I understand that the sum of ￡5 is the maximum amount.
Post Office Directories.—Messrs. Kelly and Co., of 51, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn, employ a considerable number of female clerks to assist in compiling their Post Office directories; they will take girls from the age of fourteen, and the only necessary qualifications are reading and perfectly legible writing. The pay commences at 8s. a week, and increases 2s. a week every year until it reaches a pound. The hours are from half-past nine until half-past five, excepting on Saturdays, when they leave off working at four o'clock. An hour is allowed for dinner, which must be eaten on the premises. The duties are decidedly easy, and the hours light. Applications for employment must be made by letter, but vacancies seldom occur.
Junior Army and Navy Stores.—These recently-established stores employ ladies as clerks; the preference is given to daughters of military or naval officers.
The necessary qualifications are a thorough knowledge of arithmetic, a slight acquaintance with book-keeping, and good legible writing. The hours are from nine to six, with an hour's interval for dinner. The salaries commence at ￡40 a year.
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