3. Secretarial work

Up until the mid 1980s, when letters or reports needed to be typed, a typist would use a manual typewriter.

Each page had to be typed carefully since mistakes were hard to fix - usually the page would have to be typed out again.

There were no formatting features - if you wanted something bold, you had to type over the same words twice!

Using a typewriter was a skilled job since there was no room for mistakes! And so each senior manager had to have a typist available to produce letters and memos.

Typists would also work in large rooms, such as the one seen above. They were called the 'typing pool'.

If anyone needed some work typed, it would be sent to the typing pool. The work would be allocated to a typist. It would be typed out and then returned to the person who requested it.

With the introduction of ICT, things have changed a lot in this field.

There are no longer typing pools - they are not needed. Most people in an organisation do their own typing directly into their desktop PC. They can made amendments as they go along, they can use formatting to improve the look of their document and they can correct mistakes quickly.

Only senior managers in a company might now have a secretary - but she is more likely to be called a 'Personal Assistant' and their work is much more varied that just typing. For example arranging meetings and appointments, making travel arrangements and so on.

Typing is no longer a specialist skill - you are expected to be able to type from the day you start work in an office.

As a result of ICT, many typist lost their jobs. Those that didn't, had to retrain from using the typewriter to being able to use a PC.