People who had the job of writing letters and copying records are now working in offices using computers, and society has adapted to this change. While some people may miss the daily routine and the personal touch of a real letter or record, there are many others who have embraced the digital age and its various benefits.
Here’s a closer look at what these occupations were like in the past, the current state of the jobs and how to approach potential employment.
An Expert In Handwriting
Letters and records were handled with extreme care to ensure that each one was written precisely and copied exactly as instructed. When the letter was finished, it would be given to an elderly member of the family to hold while the writer went about their other business. If the writer was a skilled calligrapher, the letter would be passed down through the generations.
These days, handwritten letters are considered to be a rare and treasured form of communication, so much so that the Federal Government has officially recognized their significance by proclaiming June 20 to be National Handwriting Day.
The benefits of handwritten letters have been well-documented. They’re cost-effective, as there’s no need to pay a pen pusher. They’re personalized, as letters, whether handwritten or typed, can be addressed to specific individuals. And maybe most importantly, they’re time-consuming to produce, which makes them a safe and thoughtful alternative during a pandemic when speed and efficiency are keys to success.
The Secret Service Agent Hired To Guard The President’s Bubble
Letters and records wouldn’t be letters and records if they didn’t have protection, right? Back in the day, when someone guarded the United States president’s bubble, they used to do everything from chasing down assassins to protecting the leader of the free world inside the White House. Some of these agents became so skilled that they could detect bogus invitations to tea from far away distances – essentially seeing overtones of danger and react accordingly, keeping the president safe from harm.
These days, the job of protecting the president is a highly-specialized one. A Secret Service agent no longer guards the president inside the White House, but instead focuses on other threats, ranging from cybercrime to weapons of mass destruction. While some might consider the job to be dull and unrewarding, keeping the president safe and sound is arguably one of the most important and rewarding tasks an agent can carry out.
A Job For The Ages
The need for skilled administrators and record keepers arose with the development of modern-day bureaucracy. During the first half of the 20th century, governments became more centralized, resulting in a large expansion of the administrative wing, encompassing everything from tax collection to education. As the need for skilled administrators and record keepers grew, so too did the job opportunities. With the development of new technologies, including the printing press and the age of enlightenment more generally, came new ways of managing paperwork. The demand for skilled administrators and record keepers remained high, and so too did the wages, which, according to the Federal Government, averaged around $35,000 per year in 2015.
While the number of people employed in this capacity has dropped by around 15% since then, the demand for skilled administrators and record keepers has not. Many organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to smaller startups, still need someone to maintain their databases and files, so it’s still a fairly common job for those looking to make a living working from home.
The future of work is undoubtedly going to change. Many jobs that we know and love today, including those in administrative roles, will be disrupted by emerging technologies. It’s still too early to know what the future of work holds, but one thing is for sure – the need for skilled administrators and record keepers will still be present.