: Cynthia T. Jordin
: A Moment in Time, Thirty Years in the Making 1973-2003
: Proisle Publishing Services
: 9781960224040
: 1
: CHF 3.30
:
: Biographien, Autobiographien
: English
: 232
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB

A Moment in Time: Thirty Years in the Making is about the evolution of the Georgia Tech Placement Center into the current Georgia Tech Career Services Office. The idea behind this book is to commemorate the past thirty years, 1973-2003, and highlight the changes that have evolved over time within this environment. This book is easy to read, fun and enjoyable. It is about a group of people in one place, and in one occupation. Topics covered in this book are real events, written by real people, illustrating the best practices of the time. I hope that this book will illuminate Career Services as a unique department. The focus of this book is to highlight the many facets of the Placement Center/Career Services operation while incorporating the many historical events that took place during these years, including the manual or technical writing processes (in choosing different types of stylistic choices and/or different types of audiences) used to accomplish these jobs, and the immense technological changes that truly revolutionized the way we conduct business. The design, format, style and idea behind this book were created by me. However, I am not the sole author of this piece. I invited a number of people to contribute their insight to this work as well

Part I


 

Author’s Placement Center Beginnings

April 1973 – September 1985

 

My purpose in writing about my life during my employment with the Georgia Institute of Technology Placement Center is to reveal my relationships with the guest writers. Each of them tells their story and I tell mine.

My Georgia Tech story begins with my relocation to Georgia from Okinawa. After resettling my family, I went to the Georgia Tech campus to apply for a job. I needed to earn money to help with expenses. In the 1970s, careers were considered a man’s responsibility, while women were responsible for cooking, cleaning, and bearing the children. I didn't agree with that so I began looking for a job right away.

I went to the Human Resources office at Georgia Tech in April of 1973 to fill out an application and submit my resume. I was asked a couple of questions about interests, skills, then given a typing test and sent to the Placement Center. I thought this was the office that really hired and placed applicants for jobs on campus. Little did I know that I was actually applying for a job with the Fred W. Ajax Placement Center itself!

I walked through the double-tiered doors in the front of the building into the lobby. No one was around, so I stood by the reception desk waiting for someone to return. Soon I heard some noise down the hallway and a lady, all dressed up in spike heels, coiffed hair, a gorgeous suit, came from around the corner. You could actually hear her talking before you saw her. She looked like she owned the place and I knew immediately that this was the boss of the Placement Center.

I stretched out my hand for a shake and she nodded and said, “Follow me.” She took me to the director’s office, introduced herself as Mrs. Mary Carmichael, then began asking me questions, not about the job, but what brought me to Georgia and Georgia Tech. Since we were in the director’s office, I assumed she was the Director. Later I learned that Mr. Bill (B. D.) Pickle had been the Director of Placement but he had just resigned, returning to the Ford Motor Company, his former employer. Mrs. Carmichael was serving as the Acting Director until a new Director could be appointed.

My interview went well and we hit it off right away. I told her my story of relocating to Atlanta from Okinawa with my husband and baby daughter, Elisabeth Renee. My husband decided he wanted to return to finish his degree at Georgia Tech, while working part-time. I just wanted to get back to work since I had not worked overseas, just volunteered part-time. Mary said she knew some people that I knew and she thought I would enjoy working at the Center. Fifteen minutes later she asked me if I wanted the job and I said yes. So I asked her where I would be working on campus. She looked at me kind of funny and said, “Right here of course!” “Here,” I said, “doing what?” I still thought, but did not say out loud, that interviewing with Mrs. Carmichael was just part of the interview process before I was sent somewhere else on campus to meet my potential boss. Little did I know this interview was for real!

I was hired as Secretary I, reporting directly to Mrs. Carmichael. My responsibilities varied. I typed up recruiting schedules, answered phones and assisted recruiters and students. I also helped with the part-time job board and took job openings over the phone. I guess there was not a lot of “red tape” in those days because I began work the very next day. When I got home the night of the interview, I was still very confused but since I had a fulltime job, I figured things would work out. Little did I dream that I would find a job t