Conference turris::womannotes-v1

    
    Yes, there are success stories!
    
    I attended a technical school (WPI) for two years, studying cell
    biology.  When I ran out of money and patience, I got a job in a
    cancer research lab.  When I discovered that I was having a better
    time programming the lab's programmable calculator to do  
    statistical analysis than with the actual bio work I was doing, I decided 
    to program for pay. (Biologists earn minimum wage for a LONG time.)  
    I had some minor programming experience from working with computers
    as a hobby, but no formal training.  I got a job with a (mostly
    disreputable) contracting house who hired me out to type in changes
    to industry standard general ledger packages, a job requiring no
    knowledge other than the use of an editor.  One of the places they
    hired me out to was a DEC internal finance group.  This group hired
    me away from the contract house to do Cobol programming for DEC's
    internal financial systems.
    
    That was seven years ago.  Since then, I have had some very solid
    technical training at DEC.  I have been a maintainer for the TOPS-20
    operating system and command processor, given technical presentations
    at DECUS, answered the TOPS-20 hotline for software specialists,
    done some very sophisticated performance analysis and modeling for
    new hardware designs, have been a project leader for a couple of
    development projects, and have had a position as technical guru
    for a marketing group.  In the past three years, I have been the
    only maintainer for two compilers and a record management system.
    In one month's time, I will be leaving my group here in Marlboro
    to be a developer for Manufacturing Engineering Systems on the 
    Integrated Factory Information Network.  I have more than tripled
    my salary since I came to work for DEC.
    
    Yes, DEC is different from other high tech companies.  There is a
    willingness here to let people try jobs for which they don't have
    formal qualification.  There is a willingness to train employees
    for future positions within the company.  People here are valued
    for their ability to learn, as well as their ability to do.  
    Internal transfers to more challenging positions are always available.
    Degrees matter less here than in other companies.  I still don't have a
    degree, and it hasn't hindered my career development in the least.
                                              
    Since gaining all of this experience at DEC, I have had many offers
    of employment from customers and other companies.  Many of these
    offered more money and other such incentives, but I have continued
    to pursue a career with DEC.  Why?  In part, it is because I believe
    in what DEC as a company is doing, and I think DEC is moving in
    the right direction.  Another part of it is that I know there will
    always be opportunities for career growth and new directions here
    for me.  I have never been denied any reasonable request for training.
    And yet another part is a certain amount of loyalty I feel for DEC.
    The sorts of opportunities I have found here give me a sense of
    personal commitment to my work that goes well beyond the paycheck
    I get each Thursday.  In that respect, DEC invests very well when
    it takes a chance on an employee lacking in skill but strong in
    intellect, ambition, and willingness.  I am most grateful for what
    I've found here.
    
    Rita
    
    

    Here's another one for you.  I realize this is late, but I've only
    just recently become a reader (and occasional replier).  My massive
    training (;-)) in computers consists of an uncompleted Bachelors 
    of Music Education.
    
    I started as a secretary for the marketing gang in one of the old
    Product Lines in 1975.  And this was without any secretarial training
    at all!  To those who are raising eyebrows, I can tell you that
    our whole department was filled with people like me--completely
    inexpert but very hard working.  It was a new department then and
    the manager was interested in shaping it exactly the way he wanted.
    So he liked to hire young, relatively untrained people to show the
    ropes to.  Learned a lot about good business ethics and practices
    from that guy, even though he was an incurable workaholic.
    
    2 and a half years later our Product Line was moved up to New
    Hampshire.  Since my husband and I couldn't afford a 2nd car at
    the time, I transferred to CSSE.  I became one of their first Project
    Specialists.  This is where the real story begins.  Because the
    group I joined hadn't the faintest idea of what such a job could
    become.  I watched others in the same position, both men and women,
    sit around stewing, complaining that the job was no good because
    management didn't know what to do with us.  All true at the time.
    However, after not hearing from management about what I was supposed
    to be doing, I stopped trying to get it from them and began to observe
    the workings of the department itself.  Then I began to offer help.
    I was pretty sneaky about this; would catch sound of an engineer 
    fretting about some work he was supposed to get done, and now this 
    emergency design meeting had come up and I would sidle up and say, 
    "you need that tomorrow?  I've got time."  or "are any decisions 
    needed at this meeting or do you just need someone to listen?"  
    90% of the time, I got myself something to do.  By the end of the 
    first year in that group, I had invented my job.  Never did I assume
    that I could only handle secretarial stuff; I crunched numbers,
    ran computer models, took masses of messy stuff and turned it into
    reports, helped engineers do different studies--when they began
    to see that I wanted to learn in order to get work done, they were
    only too happy to help educate me.  But mostly I educated myself.
    
    Then management in our department changed, and suddenly.  My new
    management was delighted with the job I was creating for myself,
    and gave me a free hand, since I had proved that I didn't need to
    have it held.  And they began creating higher grades of my type
    of position.  I went from Project Specialist I through IV during
    my 6 and a half years in that group.
    
    By then I was pretty burnt out and knew I didn't want to become
    either an engineer or manager.  So I began underground job hunting;
    I sought out others who had been in my type of job, looked them
    up in the departments they'd gone to, and asked them:  what does
    your group do?  What do you do?  What's it like?  Any openings?
    Who could I talk to for information on available jobs and what 
    experience/training is required?  (It was only later that I learned 
    that I had been networking.)  Through someone who knew my work 
    and knew of an opening in the group, I joined Management Sciences 
    (DEC's internal consulting group) and was made a Business Systems 
    Analyst.  Started going to "DEC school" to take necessary courses 
    and have been delighted to find that I've learned more OJT than 
    any course had ever taught me.  The courses simply reinforced and 
    formalized methods I'd already formulated on my own.  I also found
    old disciplines, like mathematics, coming back to me, as I found
    applications for the formulas (never did make sense while I was
    in school--now it does!).
    
    This April I returned from a catastrophic business trip on which
    I had to make an all-day presentation with the flu to find out 
    that my manager had promoted me to Principal BSA!  I still keep 
    the champagne bottle from the celebration that night.
    
    I've never worked at other computer companies, but from what I've
    heard through friends, DEC is a great place to work one's way up.
    I echo .1's feeling that you can find managers here who are willing
    to take on "raw" people and let you learn as you go.  There seems
    to be more emphasis on what one proves one can do, rather than on
    strict adherence to formal credentials.  This, of course, can vary
    tremendously from area to area of the company, but I have seen many
    men and women do complete career makeovers here that they admitted
    might have been impossible elsewhere.
    
    I do feel I've had a certain amount of luck in choosing managers 
    who liked what I did and rewarded me for it with promotions and 
    good raises.  But I never got a promotion where I hadn't already 
    progressed into the job I was being promoted to!  After the 
    champagne, I dug out the general and department-specific descriptions 
    of what my "new" job should be--and found out that I was already 
    doing 90% of it!
    
    I also work well unsupervised and can figure out what needs to be
    done most of the time on my own.  (I feel this mental talent is
    a tremendous asset in this company!)  I have a "glacial" view of
    change--that the most lasting changes are made by slow and persistent
    effort.  Everything I learn is stored, and can be used in future
    efforts.  I've also cultivated an ability to cooperate with a
    management style in a department or on a project long enough to 
    show my bosses that they can trust me to work without their constant 
    say-so.  A couple of them have even told me what a relief it is 
    that they have someone who doesn't need constant watching!
    
    I also thank Providence that my husband gave me the following advice.
    He works as a Principle Software Engineer for DEC and holds two 
    degrees from MIT, and when I told him how inferior and inadequate 
    I felt trying to work in a computer company 12 years ago, he said:
    "even if it is from MIT, my diploma is only a passport.  I still 
    had to learn what to _do_ on the job; it only tells a boss that 
    I'm 'certified trainable'.  Don't act as if your educational
    background is a handicap; don't believe it, don't accept that 
    assumption--and it won't hold you back."
    
    He was right.
    
    Marcia

	Yikes. Only 2 replies here in over a year. Did this move else-
where? Are the successes too busy to tell their stories? Or is some
grim truth being revealed here ?

    I think that most women don't think of themselves as unusual successes,
    even though many of the stories in this conference show that they
    really are!  Many people here (both men and women) have overcome
    problems, and situations through perserverance and hard-work (and
    some luck), and have made themselves successful, not just at work,
    but in life in general.  The key is not giving up.
    
    My own story is typical of many women.  I left college after two
    years of a major in biology (met Bonnie_J there - a long-time friend
    whom I'm proud to know!)  My husband joined the military, and we
    spent the next 16 years "touring the world".  I stayed home with
    the children for most of the first 13 years, and when I did work
    (short periods, mostly part-time) it was VERY low-level clerical
    jobs, as I wasn't qualified to do anything else.  After about 
    eight years of not using my full capacity, I decided *something*
    had to be done.  Fortunately, my (ex)husband, who worked in the
    computer field, was willing to teach me how to program.  I still
    wanted to stay home with the girls, but this gave me the opportunity
    to use my brain.  Also, I had the chance at one base to audit a
    course in computer operations.  Over the five years after I started
    to work with computers I learned a lot, but had never had a job
    in the field.  
    
    Then we were sent to Germany, my youngest was in school and I decided
    to try to find a job in the field.  This is when things got
    interesting.  It took six months of both my husband and I contacting
    (?harassing?) the personnel office before they would consider sending
    me on an interview in the computer field.  During that time I worked
    bagging groceries in the commissary (facinating time - but another
    story)!  Then they agreed to send me out as a computer operator
    (the only documentable part of my training).  In the interview,
    it came out that while they were trying to hire an operator, what
    they really *needed* was a programmer, but were having trouble with
    the "system" too.  I agreed that if hired as an operator I would
    actually work as a programmer, and they agreed to provide more formal
    training, and allow me to prove myself.  Some luck came into play
    here, they had two openings, and only two people interviewing,
    something I didn't find out until later.  The job was mine if I
    could walk and chew gum at the same time, in any case, but this
    way we started with an understanding of where I was trying to go.
    From then on it was a steady climb to my current position of 
    principle programmer-analyst, with the switch to DEC coming at P/A 
    level in 81 when we returned from Germany.  (Thanks again to Bonnie 
    & Don for suggesting that we both try DEC!)
    
    I don't think I did anything unusual along the way, but I *DID* make 
    the change from "unqualified" housewife to professional.  There were 
    some frustrating times, some great times, some excellent managers, and 
    some bad ones.  It's been quite an experience, but it proves that it 
    *can* be done.  And over-all, I've enjoyed it! 
    
    Linda Lust
    
    

DISTRIBUTION LISTS DELETED
-------------------------------

From:	NAME: FERRY
	INITLS: BILL
	FUNC: U.S. SWS
	ADDR: PKO3-2/5E
	TEL: 223-2262 <73839@DECMAIL@CORMTS@CORE>
Posted-date: 23-Jul-1987
Subject: U.S. ACT MANAGER

To:	See Below

       THIS MEMO IS FROM DON BUSIEK, CHICK SHUE AND BILL FERRY


We are pleased to announce the promotion of Dianne Durkin to the 
position of Manager, U.S. Application Centers for Technology (ACT's).

In this capacity Dianne will report to Dave Salmi and work with all 
organizations in the company to ensure our ACT's are "world class" 
centers demonstrating our Networking, Applications and Industry 
expertise.  Digital's goal is to turn ACT's into a true competitive 
weapon, thus capitalizing on our significant investment in ACT's over 
the past 18 months.  The ACT Program is a cornerstone investment in 
Digital's Solutions strategy.

Dianne's excellent reputation and her wealth of Sales and Sales 
Support experience are a tremendous asset to this position.

Dianne joined Digital in 1974 as a Sales Training Instructor and in 
her 13 years with Digital has held numerous positions including Sales 
Training Manager, Sales Programs Manager for Telecommunications, Group 
Sales Manager and most recently U.S. Headquarters Sales Support 
Manager.

Dianne graduated from Rivier College with two majors (Mathematics and 
Education) and proceeded to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA 
where she completed a Master's Degree in Mathematics.

Most recently, Dianne has received the Distinguished Women's Leaders 
Award presented by the Nashua Y.W.C.A.  She has also recently been 
named to the Rivier College Advisory Board.  A native of Palmer, 
Massachusetts Dianne is an avid golfer and tennis enthusiast.

Please join us in congratulating and supporting Dianne in her new and 
challenging position.

    I thnk part of the problem with women posting their own "success
    stories" is that we (I) often wonder just how long it will last
    until one of our mistakes is fatal.  Increasing our visibility
    increases our vulnerability to "pot-shots."  
    
    Also, a good # of DEC people have been functioning n their present
    position for only a couple years, what with all the new hires annd
    lateral transfers and all...
    
    Lee

    Well, I seem to have made some near-fatal mistakes, survived my
    first review (ever), lived with the high visibility without TOO
    much mishap so I guess I'll help get the ball rolling again here,
    Rita.
    
    I'm 24.  I came here in June 1986, after a spell in France.  While
    in France, I did a co-op "chez Renault" the car company, and was
    entirely miserable.  The morale there... it was easy to understand
    why the company had been doing so poorly.  I stayed there longer
    than my money or job lasted, mostly trying to figure out why I went
    in the first place.
    
    Worked in a bookstore while job hunting from 1/86-5/86.  Four months.
    Horrible time.  I went to MIT thinking that one of the reasons for
    going there was so that I would not have to worry about getting
    a job when I got out.  I had never, ever in my life been told that
    I was not "good" enough for anything.  Rejections came from sports
    teams, beauty contests (if I had been stupid enough to join one),
    and boys... NOT schools or employers.  Well I learned to handle
    job rejection poorly, but better than before.
    
    By the time I interviewed for this job, I had gotten sick of "dressing
    for success" so I wore a tux and bow tie.  This worked.  I came
    in to a new microscope that no one knew anything about (including
    me).  I had to make it understood, find some applications where
    the information I got was relevant (this is hard for someone who
    knows nothing about the computer industry and its problems), and
    then find people @ DEC to show my techniques, how I could help,
    etc, etc.
    
    Well now I have a business, it supports two and is screaming for
    a third person to help (TOOOOOO MUCH TO DO), I wrote a review for
    my tech a month or two after going through review for the first
    time myself, I am a supervisor (the youngest in the lab) and altogether
    unsure of whether or not I like this fact (though it _is_ very
    rewarding).  My present job is one _I_ defined, at it is better
    and more fun than anything I could have imagined getting at the
    "useless Bachelor's level" (as I was told an SB in Materials was).
    
    It feels like bragging, but I still think I have done well and am
    very proud of my acheivments thus far.  Sky's the limit, eh?
    
    Lee

    I've hesitated to answer this note, because it doesn't seem like
    being a senior software engineer is all *that* much to brag about
    in this company.
    
    However, how do you define success?  (maybe a topic for another
    note).
    
o   I feel respected and valued in my present position.

o   I work with GREAT people and we all get along (most of the time
    :-) ).

o   I love the work I've been doing for the last year and a half and
    there's more good work ahead.

o   I want to come to work when I wake up in the morning.

o   I feel I am being paid what I am worth (any of my management who
    may be reading this, take note - this does NOT mean I don't want or
    need the next raise you've been considering for me!).
    
    Doesn't seem like much to brag about, compared to some members of
    our community, which is why I didn't enter it before.
    
    So why did I enter it? I *feel* successful.  So I guess I am.  Of
    course, if I stayed at my present position and same work for the
    next 10 years, I wouldn't feel that way!
    
    	-Ellen

    I have  been  asked  to  document for the readers of Womannotes my 
    recent experience of  trying  to  crossover  from  a  Wage Class-2 
    position to Wage Class-4.    Before  I launch into the specifics I 
    should introduce myself.  My  name is Betty Mecler.  I came to DEC 
    two  years  ago  through  a  contract    agency   to  work  as  an 
    Administrative Secretary.  Seven months later I  was hired on as a 
    G-49, Administrative Secretary.

    I should preface my story with a brief synopsis  of  my  education 
    and experience.  I have a BS in Biology from  Simmons  College and 
    an  MBA from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.  My  prior 
    business experience had  been  in  working  in  an  administrative 
    capacity in Washington, DC  with  an  organization of professional 
    research scientists, much like the  American  Medical Association.  
    In 1980 I chose to begin a family and spent the next four years as 
    a full-time mother.  Personal circumstances forced me to relocate
    to  Massachusetts from Washington and so I  found  myself  in  the 
    greater  Maynard  area  when  the time came to  re-enter  the  job 
    market.        After    a    substantial  amount  of  looking  for 
    scientific/business oriented  jobs  it  became clear that unless I 
    wished to travel  into  Boston  and settle for very low salaries I 
    had better change my  perspective  and realize that I was now in a 
    part  of  the  country  very  devoted  to  high  tech  and  should 
    concentrate on that industry.  With MBA  in  hand  I  tackled  DEC 
    personnel offices along with the other computer firms in the area.
    The  front  door  tactics  did  not work  as  I  had  no  computer 
    experience so I chose the back door -  enter  as  an  Admin.  Sec.  
    and work my way.  Little did I know  what a frustrating experience 
    was ahead of me.

    In January of this year, I began my search within  DEC  to utilize 
    my MBA.  From what I am told there are very  many  women out there 
    with  educations  who  have  chosen a similar path to mine and are 
    going through the  same frustrating experience.  My message to you 
    is persistence!!  Aside  from  accessing  the  on-line  jobs  book 
    almost daily, and numerous calls to various recruiters, I also did 
    alot of networking.  A week  ago  after  nine months of persistent 
    looking  I was offered an entry level  accounting  position  about 
    which  I  am  very  enthusiastic.    Ironically, after  months  of 
    plodding along in the position search, from the initial inquiry to
    to actual job offer was only a period of two days.

    Before I sign off, I want to repeat that  persistence  is  part of 
    the  key.    The other is that you believe in  yourself  and  your 
    capabilities.   There  are  managers  out  there who recognize the 
    value of an education and the fact that by earning that degree you 
    have already proven yourself to a certain extent.  I know that for 
    me  this is just the  beginning of alot more work and proving that 
    the vote of confidence being given  to me now by my incoming group 
    is not wasted.  

    Good luck to all of you who have chosen a similar course to mine!

    How totally strange!  I just started reading this NOTESfile today
    and began reading these success stories.  From what I can tell,
    90% of the registered "successful women" are BIOLOGY majors!  How
    bizarre........and,  ME TOO!!!!
    
    I really wasn't going to respond either until I noticed the common
    thread.  Then I couldn't resist!  I started at DEC 6 years ago as
    a Programmer/Analyst.  I was promoted to Sr. Programmer/Analyst
    a year later.  1.5 yrs after that, I applied for the position of
    Computer Operations Mgr as I had acquired both hardware and software
    experience in my previous and current jobs and got the job.  After
    3 years there, I applied for the DBA/TECH Support Mgr job in the
    same dept.  Got that too.  Since then I've been promoted twice as
    a more "senior" manager.  Biology major turned Propeller-Head.
    Many find that strange!
    
    Mostly I feel great about my accomplishments.  Sometimes I feel
    like a "token" woman.  I was the highest level female Manager in
    the plant for a long time.  People used to point me out as "the
    example".
    
    Oh, well, enough about me.  Any more Biology majors out there ??!!

   Well I have a B.A. and an M.A. in Biology and taught it at
    the community college level before coming to Dec. :-). However,
    I don't really have a success story to tell as yet but I am
    working on it.
    
    Bonnie

    re: 28.11 
    
    >Well I have a B.A. and an M.A. in Biology and taught it at
    >the community college level before coming to Dec. :-). However,
    >I don't really have a success story to tell as yet but I am
    >working on it.
    >
    >Bonnie
    
    WRONG!!!!  As those of us who know you can attest.  You may not
    yet have a "business" success at DEC *YET* (it will come - I know
    you!), but you have had tremendous success in many other ways! 
    
    You've taught at the college level, and have a marvelous family.
    Raising five kids successfully is NOT an easy task, and that makes
    you a success all by itself!  And getting that foot in the door,
    after a time away from work, is also difficult, (as many of us know)
    and a good indicator of more successes to come.  I, for one, am
    glad to call you "friend", and I think your "success" is considerable!
                                                           
    Linda

    blush, thankyou Linda.

    Re .8, you certainly sound successful to *me*, Ellen.  Everything
    is relative.  I can't answer yes to any of the points you made,
    and I've been with DEC for 12 years this month.
    
    Lorna
    

    The following news bulletin was on our bulletin board.  I do not
    know what paper it came from or when and it is copied without
    permission.
    
    
               WEST COAST WOMAN AIDS EAST COAST CAT
               
    
    PELHAM--A 4-month-old tiger cat will have its broken leg operated
    on today thanks to a woman in California.
    
    Karen Kolling of Palo Alto has agreedt to pay all veterinary bills,
    estimated at about $300, for the cat's left front broken leg.
    
    The cat is being oeperated on at Salem Animal Hospital and may have
    to have the leg amputated, as there is extensive nerve damage. 
    
    The kitten was found lying on the side of the road with the broken
    leg about one month ago, after it was apparently hit by a car.
    
    It has been cared for since by Animal Control Officer Marilyn
    Mathieson.  Mrs.  Mathieson has a strict policy of not putting animals
    to sleep.
    
    Mrs. Mathieson heard about a nationwide electronic daily newsletter
    at Digital Equipment Corp.  Employees from around the country type
    in notes on anything from car sales to pets.
    
    Mrs.  Mathieson called Kim Robins in the Salem office and asked
    if she could start running a few notices for the Pelham Shelter.
     Ms. Robins agreed.
    
    Miss Kolling, 44, a programer at Palo Alto's Digital plant read
    the note.  She insisted the cat get immediate medical attention
    and called Ms. Robins with her Mastercard number.
    
    Mrs.  Kolling, who has two cats of her own, Holly and Sweetie, was
    rather modest about the help she has offered, when reached at work
    yesterday.
    
    "I'm a cat crasy," she said.  "I just don't know.  I can afford
    to do it.  It's hard to say no to a cat.  That's why I stay away
    from any animal shelters.  I really wish I had room but I have two
    cats already in my little cottage and cats are territorial."
    
    Salem Animal Hospital's Dr. Thomas Adams has nicknamed the cat C.C.
    for California Cat.
    

      I just called Kim and thank her for what she did. Its nice to
    see dec resources used for something like this. And thank you
    Karen Kolling for what you did. I hope you both have a very special
    Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
                   Rick King

    It should also be mentioned here that another DEC Noter, sometimes
    participatant of womannotes, Conni Sandstrom gave the kitty, now
    known as Jake, a home here in Mass.  For more information on the
    story, see YOGI::FELINE Note # 873.
    
    Thanks Karen, Thanks Conni...
    
    Purrs
    cin...

    Thanks for the header gizmo, but you forgot Conni(Jake's new Mom),
    Kim(feline activist), Marilyn (humane officer).  Not to mention
    Logan and Colby, the golden retrievers who are Jake's new step-sibs
    and reportedly firmly under his paw.  (all of us females, too.)