Conference turris::womannotes-v3

125.0. "Advice Sought Re: Job Search" by FDCV07::LEBLANC (Ruth E. LeBlanc) Tue May 15 1990 13:50

Someone in the DEC_Secretary conference recommended that I write into this
conference to seek assistance (and moral support!) with my search.  Here's
my story (in brief form):  I'm an Executive Secretary who's been with DEC
for nearly ten years.  After a couple of difficult and long-term lay-offs
with Raytheon, my husband has finally found an excellent position in
Deerfield, MA (a ways North of Springfield).  He's been a wonderfully
supportive husband over the last nine years as I did my Bachelor's degree
at night and worked long hours at DEC; now it's my time to support him. 
We want to move to the Springfield area which means my finding a new job. 
Unfortunately, I'm finding virtually nothing internally.  I don't want to
leave DEC (especially considering that entry-level "professional" salaries
in that area are considerably less than what I'm earning now, by about
$10-$5K!), but it's starting to look as if I may not have a choice. 

Do any of you know of positions out that way?  Or have any suggestions?  
I've talked with recruiters, site managers, business managers, etc., but it 
seems that everyone's down-sizing and now is just THE WRONG TIME to be 
looking.  Since I've recently completed my degree and since I have 
considerable DEC experience, I keep thinking that there's got to be 
SOMETHING in the WC4 arena (sales support???) that I can do.  I've worked 
too hard to become an Executive Secretary to accept the easier-to-find
position of Admin. Sec., yet Exec. Sec. positions out that way seem to be 
non-existant.

I sure would appreciate any help or advice.  My resume follows for anyone 
interested in seeing more about my qualifications, etc.

Thanks,

Ruth



PKO3-2/F6                                                       ALL-IN-1 @PKO
DTN: 223-4694                  RUTH E. LeBLANC                  FDCV07::LeBLANC
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EDUCATION:  Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Psychology.  Magna Cum 
            Laude.  Clark University, Worcester, MA.  May 1990.  


DIGITAL EXPERIENCE:

Executive Secretary, Software Licensing Operations -- June 1986 to Present

Report to Manager of Software Licensing Operations.  Create proposals and cor-
respondence for manager.  Interact with top-level customer and Digital manage-
ment.  Manage salary planning process.  Organize large functions.  Deliver 
presentations and create proposals to address various secretarial work force 
challenges.  Hold secretarial staff meetings.  Advise group members on techni-
cal, administrative and other work-related matters.  Accomplishments include:

--  Designed and implemented a comprehensive Secretarial Development Program 
    which was ultimately used as a corporate-wide model.
--  Conducted Job Planning and Review workshops for managers and secretaries.
--  Consulted in development of world-wide Digital secretarial standards.
--  Managed several group facility-to-facility moves.  Handled all details 
    such as electronic account transitions, detailing all construction 
    needs, supervising movers, configuring data, phone and LAT lines, etc.

Administrative Secretary, Corporate Personnel -- October 1985 to June 1986

Supported Director of Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity and
Valuing Differences.  Interviewed all secretarial applicants.  Established
various departmental administrative procedures. 

Senior Legal Secretary, Law Department -- January 1983 to October 1985

Secretary to Litigation Group Manager.  Maintained follow-up system for court 
deadlines and other Law Department administrative requirements.  Assisted with 
case preparation and document retrieval.  Prepared affidavits.  Notarized legal 
documents.  Conducted monthly secretarial staff meetings.  Proposed and imple-
mented a pilot legal secretarial internship program.  Was given managerial 
responsibility for the intern.  Tracked and forecasted legal fees payments for 
all of Digital's U.S. litigation cases.  Created and delivered a presentation 
outlining effective procedures for billings, budgets, quarterly accruals and 
Redbook.

Senior Secretary, U.S. Sales Finance -- January 1981 to January 1983

Provided support for the Operations Manager and three financial analysts in 
U.S. Sales Finance Operations.  Opened and maintained cost centers, booking 
centers, and discrete projects for all U.S. Area Sales departments.  Conducted 
capital equipment audit of all U.S. Sales cost centers.  Produced Redbook, 
Goldbook, Certifications, DCPP, and Expenses & Manpower financial reports.  
Performed routine secretarial duties for the group.

    Ruth, you might also post your resume in the Jobs conference on OASS::
    Press kp7 or Select to add the conference to your notebook.
    
    regards,
    

    Ruth,
    
    Depending on what your interests are, and you're willingness to
    commute, you could check out the Rocky Hill, CT office.  It's about
    10 miles SE of Hartford, maybe an hrs drive in heavy traffic from
    the CT/MA border.  I know they are looking for entry level sales,
    but not sure about support.
    
    I don't think you'll find anything in the WFO or ENO offices, maybe
    Springfield.
    
    Good luck, I know it is.
    
    ---kim

    
    First, have you evaluated jobs other than secretarial?
    Altho you may feel comfortable with that title, your education
    and familiarity with DEC products may open up other choices,
    especially if location is important.  Being from western Mass,
    I think the cost of living is lower, so a lower salary isn't really.
    
    Consider taking a leave of absence from DEC, and working for a customer
    such as U of M or anyone else in the Connecticut Valley with computers.
    There has been a lot of expansion out that way.  Just a thought...mwr
    

    There's some career opportunity days coming up in early June (4, 5, 6?)
    in MR03.  Info is in Digital This Week.
    
    -Jody
    

    Ruth:
    
    Have you considered "downsizing" your salary, and treating the first 
    year as a kind of internship?  This presumes, of course, that you can
    figure out what you might want to do enough to "intern" for a year.
    
    Good luck.
    
    Briana

    Thanks, everyone, for your helpful advice!  This is one thing I *love*
    about Digital:  A whole community of helpful (and reach-able) people!!
    
    Well, I'm very pleased to say that I've found a new position.  It's an
    Exec. Sec. job (just what I wanted!) in Shrewsbury, MA.  Actually, this
    works out very well for us because we can find a nice half-way point to
    move between our two jobs and each of us will have a reasonable
    commute.  Plus, while we're waiting to move, I'm a whole 2.8 miles from
    work!  What a deal.
    
    Anyway, I wanted to let you all know the status and thank you for your
    help.  
    
    Regards,