NAME: Josie Tansey (Mrs)
COMPANY/REGION: McCarthy & Stone Ltd. Eastern Region.
JOB TITLE: Design Secretary
DEPARTMENT: Design & Planning Department.
WHAT DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT DO?
Design thumbnails for land acquired, get approval from Head Office to go ahead and design planning drawings. Submit planning applications to the relevant local Council for consent to build sheltered accommodation for the over 60’s. Take the application to appeal if necessary. When consent is received provide Construction department with the necessary construction drawings to build the development.
WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
Answer the phones when architects are not at their desk or are out.
Organise meetings for the Design Manager and Design Director and then take the minutes at the meetings.
Type the minutes and circulate and type Board reports.
File the department’s correspondence and look after the filing system.
Fortnightly order the general stationery for the Eastern Region.
Order computer consumables as necessary.
Fold drawings and bind Design statements for submission of applications.
General secretarial duties.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
Everything, and the colleagues I work with in the Region.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CAREER?
When I started work the choice was either going to work in a factory or an office. Did not fancy working in a factory so started as an Office Junior.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DID YOU NEED TO GET THIS JOB?
To work as a team member and also on my own initiative. My many years of experience in an office helped. (I have certificates for 120 words per minute Pitman Shorthand and ‘O’ Level English Language).
IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE A GRADUATE OR TRAINEE LOOKING FOR A JOB IN YOUR WORK AREA?
Be prepared to do all the jobs asked of you to the best of your ability and be willing to ask questions when you are not sure what/how to do something.
Find out how your department fits into the scheme of things within your company so you understand why you are doing what you are doing.