Michele Landon, Clerk Typist II

Happy workplace

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"There's actually a whiteboard in our department where I write riddles and jokes. I want that kind of atmosphere to work in.

"I've changed little things here and there in the office, just to make it a little more playful. They have an in and out (board), where you put you're gone to three o'clock. They were just white plain old magnets. I went out and bought stickers, I got little happy faces.

"Everybody's mail, I'll stamp it with a little flower stamp or I'll put a happy smiley face on the end of my notes for them. It's more of a playful environment than straight and narrow."

Images from my workplace

Where I work

I work for Manitoba Public Insurance as a clerk/typist in Administrative Services. MPI employs 1,700 people throughout the province. We provide vehicle insurance to the public, whether it's for a commercial fleet of big tractor-trailer units that travels across Canada or for your own car.

I work in the head office on Donald Street. I love working downtown because it's conveniently located close to where I live. I only need to take one bus from my house, and that rocks!

Check purchases

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"Administrative Services is the hub of Manitoba Public Insurance. If you need a pen or a pencil you fill out a non-stock form. I pass it to the manager* and he distributes them to the buyers. The buyers buy the stuff. It comes in (and) bam! There you are.

"Purchase orders get printed twice a day, and I have to check for grammar, punctuation. I do a lot of reading because the tenders are sometimes about 75 pages long, and you have to read for content and some of it is legal jargon."

*The title of the person Michele is referring to is Purchasing Supervisor.

Busy with customers

My main job is maintaining the corporate phone book. Anything that changes with an employee's status, such as their phone number, supervisor or job title comes to me and I update the database for 1,700 workers.

In addition, every 10 minutes I'm dealing face-to-face with someone who needs something from Administrative Services. I get requests for everything from office supplies to keys to the cars we oversee.

Never a dull day

Our department is small but it's a big part of the corporation. There are 30 of us including mail and warehousing services. Work is so busy and fast paced, I probably have 15 minutes to myself during the day.

Half the time I'm glued to my computer screen. The other half I'm on the move, delivering mail or helping people.

I haven't had a boring day since I started there.

Computer wizard

I use a fax machine, computer, scanner, printer, copier and cell phone. That's pretty much as technological as you can get in an office environment.

On my computer I use five different programs to do my job, including Access, Excel, Outlook, Word and HRM, which is Human Resources Manager. That's a database that contains personal information about everyone working at MPI.

Grew up in big family

I was raised in Whitedog and Shoal Lake, Ontario until we moved to Winnipeg when I was eight years old.

I barely remember my childhood because I was so busy. I was the oldest of five kids and my mom was a single parent so I had to take responsibility for the younger ones. I looked after my sisters and my brother. I'd walk my sisters to school and make sure my brother wouldn't get into any trouble.

Now with my own son, I'm enjoying the things I missed growing up. We go bowling, to the movies and we eat out. I want him to enjoy and remember the things I never had.

Working parents

My mom didn't work much when we were kids because raising us was a full-time job. But now she's a home support worker.

My dad is a crisis intervention worker on the White Dog Reserve. It's got a high rate of suicide and solvent abuse, and my dad is trying to stop all of that. He's been doing that for about 19 years.

My mom went to Red River College to get her training, and my dad started working right out of high school. It was a big surprise when I told them I had applied to go to college.

Aboriginal barriers

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I'd say being an Aboriginal person in the city is a barrier. I had to do a lot better in school. I had to do a lot better in whatever I did, just to get past that barrier.

"I put my son in daycare, I got my own place, I started going to school. I did homework every night, I graduated with Honours. I just faced everything head on. If I didn't do that I wouldn't be here today.

"I went to Red River once time and I was asked to come back and give a little speech about what I did. And I just told them that it paid off. Look where I am now."

A proud mother

My son Blaze will be seven in May. He's an excellent student. You might even say he's a nerd, just like I was. He loves to read and uses words that I don't even know! He's also very polite. Blaze is a grown-up inside a little boy's body and he's my main man.

We love the beach and love to go tobogganing. I work out on the treadmill every day to get the stamina to keep up with him. He enjoys movies, monster trucks and bike riding. I'm already showing him a few things about driving because I think he wants to be a race car driver.

Traditional dancer

I do traditional Aboriginal jingle dress dancing. Traditional is a little more reserved than the contemporary jingle dress dances which involve spinning, going backwards and side to side.

Traditional dancing is not boring. In fact it's a lot harder because you must take more care in your steps. We had a Pow Wow at the MTS Centre last November, which is going to be held every year. I can go and dance for three days and hopefully win $2,500 in the traditional dance competition.

Flexible schedule

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"They've accommodated me at work. Because I go to the gym, my lunch is from one to two, everyday.

"I take time off, as long as it's within reasonable time. I actually went to a Pow Wow and I gave four days' notice, and she* said, go right ahead.

"I couldn't start at 8 and I can't finish at 5 because my son's in daycare, so what they did was I start at 8:15 and left at 4:45. So they were very flexible, very accommodating."

*Note: Michele is referring to her supervisor.

Many deadlines

I have deadlines every day. If the phone list database hasn't been updated and a second request comes in, I've got to get right on that. Otherwise, there's no phone number and no contact information for that person.

Of course, I can't drop everything else to do the updating. So I've got to balance my work by doing some of the urgent tasks and some of the other business, too. I use a lot of Post-It notes to tell myself what stage a project is at and when I need to get it done.

Stress reduction

When I get stressed out at work, I run even harder during my lunch workout. After a morning of answering 50 emails, I get on the treadmill and turn up the music loud and don't even think about work. I just run.

When I get back to my desk I feel better. I have a fresh mind and I can get back into the job. But if I eat at McDonald's and sit for an hour, I come back feeling guilty about the food and the wasted time. That's not the path I want to take. It's better to exercise and have a protein shake at my desk.

Rise to the challenge

The biggest challenge I face at work is filling in for a colleague when I haven't been trained in their particular area.

Sometimes when my supervisor isn't at work, the manager will ask me to substitute so contracts can be sent out and everything keeps moving along. I have the access to the information, but I don't know all the procedures so that's a little daunting. I want to prove myself and do a good job, but I'm worried I won't have the necessary skills.

Keep work at work

What I do at work, stays at work. What I do at home, stays at home. So if I have a big blowout with my son, I don't come to work and say anything because it's really nobody's business.

It takes a lot to separate the two. When people bring their work home, or vice versa, it doesn't make it easy on the people they are around. If somebody comes to me with a problem from home, what am I going to say? "Oh, leave him", or that kind of thing? You have to separate the two. If I need to vent, that's when I go to my friends.

Respect from colleagues

I got a compliment from someone who doesn't even work in my department. He said "Everybody likes Michele." It's nice to hear your name being mentioned in a good way in other parts of the organization. It means I'm doing my job effectively and efficiently.

It's a lot nicer when people use your name and don't just say, "Hey I need a car." I feel more like a person than just a face lost in a big company.

Smile every day

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"Being open, being able to talk is one of the best parts of the job that I'm doing right now.

"There's one guy that I have never met and he always walks by my window and I'm always smiling, waving. He's actually one of our lawyers. He sent me a card saying 'thanks for the smiles and the waves, you brighten everybody's day'. And I've never met this guy before, but when I saw him in the elevator I thanked him, (said) 'my name is Michele, how are you'. So now I've made a new friend."

Be good to all

In my job, I deal with people from all levels and departments in MPI. Sometimes a stranger will come in and pick up keys and I'll ask my supervisor later who that person was. She'll say, "Oh that's the manager of Internal Audit or the Director of Broker Operations."

The better service that I provide, the better Administrative Services looks. I guess that would be a kind of networking but I just think it's good service.

Eager attitude

I think my attitude is the big reason I've been able to accomplish what I have.

I went to college despite some serious obstacles. I graduated in April and had a job at MPI by July. I remember when I got the phone call that led to this opportunity. They asked if I would be interested in an interview and I thought, I'll be in there like a dirty sock!

When no one called back I got really down until the Diversity Coordinator telephoned to offer me a position through the Internship Program. I almost hit the floor. My search had paid off!

Aboriginal connection

I would love to go back to school for the Case Management Certificate Program at the University of Winnipeg. I want to get into the Bodily Injury Unit and work closely with claimants who have been in accidents. I want to be mobile and have my own clientele.

I want to specialize in Aboriginal claimants because some Aboriginal people might feel more at ease with someone they can relate to. I grew up on a reserve and that kind of relationship between the claimants and myself would be good.

Pregnant in college

I moved back to Winnipeg when I was 21 and enrolled in the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre. I had to start back in grade 9, because I had dropped out in grade 12. It took me two years to graduate. Then I went to the Administrative Assistants Program* at Red River and finished in one year.

I was pregnant and Blaze was born in May. I couldn't find a day-care centre that would take newborns, so I stayed home, figuring I'd go back the next year. Unfortunately, the college dropped the program so I started working minimum wage jobs, which is all I could get with my limited education.

*Note: This has been replaced with Computer Applications for Business. See Red River College in USEFUL LINKS for more information.

Skills led to transfer

When I got hired by MPI*, they assessed my strong points and decided I was best suited for the Road Safety Department as a Driver Education Liaison Officer. I took a driving instructor course on the weekend through MPI and was actually paid overtime because I was working and learning at the same time!

When my year-long internship was ending, the manager of Administrative Services recruited me because I was proficient in the computer programs required.

Note: Michele returned to Red River College several years after she had her baby and obtained a certificate in microcomputer applications. This certificate led to her job with MPI.

First jobs, hard work

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I used to be ashamed to tell people where I worked. For a whole year I worked at Vari Clean Maid Service. I cleaned other people's homes and everybody would say, ‘Oh, where do you work?' I'd say ‘Never mind'.

"Now I'm proud to say I've worked as a maid. I've worked in a meat department. I've done all those to get me right here today. So I can't imagine if I didn't do anything, where would I be today.

"Now, my hands are soft and lotioned-up, daintily. Back then it was eczema, broken skin and bruises. It was really hard work."

Constant upgrading

I'm working on my Conflict Resolution Certificate. I have a certificate in Polarities, which is mediating irresolvable issues. Next is a Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certificate. These are all offered at MPI.

I was qualified to get a Governor General's Award because I finished college with a 4.2 grade point average. But one of the criteria they examine is volunteerism. Where do I have time to volunteer? I wrote a letter saying that was discrimination against single parents because these awards are made for students that live at home, with no responsibilities and no job.

Financial security

I just want to be happy and satisfied at work so I don't end up bringing job stress home where it will hurt my family life.

I want to be able to take my son shopping without having to worry about dipping into the bank overdraft. I'd like to join the rank of managers, carry a briefcase, go to meetings, have a big office with big windows and have people report to me. Where I am right now is just the beginning for where I'm going to go in the future.

Manager in training

I see myself making a good manager or director. They are the frontline.

I like where I am now and would probably miss that work. But I'd love making more money, owning a great car and taking vacations every summer. There are some employees at MPI that started working here the year I was born! I want 30 years under my belt so I can take six weeks off in the summer. I'd like to be a manager, but if not, I want to get that kind of seniority so I can enjoy some of the perks.

Want to save lives

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I made a business case for driving instructors on Aboriginal reserves, just to get Aboriginal driving instructors teaching the proper way to drive. Nobody wears seat belts, the cars are not adequate, so there's people driving crazy (and) ice roads. I want to be able to change how many people die on the roads, especially with Aboriginal people.

"If MPI kicks in fifty grand, AMC - Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs - kicks in fifty grand, we could have 20 trained certified Driving Instructors throughout Manitoba teaching Driver Ed which is a big boost for MPI."

Business is booming

People will always need insurance so I see a long, bright future working in this industry.

We are so busy in my department. In order to monitor the workload and to ensure staffing is at appropriate levels, we keep statistics of our work. I'm logging every activity I do each day, including how many phone calls I handle or purchase orders I work on.

It's busy and it will stay busy because people need something from us. That's what we're here for, to provide that service to our customers.

Saving for Marineland

My son and I are saving for a special trip. He wants to go to Marineland in Niagara Falls. Not Disneyland, but Marineland. We're planning to go in the summer. I said, for that to happen, we have to put money away. That means no more eating out because we can eat out three or four times a week.

A week later, I came home tired and suggested we just get a pizza delivered. He looked over me with one eyebrow raised and said, "We're saving for the trip!" So I took that 20 dollars for pizza and put it away, and made us supper.

Job market info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official title for Michele's occupation is "General Office Clerk" and its NOC* code is 1411.

Manitoba Job Futures

Employment Prospects - Labour Market Information

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupation Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

Useful High School subjects

- English (Communication)
- Math
- Computer basics

Source: JobFutures.ca  

For those out of school, Adult Learning Centres can help you get or upgrade your high school diploma, including adding subjects that are required for work or further education. All Manitobans are normally entitled to four free courses.

Below are links to various programs and courses that will put you on the path to a career as a General Office Clerk.

Colleges

Red River College

Office Technician

CDI College

Business Administrative Assistant

Herzing College

School of Business

Assiniboine Community College - Brandon

Office Administration Diploma

University College of the North - The Pas/Thompson

All programs - pdf
Administrative Assistant - p.25

Essential Skills

The most important Essential Skills* for General Office Clerk and other related occupations are:

- Oral Communication
- Problem Solving
- Computer Use

*For more information on Essential Skills and their importance to this occupation, go to: Essential Skills (NOC 1411).

Professional Resources

Red River Technical Vocational Area (RRTVA)
Involves five school divisions, each offering different technical-vocational courses that are shared among them, including production of manufactured goods, research and development of products as well as the engineering, production, sales and support of the products and providing students with exposure to many different careers along the way

CareerTrek
A not-for-profit organization that provides innovative educational programming for young people with perceived barriers to entering post-secondary education

Related Careers

Receptionists and Switchboard Operators (NOC 1414)

Secretaries (Except Legal and Medical) (NOC 1241)