Anyone out there actually use shorthand/steno?

[Pin Wizard]

I'm amazed. I'm applying for a job and I have to take a shorthand test! I don't even know if I remember it! I've been using dictaphones for 8 years! Wish me luck!! Test is tomorrow morning. I don't see a problem with typing...my 10,000 posts on the DIS keep that sharp. LOL!

 

[Jeanny]

Good Luck!

I use shorthand when I'm taking messages, and I forget sometimes and put the message on my bosse's desk... he just laughs and asks me to decifer it in English!!

But I didn't realize companies still test... it's easier to do dictation.

 

[Beth76]

my mom uses shorthand. I don't know how much she actually knows

 

[ilovepcot]

Shorthand in this day and time? That sure brings back memories! I never could read my own shorthand, so I always memorized the assignment for next day in class. The teacher would dictate the assignment and I "pretended" to be taking it all down (I was actually scribbling jibberish) and then typed it out perfectly and handed it in. What can I say? I'm awful!

 

[NMAmy]

I took it in high school (a long time ago) and had never had a need for it until I worked for the president of a community college about 5 years ago. He was an older man and although he made sure that everyone who worked there and the students had the very latest technology, he never even turned his computer on. And, he actually dictated letters. Luckily, I could just take the laptop into his office when we went through mail or if he asked me to send a letter without the laptop with me, he'd tell me what to say and I'd just type up a letter with the gist of it! Bless his heart, he could never remember what he'd actually said and as long as I had the basic items in the letter, he was fine with it!

I tried to take a class in shorthand to refresh my memory, but no one even teaches it anymore. Luckily, every boss I've had since has typed their own letters and sent them to me to format and proofread.

Good luck with the tests, Pin Wizard! Hope you get the job.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good wishes, Sandy, hope it goes well.

I notice Marie sometimes taking things down in shorthand still.

 

[Pop Daddy]

no, but somtim i typ in shthand wth out tryn

 

[Serena]

PW, good luck. I didn't know they still did that either.

 

[Minniespal]

Didn't realise they still used it ~ My mom still uses it.

Good luck for the job.

 

[bjgrazi]

I do, it's a cross between steno & shorthand, both of which I learned in HS and have used ever since. My new boss loves that I know it.

Sandy good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Cindy B]

Well, I did take a speedwriting class about 15 years ago. (After Gregg method of shorthand)

If any job asks me if I do dictation (one hasn't in a LONG time), I can honestly say I have done speedwriting.

My mom (secretary since 1966) has been using Gregg method for years.

I sometimes wind up using speedwriting in my classes at school


I can't imagine ever taking a test in it.

Good luck!

 

[browneyes]

I've never learned how. Good luck, Sandy.

 

[powellrj]

oh did that bring up bad memories. I never did get and and finally dropped the class in high school. It all looked the same to me! Good luck with the job and the test!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by ilovepcot
Shorthand in this day and time? That sure brings back memories! I never could read my own shorthand, so I always memorized the assignment for next day in class. The teacher would dictate the assignment and I "pretended" to be taking it all down (I was actually scribbling jibberish) and then typed it out perfectly and handed it in. What can I say? I'm awful!

LOLOLOLOL!

CHEATER!!! LOLOL! In secretarial school, we had to staple our shorthand notes to the back of our transcription. It had to be in our notes! LOLOLOLOL!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by Jeanny
Good Luck!

I use shorthand when I'm taking messages, and I forget sometimes and put the message on my bosse's desk... he just laughs and asks me to decifer it in English!!

Thanks! That's too funny!

I used to have a boss that would be out in his car and call in to dictate over the phone to me. I always typed it right on my computer. I can type a LOT faster than I can write!! Steno was always a major stress for me. Actually quit a couple jobs over it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

First, testing went fine. Typing test turned out to be 72 words per minute with 3 errors! Well below secretarial school's allowance of 10% errors. I see I kept my "A". Went to the City's HR dept. to drop off a copy of the certificate. Asked them about shorthand because this testing center said they don't give shorthand tests. That's not what the person on the phone said yesterday. She said if I passed the typing test, they would give the other. Hmmmmmmmmmmm...one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. The City has a position for a Staff Assistant in the Engineering dept. Hope this flies!! So the HR person reviewed the job posting and said a shorthand test isn't required. Hmmmmmmmm...but the description did say "transcribe notes." Whose notes????? LOLOL! Plus now that I have the certificate, I can include it with apps for federal jobs. They want certification that you can type at least 40 wpm. Crossing fingers, eyes, toes, and nose for this!

 

[Pin Wizard]

NMAmy...Yup, my recent bosses typed their own things once they had a computer. My last boss was a little resistant to her computer, LOL, but she got with the program. I had plenty of my own typing!!

Dan...Thanks!! My mom was the same way. I remember her writing things down in shorthand at home. I avoid it like the plague.

Jason...Pretty good! I can understand your speed "typing."

Serena, minniespal, bjgrazi...Thank you!!!!

Cindy B...In high school I learned Gregg. In secretarial school I had to learn Series 90! Ack! Gregg was MUCH better. For a while my sister and I wrote letters to each other in shorthand. I never had any problem reading it, just the speed when writing.

Shannon...You lucky person!! And thanks!!

powellrj...I agree! More like nightmares! Thanks!