A step in the right direction
Lyla Tobac sets sights on office administration diploma
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Monday, July 18, 2016
RADILIH KOE'/FORT GOOD HOPE
Lyla Tobac has already taken the first steps on her career path. The 19-year-old from Fort Good Hope is working as a summer student in the community's band office.
Lyla Tobac, from Fort Good Hope, is spending her summer working at the community band office. She plans to take office administration at Aurora College in January. - Photo courtesy of Lyla Tobac |
Tobac said she's learning how to do everything from file invoices to answering the phone.
"I go on the finance computer and I do their invoices," she said. "I've been getting trained to do that."
She said while the computer program used to do the invoicing is a new skill she had to learn, she came into the job with some experience.
Tobac filled in as a casual employee at the office this spring whenever the usual secretary was away. She also worked as a secretary for the Yamoga Land Corporation.
"In the past I've been working as a secretary and I really enjoyed doing the job," she said. "That's basically what I wanted to do."
That experience helped her decide her next steps after graduating from Chief T'Selehye School last year.
She plans on taking office administration at Aurora College's Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith in January.
In the meantime, she said she's busy learning all she can. She said being able to use computer programs like Microsoft Excel and having good communication skills are key to succeeding at the job.
"I'm gaining more experience with the office," she said.
While in high school, Tobac said one of her favourite subjects was math. She now uses those math skills at work.
"When I was working in finance, it helped me a lot," she said.
Good organizational skills are also vital when doing office work, Tobac added.
"I have to look at the dates and which company we're dealing with and organize them," she said. "I look at the numbers, write them down and put them in the file."
Tobac started the job on July 7 and said she plans to continue until her position ends around Aug. 7.
The money she's earning now will be put toward her education.
"Im going to try to save up money for school and I need all the money I can get," she said.
