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Alumni Career Feature – Kathy Reidell Koch

We feature alumni with interesting careers from a variety of career areas. To find out more about the alumnus profession contact them via the e-mail provided. Or if you are interested in being featured, e-mail us at alumni@pct.edu.

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Kathy Reidell Koch

• A.A.S., Secretarial - Legal, 1987
• Senate of Pennsylvania, Sen. Roger Madigan
• Employeer's Web site

How did you choose your present career? Please explain how you decided to major in your area of study during college.

Law interested me. I knew I did not have the resources to go four years to college and then to law school to be an attorney. I thought if I became a legal secretary I could eventually become a paralegal and work in that capacity.

What advice do you have to offer to a student who is struggling with identification of a major/career field in college?

Volunteer in as many areas as you can to become exposed to a variety of things to see what you like best. You may not know what you like or don't like until you see what a job or career is really about. Go by your interests when you decide on a career.

How were you hired at your present position?

The Senator went to Dr. Breuder (former president of the college) and the Williamsport School of Commerce. He asked that a few legal secretary students be sent to him for consideration. I was one of the students selected to continue the application process. I was interviewed twice and then was hired as a clerk/typist. I am now a Legislative Assistant. I research legislation for the Senator's constituents. I think it is fascinating to see how laws are made.

What positions did you hold before this one?

I started as a clerk/typist and continued to advance through the positions within the non-civil service system. I moved to the legislative position so I could handle presentations and out-of-the office meetings as well as other duties.

What would you tell a Penn College graduating student about your career field?

You need to know how to deal with people - sometimes irate people. Your daily duties can vary from providing someone with information on legislation to helping someone with an insurance problem. You need to know the duties of each state department. You must be a problem solver. Critical thinking skills are very important.

What was the most significant thing you learned on the job during your first year?

How to handle people. How to be diplomatic in your responses especially if it is a situation where you cannot help the person who has approached the Senator's staff with a problem.

What was most difficult about your transition to the world of work?

Building my wardrobe. In college, I was a jeans & sneakers person but I needed dresses and suits for this job. I struggled to get my professional wardrobe built.

What was the greatest strength of your Penn College/Williamsport Area Community College education? (What did you learn at Penn College that helped you a great deal in your career?)

When I first started, I relied on what I learned in my classes regarding letter writing and formatting. My knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and spelling is still used daily.

What should students in your field do to prepare themselves for their career?

You need good grammar skills and must learn not to write the way you speak. Take some business law courses.

What do you find the most enjoyable about your career field and your present position?

Being able to help people. No matter what they call for, it is nice to hear people say "thank you for taking the time to help me." When a person comes to the Senator's office, he is usually at the end of his rope. This can also be the worst part of the job if you cannot help them.

How do you see your field changing in the next 3-5 years? Will this change require you to obtain additional training?

The technology for receiving information continues to grow. We receive a lot more correspondence via e-mail. I can access legislative bills via the intranet. You need to keep up with computer skills.

What are your plans for the future? Where do you see yourself in 3 years?

I would like to stay in this field. This job is so varied. I thrive on the challenges of trying to solve a problem. I would not want a position where I was hearing the same problems day after day.

If you could redo your college experience, how/would you prepare differently to enter the workplace?

Definitely the wardrobe. I would begin building my wardrobe earlier. I would not change anything else. I had a smooth transition from college to work.

From your perspective, what are three to five needed skills that your employer was seeking in a new employee?

Computer, letter writing, telephone, and communication skills - this is a people business and we communicate with people daily.