A production of the South Carolina Educational Television Network.

♪ Bill Terrell> Hi, and welcome to another session of the Job Man Caravan.

I'm Bill Terrell.

>> And I'm Adrian Hayes.

Bill, how was your vacation?

>> I had a great vacation.

The only thing of it is it did not last long enough.

Adrian> Well, you know the saying.

You know that saying I'm talking about.

>> Yeah.

Adrian> Okay.

All good things must come to an end at some point in time.

But be that as it may, what's on tap today for the Caravan?

Bill> Today on the Caravan.

We'll talk with a woman who quit a full time career to start her own tailoring business.

Adrian> Also we'll profile the job of a claims adjuster and talk with Miss Black America 1984, Lydia Garrett.

Bill> But first, if you're considering becoming a law enforcement career person but not necessarily interested in becoming a policeman, then you might want to consider the FBI.

Adrian> And don't forget, a little later we're going to hear from Kool and the Gang and a group of very talented young people.

Bill> The Federal Bureau of Investigation or the FBI, as it's most often called, is responsible for a large percentage of investigative matters concerning the safety and welfare of the United States.

From the local to the national level.

Frederick and Marion are agents of the Bureau.

Recently graduated from its training facility in Quantico, Virginia.

>> I think the general public just knows what they've see on television.

They really haven't had much contact with a real FBI agent.

And it's somewhat surprising when we do talk to people, they say, well, you don't look like an FBI agent, but I think all they've really seen in their perception is what they've seen on TV.

And it does.

I think, portray it a little bit more glamorous and, maybe a little bit more secretive and dangerous than it actually is.

Bill> There are a variety of jobs within the FBI, including science and technology clerical and language specialist.

But the position of special agent appears to have received the most notice by the public at large.

As the name implies, special agents have specialized talents that cover >>...a little of everything.

Basically investigating criminal matters, whether... sometimes state level every now and then, but mostly federal crimes, federal violations, Bill> Just like any other job, people are chosen based on qualifications.

>> Well, the best way to join the bureau right out of college is to right out of school is to, probably have a law degree or an accounting degree.

And they're are computer science majors, I think, that are in demand right now by the bureau.

But I came in under the, modified program whereby I had a business degree and three years work experience.

Lawyers and accountants are definitely in demand by the FBI.

Any basically college graduates, are accepted.

There are other various programs under the FBI.

Or by anybody within with a college degree can be accepted into the program.

I was, approached by an agent in Birmingham while working for GE.

And, I heard everything about it.

I seen from (indiscernible) Junior on TV and everything.

And I was working one day, and he came in looking for a guy and asked me a few questions, and I got to asking him a few questions, and one thing led to another, and before I knew it I was in training school.

Bill> But unlike many other jobs, being a special agent for the FBI requires round the clock dedication.

>> We are on a 24 hour availability, and at any time, I guess we could be called in, if there was something to come up that we had to be in the office immediately or be somewhere else immediately.

But normally I come in the morning and, go through the cases that are assigned to me and, and see if there are any things that need to be taken care of during the day.

And also during the day, I get even more mail that are associated with my case as I go and talk to people, interview people that may know where a fugitive is, or might know where a bank robbery is, or may have some information about another violation.

And we go out and talk to those people and spend a lot of time out of the office.

Of course, we always have to come back and write up everything we've talked to people about to go in our cases.

>> You have to know how to deal with everybody, the bank executive, the, governor or the mayor or even people, incarcerated, jail or what have you.

Talking to people is very important is one of the best things the FBI agents have going for them.

Bill> Before any agent begins work, he or she must take a battery of tests during a 15 week period.

Generally, this involves classroom instruction on investigative and arrest techniques, physical fitness, and firearms training.

Those who pass are accepted on a probationary basis as agents for one year at a starting salary in the mid 20s, depending on previous education and work experience.

You're watching the Job Man Caravan.

(Kool and the Gang: "Tonight") >> Finally, a rare comet will be visible tonight.

over most of the Western Hemisphere.

A brilliant ray of light will be here around midnight and will remain in the sky for 3 to 4 minutes.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Bill> Stay with us.

There's much more on the Job Man Caravan.

♪ >> Starting a business is a dream for many people.

However, it appears as if many of those businesses fail, particularly those owned and operated by blacks.

According to statistics, at least 50% of black owned and operated businesses fail within the first five years.

>> Despite those negative statistics given by Adrian.

We've got a success story for you on the Caravan.

We'd like for you to meet a lady who's been able to beat those odds.

Adrian> For over ten years, Janet Seals has been a full time tailor working out of her home.

She has managed to keep her small business going full steam ahead by hard work, dedication and exhibiting genuine concern for her clients.

She explains how she got started.

>> I had, three boys on a band and they enjoyed the clothes that I made them because I made clothes for them, especially tailored suits.

And so they needed someone to do their uniforms and so they kept telling me, oh, mother, you can't do it.

You know, that was a challenge.

And so it continued to grow.

And, it was just too much to handle, to work as a supervisor and maintain a family and do alterations to and do tailoring and everything.

So I decided to just go ahead full time.

I knew that I, I was capable of doing the work because this was a talent that God gave me.

And I've always known that if it's something that you're talented with, if you try, you can try with it.

And so then with my boys behind me telling me that it is impossible.

That was a great challenge.

I really, decided that I was going to show them that it could be done.

And I really enjoyed the first few years of tailoring just for men.

Adrian> Well, if you thought that being a tailor is not much different than being a seamstress, Seals begs to differ.

>> There's a...great difference because just a seamstress may make a dress or she is sew up a seam or something like that.

A tailor tailoring person is going to be a professional.

They know how to say it style, even design.

Sometimes we go may have sketches, sometimes we may not have anything to work with, accepting what a person comes in and say that they would like to have done.

But I also know that we must do the finishing touches on tailoring.

You just don't throw it together.

It may take longer, but then it is elegant, it's different and it's it is you.

It is tailored completely for each individual, not just like something off the rack.

It fits.

Adrian> Since small black owned and operated businesses have a high mortality rate, there are certain things anyone thinking about beginning their own business should contemplate.

Seals> I was told to borrow money, but I refused.

I felt that was the wrong way to do it.

I started small.

I still have a small business.

I started sewing in my home and I gradually decided to take my double garage, which is really large, and convert it into a tailoring shop.

Everything was done on cash basis.

I did not borrow any money at all.

It may take a little longer, but then it's you're a lot more secure that way.

So if business is slow, you won't be in a bind with the financial, you know, difficulties to.

And the best way to do that.

When business is good.

You save that money.

You put it to good use.

And then when business is slow, you are really maybe taking care of the necessities.

Adrian> As for maintaining your clientele.

>> I listened to all my customers.

I don't care how silly it may sound, or sometimes they will come in and they will tell me that they would like to have something done and they may not know exactly what they want.

I'm never in a hurry.

I work by appointment that way, I work one on one, and I'm not going to rush because after all, they are spending money and this helps a lot.

And it makes the customer relax and they enjoy coming here.

Adrian> So the personal touch is- Seals> Right.

It is very important.

Making a living in a cell phone business can be rewarding, but it can be even more rewarding when you're able to help your family.

Seals> I have three boys through college and I also have one in college now and we're doing fine.

Just the two of us is here now.

But, we have strived, we have struggled and I enjoy what I do.

I'm not saying that every day has been a bed of roses, or the business has been good all the time because, you know, businesses fluctuates according to the economy.

But when business is real bad, I always find something else to, maybe do alterations for some of the stores or something like that.

But I still do it here.

And this is a challenge, because a lot of times when business is slow, you will find that a lot of people will close a business and go to work for someone else.

But I'm not going to do that.

I have never done that.

I have no intentions of doing that.

Adrian> Don't touch that dial.

You're watching the Job Man Caravan.

♪ There goes another one.

My goodness.

Bill> Wow!

When disaster strikes, whether by accident or a natural disaster, qualified people are needed to assess the kinds of damages that take place so that they can properly compensate the victim.

Adrian> That's right.

And next up on the Job Man Caravan, We'll talk to someone who does just that.

A claims adjuster.

Adrian> Here's a scenario.

A tornado has touched down and has, obliterated several houses.

Person calls your company and says, okay, I'm I've have I have all this damage I need for someone to come in and advise me.

You take it from there.

What exactly do you do?

>> Most people at that particular time, the first thing that they need is shelter.

And I think the idea of an adjustor at that particular time is to actually calm the person down enough, settle them in, get them a place to stay and take over from there.

A lot of people won't know the contractors, the different people that they need to contact because they're not familiar with it.

Most people will let that adjuster who's there sell themselves to whoever is needed to do the work or do the job.

Primarily, First thing is to find shelter for them.

Second thing is to get started with the reconstruction of their property, is primary.

Other than that, most people will put them, put themselves in position to let that adjust, to take control of the claim when it gets to that point.

Bill> A certain type of personality is needed to be an effective claims adjuster, preferably someone who is patient and understanding, yet is professional enough to get the job done.

>> Have to take time and it's a real it's a job that you have to have a lot of patience with.

And more or less, you have to deal with every type of people.

And when you find that you're dealing with different type people, your attitude has to shift.

Some people, you may have to baby them, some you can go in and tell them, this is what we're going to do, and this is how we're going to work.

And some of them you just have to sit there days trying to figure out what to do with them to make this person happy.

So it's a job that you just have to be patient with and when you're talking about people and people's money, they're paying you your salary in a sense, and you just have to adapt to whoever you're talking with at that particular time.

Bill> A good, sound, educational background is needed.

If not, a lot of practical work experience can be of great help.

>> I would hate to say it in the sense that I'm rare, but I was experienced with some of the things that, I am now involved in because I knew basic like construction for houses.

I knew automobiles when I came to the company that I'm with, and being is that I was I consider myself more of an asset to the company when I first entered the door, instead of a liability.

My background entailed a vocational training in automobiles and also construction.

That gave me an advantage, because if you're looking at property line claims, you're looking at homeowners primarily.

If you're looking at automobiles, you're looking at strictly automobiles.

They repair the functions and things of that nature.

And that gave me an, better opportunity to come into the company because I had the background, basically an individual would should have it's more desirable for companies for them to have a college degree.

And from there, the companies normally will send you to school.

There's two tests that you would have to take, and those two tests would be given by the, Insurance Commission, South Carolina.

You have to be qualified to know certain things about the law and primary.

That's one of the things that you're going to have to know.

You would have normally a weeks or two weeks study a book, which is probably about 180 pages that you're going to have to study, and you're going to have to answer those questions.

And, after you've done that, pass those exams, then the company normally would give you a raise.

It's automatic because you're out of training status.

The job is not an 8 to 5 job.

I would tell anybody that the job may be some days from 8:00 to let's say, 9:00 at night, and you have to do paperwork, but at the same time, the same job may run from eight that morning until maybe three that day.

So it's just that person have to be oriented enough to organize himself, to put their things in perspective, where as they can come in and just get the job done.

That's primarily what it is.

But as far as for advancement, you can go anywhere you want to.

Bill> In claims adjusting, there are basically two employment options working for an insurance carrier or as an independent.

Both can be lucrative and involve some travel.

Starting salaries are about $12,000 a year.

The Job Man Caravan continues.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Bill> The Job Man Caravan continues.

Adrian> You know many little girls at one time or another wanted to grow up to be beauty queens.

Bill> Well, how many I don't know, but we're on the campus of C.A.

Johnson High School, where one young lady had a great aspiration, and that has been met.

That's right.

And the Job Man Caravan spoke with her.

She's Lydia Garrett, Miss Black America 1984.

>> Winning the 1984 Miss Black America pageant, probably was not a very easy thing to do.

It took a lot of time and effort.

How did you accomplish this?

>> All my life, I wanted to go to the Miss Black America pageant, and it sounds weird I say to people that it was almost a go, same as going to college.

I entered pageants when I was a teenager and Little Miss Black Columbia, Miss Black Teen, all high school college pageants, anything to get the experience to go to the Miss Black America.

And the main reason I did that was because I always had a dream.

You know how when you're a kid, every girl wants to be Miss America.

But, during that time, blacks just didn't have a fair chance in the Miss America pageant.

So...(indiscernible) came up with in this Black America pageant.

And I noticed it when I was like, maybe 14, so or maybe even younger.

And I just always wanted to go.

And I'd been on the road to the Miss Black America pageant so many times and detoured.

And finally, this year they mailed me an application because I was like third runner up to Miss South Carolina.

And what he decided to do was to let the runner ups come as contestants at large.

Meaning you can come in, but you have to raise your own money, you know?

And but you do have a fair chance.

And I almost think that this is a first year contestant advantage won the pageant.

Adrian> Is the Miss Black America pageant a valid pageant today?

>> Yes, I think so.

I think it's very important to black women, to youngsters.

As a whole, because Vanessa Williams won Miss America, people think that there is not a need for a Miss Black America.

I think there is a need, just as there is a need for a Hispanic or whatever.

This is a multi-racial, you know, world.

We have different races in.

In the past, blacks have not been treated fairly, and I think that, first of all, it's so expensive to be in a Miss America pageant until it's almost ridiculous.

It's almost unreal to find sponsors.

And secondly, when you think about the local pageant that leads up to the Miss America, you know, you really don't have that much of a chance because you have these girls who their parents are rich and they have the money to buy, you know, their sponsorship into the pageant.

Adrian> What kinds of monies are we talking about here?

>> For an example, the Miss Black America pageant I had to raise, I would say like a total of maybe $600 or $700, whereas the Miss America pageant, I can't quote the amount but I, I'm almost sure from talking to a few girls that have been in the pageant that it was, gosh, that was chicken change compared to what we had to pay.

It gives black women a platform, a chance to show their talent and their creative ability and that type of thing.

Adrian> Most of the time people see pageants, they see the finished product on television.

They don't see the work that goes into the finished product.

How much was involved in getting from point A to point C?

>> I'm glad you brought that up because when I watched the Miss Black America pageant, all I saw was the glitter.

And being that I'm into television, or I want to be in a television.

And I know some of the things that go on behind the set.

I realized that it would be hard work, but when I got there, a lot of the girls were discouraged because the fact that we had to get up at 6:00 in the morning, we were on the set at seven, sometimes 830.

We did not do the actual videotaping until 6 or 7 at night, and the girls were real tired and they thought, why do we have to be up this late?

And they didn't really realize the hard work that it took, hours and hours of videotaping and smiling.

Adrian> You mentioned very briefly Vanessa Williams, and I'm sure that you have been asked about this incident many times, but in your opinion, do you think she should have relinquished her crown?

I don't know, I really don't really want to comment on Vanessa Williams and her crown, but I'll say this... when you're considered a queen or when you considered, you know, you representing women, you want to do wholesome things and you want to be quote unquote.

You always have to be lily white.

You know what I mean?

And you want to be the All-American girl, and you want to be an example.

You want to set a good example for young people.

People look up to Miss America and they look up to Miss black America, and I think you should watch the things that you do in your life and you should realize it.

You know, what you do just might come out in the dark.

Adrian> How do your parents and your family and your friends feel about your success?

>> I don't think they're really surprised at anything that I do because I'm the daring type.

I try something that the impossible.

I'll try it.

If they say Lydia, you can't do that.

What are you doing?

I can do it.

And they know that about me.

And I think that they really, really.

They were not.

They were.

I was more surprised that I won than they were.

They were like "We didn't you could do it."

I was like, yeah, you didn't see the competition, but, I think they love it.

My mother, I have not seen my mother this happy in such a long time, and it means more to me than almost having a crown.

♪ Adrian> Well, it looks as if your vacation did not take away the Terrell touch for this program.

Bill> Wow.

Thank you very much.

You made it quite easy, I must admit, for me to get back in the swing of things right here on the Caravan.

>> I'm Adrian Hayes.

>> And I'm Bill Terrell on behalf of the staff of the Caravan until next week, thanking you for joining us.