A variety of opportunities could be found by women perusing the Baltimore Sun’s Help Wanted ads in September 1912. From feather making to factory work to traveling the world, some of these positions had height requirements, age requirements, even religious requirements:
LADY TRAVELING COMPANION, over 25, for foreign countries, by invalid gentleman; some nursing experience preferred.
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GIRLS WANTED TO LEARN MAKING FANCY FEATHERS. GOOD WAGES. QUICK ADVANCEMENT. NO MACHINES. ALSO EXPERIENCED HANDS ON FLOWERS AND FEATHERS. 514 E. LOMBARD ST. (fifth floor.)
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RELIABLE middle-aged WOMAN, German Protestant preferred; cooking and light housekeeping, for widower and son.
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WANTED — REFINED, INTELLIGENT YOUNG WOMEN, between the ages of 17 and 21, not under 5 ft. 4 in. tall, for TELEPHONE OPERATORS. Apply C. & P. TELEPHONE COMPANY, Room 51, 5 Light st., between 9 and 5.
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WANTED — To engage services of 39 OR MORE LADIES, to work in our Icing and Package Departments Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 6 until 8:30; prefer those in vicinity of our factory. MARYLAND BISCUIT CO.
Source: Baltimore Sun, September 22, 1912
Bygone Maryland 
Now why would a telephone operator have to be young and relatively tall?! Who was looking at them? Crazy!
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I wondered about that too. According to the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities: ” … a woman had to pass height, weight, and arm length tests to ensure that she could work in the tight quarters afforded switchboard operators. Operators had to sit with perfect posture for long hours in straight-backed chairs.” Mystery solved! Though that doesn’t explain why they had to be young. Read more here: http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=119
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