Well, I guess I can kind of see both sides. I've been a tech writer at
my company for a year and a half, and it is frustrating when others
assume that if you can type and spell
(or *not* spell..."hey, that's what spell-check is for, right?") then
you're fully qualified to be a tech writer.
But it is hard to break out of the "admin" mold. I don't have a degree
in English, but I have a BA in Psychology. I majored in Psych because
I thought the classes were really quite interesting, not having a
specific career goal in mind. After college, I started temping, and
ended up in an admin/customer service role at a manufacturing company.
Among other things, I wrote work instructions and the like for my
department, learned PageMaker and became an expert at Word. Two
acquisitions, two office moves and 2 years later, the tech writer
position here opened up, and I applied.
I think my former boss went to bat for me, as they moved the position
out of the marketing department and into the Engineering Services
department (where I was already), and here I am. I've since taken
classes in Frame and a Tech Writing course through University of IL at
Chicago, and I find I have an affinity for the job.
Moral of my story, I guess, is that it's not a bad thing to think
outside the box, hiring-wise, but yes, it is hard to effectively weed
out the unqualified while finding the right person for the job.
-Lise
On 5/15/07, Rene Stephenson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I have had secretaries apply for tech writer openings in my group. Internal candidates always get phone screening, so
I'd have to call them. I always asked what they felt were their qualifications, and they all responded that they had
"good English" and were experts with MS Word. They wrote lots of corresondence and updated their draft
letters with the "edits" from their bosses, so they "knew" how to handle document review. We had to
start posting BA or higher in English or directly relevant field as a minimal requirement with no
"equivalency" allowed.
Rene
Keith Smyth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
As in "So easy a Caveman could do it"?
I am sure all of us have had the experience of someone totally clueless
thinking all we do is type. Had a gal at one of our square dances from
our church in 1983 tell me that while she is a store clerk, she is going to
become a tech writer, "because if you can do it, anyone can do it".
And she went to an interview. Never heard from her again.
>You think that's insulting? When we had a req open for another tech
>writer in January, we had people from our shipping department and the
>warehouse coming to us and asking us if they could apply for the job. As
>if Tech Writing was so easy, someone with shipping or warehouse
>experience could do it.
>
>
>Thank you,
>
> -Gillian
--
Keith L. Smyth
President
Smyth Consulting
-------------------------------------------------------------
Religion was in charge during the dark ages.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Technical Documentation Consultant
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Rene L. Stephenson
eNovative Solutions, Inc.
Business Phone: 678-513-0051
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