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RE: tool nonsense (gearing up to be a tech writer)
Subject:RE: tool nonsense (gearing up to be a tech writer) From:"Tracy Boyington" <tracy_boyington -at- okcareertech -dot- org> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 01 May 2001 11:18:55 -0500
But if you can't separate tools and knowledge, that means they should *both* carry some weight. Unfortunately, some companies will only consider hiring someone who has used a Craftsman hammer for 5 years, without realizing that someone who has used a Stanley hammer for 3 years can do the job equally well. Or they'll pass up the person who knows everything about carpentry except how to use the hammer in favor of someone who knows how to use the hammer but knows nothing else about carpentry.
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Tracy Boyington tracy_boyington -at- okcareertech -dot- org
Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education
Stillwater, OK http://www.okcareertech.org/cimc
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BUT (just keeping with the debate's structure), you can't do without the tools.
Bottom line: a carpenter would not find work if he only knows the theory of how to build a house, but couldn't use the paraphanelia of his craft. The same is true of technical writing: you have to know the tools; companies just can't allow on-the-job training (if you find one that will give you time, then you're lucky). They want measurable progress from the start.
To me, you can't separate the two; the craft comes from applying your knowledge through your tools. If you come to the job with a deficiency in either, the job is going to take a lot longer, be a lot more painful, and probably won't be anywhere near the quality it should be.
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