RE: Looking for advice -- up to the job?

["Rebecca Hopkins" <rhopkins -at- iconverse -dot- com>]

Dear Anonymous,

Not every company in the world is looking to hire Bill Gates. If they were,
I'd be out of a job as well.

Small companies often look for people who can do a little of everything.
Sounds like you could write custom programs, doc them, train everybody, and
keep the things running.

Some companies still value committment. My husband works for a non-profit.
They hired him before he finished his degree because he looked like somebody
who could fit in and would stay for a while. He's been there five years,
although with the degree and experience, he could get something that pays
better. But he probably wouldn't get four weeks vacation (lots for the US)
and unlimited sick time. And he _likes_ working there.

Universities are often interested in committment. Students and faculty come
and go, and money is often lacking for fancy software to track assets.
Somebody with institutional memory and knowledge has leverage.

Of course, the pay tends to be lousy, but there are other things in life.
University workers often work shortened hours in the summer, for instance.

I don't know how you go about finding one of these jobs. But of course, the
first thing to do is keep that stiff upper lip. You may sometimes feel like
an ugly ducking - you just need to find that flock of swans.

On the other hand, you could chuck it all and start over.

On fine summer days, I often wish I hadn't chained myself to a desk. The
chains to your desk have been broken. This might be opportunity knocking.

Get yourself a copy of "What Color is my Parachute," and maybe a career
counselor, and see if there is something completely different that you could
do.

But in the meantime, keep you eyes open for those swans.
-----
Rebecca Hopkins
iConverse



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Save $600: Create great-looking Help files and software demos with
RoboHelp Deluxe. Get RoboHelp and RoboDemo - our new demo software - for one
low price. OR Save $100 on RoboHelp Office in June with our mail-in rebate.
Go to http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

  Your monthly sponsorship message here reaches more than
  5000 technical writers, providing 2,500,000+ monthly impressions.
  Contact Eric (ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com) for details and availability.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.