RE: Why are companies now requiring techical writer candidates to be SMEs?

["Lisa Wright" <liwright -at- earthlink -dot- net>]

Chuck,
Are you saying that a programmer's use of a programming language is
parallel to a technical writer's use of English? And that because
programmers are often not required to have experience in a given
business domain, technical writers shouldn't be either?

Just trying to be sure I understand your point before I decide whether I
disagree...

Lisa 

-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-53104 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-53104 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com] On Behalf Of Chuck
Martin
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003 5:36 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Why are companies now requiring techical writer candidates
to be SMEs?




"Lisa Wright" <liwright -at- earthlink -dot- net> wrote in message
news:195074 -at- techwr-l -dot-  -dot-  -dot-  <snip>
> If you look at ads for product managers, business analysts, and other 
> areas, you will see similar demands for relevant experience. I don't 
> think QA and programmers fall quite in the same bucket, unless perhaps

> they're more senior or more independent and need to solve specific 
> business problems.
>

I don't think I completely agree. When Microsoft is hiring programmers
for its Office team, do they want people who have programmed Office-type
applications before, or do they want the best C++ (or whatever language
Office is programmed in these days) programmers. From what I've heard of
their interviews, it's the latter.

Ads for programmers list X number of years of experience in C++, or
Java, or SQL, etc., plus sometimes experience in technologies such as
client/server, TCP/IP, etc., but not X number of years experience using
Microsoft Visual Studio or Oracle Developer. It's the capability to use
the language, and use the language well, that results in greatest
productivity, and ultimately success in reaching business goals.


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