Re: Typing Requirement in a Tech Writing Ad - How to respond?

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techpubs -at- genek -dot- com>]

The phrase "glorified secretary" comes to mind.  

Most tech writers I know (including myself) are pretty poor 
typists, because we tend to compose (and review, and revise) at 
our keyboards rather than write manuscripts with a #2 pencil, 
scribble on them and then key them in as we did back in the "olden 
days" of the 1980's when we all had to sign up for computer time in 
blocks of 30 minutes.  I think this workflow is one reason why in all 
the years I've been doing this I've yet to encounter a tech writer with 
a repetitive stress problem; we don't spend all that much time just 
hammering away at a kb.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Rose -dot- Wilcox -at- pinnaclewest -dot- com>

But it's mainly because I am not sure how to cover that requirement.  I
am assuming they are asking for speed because the writer is going to be
doing a lot of interviewing and maybe having a good speed will help with
note taking during interviews.  However, the ad doesn't really make it
clear *why* they want the speed.  I also am not sure I want to confess
how long it has been since I have been tested, and truly, my numbers may
be the vague misremembering of the middle aged.



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