TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: What is the value of Tech Comm Masters? From:"Brautigam, Curtis" <cubrautiga -at- state -dot- pa -dot- us> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 9 Oct 2003 12:18:12 -0400
With the job market in technical communications being the way it is, I believe that the money invested in a technical communications master's degree would be better spent acquiring the technical skills necessary to understand the products about which we are writing. If I had the money, I would bone up on the technical skills that are in big demand such as databases or Internet security rather than putting more letters next to my name just to impress employers. In the final analysis, employers are more interested in whether one can do the job, not the number of degrees. I happen to have a Ph.D., but employers are more interested in whether I can do the work that they require, Ph.D. or no Ph.D. If I don't fully understand what I am writing about, I will not be able to do my job effectively. I feel that too much of the TECHWR-L discussion revolves around education and tools, and not enough about trying to learn more about the products that we are documenting.
I would only pursue advanced technical communications degrees if I was interested in teaching technical communications at an educational institution or pursuing in-depth research about technical communications theory. Good luck--the academic job market is even worse than the technical communications job market.
Chaim Brautigam
Descriptive Statistician 1
Center for Workforce Information
PA Department of Labor and Industry
cubrautiga -at- state -dot- pa -dot- us
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