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: Promotion (was RE: IT documentation From:Mailing List <mlist -at- ca -dot- rainbow -dot- com> To:'bryan johnson' <bryan -dot- johnson -at- motoman -dot- com>, TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 4 Mar 2004 11:07:51 -0500
bryan johnson [mailto:bryan -dot- johnson -at- motoman -dot- com]
> I made a lateral move from sr. technical writer to technical
> communications specialist with a sr. level above to move into.
What was the premise for creating that position out of
whole cloth?
How was it seen to benefit the company? What does the
technical communication specialist do that a technical
writer (senior) does not?
Hmmm. My salary is left over from my hiring time circa
1998 (the tech-bubble run-up), so it's actually slightly
high compared to what the market is offering today --
I've seen tech-writer positions for what looks like
lone-writer being advertised for twenty-to-thirty grand
less in this region.
If our HR person were to research what "technical
communication specialists" are getting, I might find
myself being scrutinized for the wrong reasons, mightn't I.
On the other hand, keeping my head down and being
careful is not a path to advancement.