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And when there are 15 to 100 people applying for the same job you are,
perhaps anything that sets you off from the other resumes is useful? Alone,
it's probably not enough to get you hired, but maybe you can short list with
it.
I've been on both sides of this discussion for years. I think the way STC is
doing certification is probably the best way, if you want certification in
our field. As a potential employer (fictively), I think there is value -
someone else has vetted this person as knowing their stuff. That may help
with the pile of resumes in front of me.
>From what I have seen of the STC plan, I think it's a good one that's not
going to be driven by academics. It's a specific body of work plan, reviewed
by people with experience in our field and most important, specific
experience in the area being reviewed.
So for example, if I were a reviewer, I would be good for online help and
user docs. I would not be good for P&P stuff, as I don't do that. It's just
not where my talents naturally fall so I've avoided it. Ray Urgo would be
fab at it, as he's brilliant in that area.
No one is forcing anyone to get certified. It's voluntary but I think in
this wretched economy, it might be a good idea to consider.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+sharon=anthrobytes -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+sharon=anthrobytes -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Dan Goldstein
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 7:48 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Certification: Ernest and Scribbler
Here on TECHWR-L, people often confuse a "certificate" with
"certification." The former indicates that the bearer has successfully
completed a course of study; the latter indicates that the bearer is
qualified to practice.
Depending on where it was granted, a certificate can be useful for the
employer and the job candidate. But in the context of tech writing,
certification is, at best, a foolish mistake.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony Chung
> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 6:14 PM
> To: TECHWR-L Writing
> Subject: Re: Certification: Ernest and Scribbler
>
> Personally, I think anyone who can put up with the antics of
> STC without cringing should be certified. At least
> "certifiable". The pros of certification are that it's
> portfolio-based and, I hope, will provide a form of academic
> credential that could be accepted in workplaces that value
> paper over practice.
>
> The cons of certification are that the pioneers behind this
> movement appear to be of the camp that values paper over
> practice, so the initial categories for certification may be
> skewed in that direction.
>
> If we are to gain any value at all from certification, then
> the practical camp need to drive this process, rather than
> reject the idea outright as another money grab. Of course it
> may very well be that, but it doesn't have to be. What
> happens to projects that win STC awards, would those project
> qualify for certification?
>
> For the past two years I've been trying to come up with a
> project to complete my Tech Writing certificate, but it's
> been difficult to get a signed commitment from the department
> as to what I can do to fulfill the requirements of the few
> courses I refuse to take due to their lack of practical
> value. I don't want to just forego the certificate because I
> already applied a lot of work toward the courses that I don't
> want to lose it.
>
> The school seems to be in agreement to the idea, and I and am
> still discussing the idea with the department head. I haven't
> given up hope.
>
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