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RE: STC certification: what's in it for tech writers?
Subject:RE: STC certification: what's in it for tech writers? From:"Connie Giordano" <connie -at- therightwords -dot- com> To:<mbaker -at- analecta -dot- com>, "'Steven Jong'" <stevefjong -at- comcast -dot- net> Date:Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:57:03 -0400
I don't think that's Steve was saying. I've been in this business for about
the same length of time, but I am not any level of Fellow with the STC. I
might be on the edge of the target demographic, because I do have years of
experience, a relevant degree and a massive portfolio. However, I'm a
senior level practitioner who has decided becoming a technical
communications media mogul and consultant is a much bigger rush than trying
to get promoted in the corporate battlefield.
The demographic seems to be mid-career folks -- they have experience and
competence, but often get stalled, and might feel that certification would
make them stand out in a very crowded field. When I was mid-career in PR,
that's how I felt, and the reason I went for accreditation in PR (which has
to have as many tools and domains as tech comm, and they've managed to put
together a strong program that's been around for at least 30 years).
Regards,
Connie Giordano
The Right Words, LLC
INKtopia Limited/TechWhirl.com
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+connie=therightwordz -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+connie=therightwordz -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of mbaker -at- analecta -dot- com
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 1:29 PM
To: Steven Jong
Cc: TECHWR-L Digest
Subject: Re: STC certification: what's in it for tech writers?
So basically what you are saying is that you were only able to create a
certification for experience and competence in technical communication when
you stopped listening to the people with experience and competence in
technical communication.
> We're not the target demographic.
>
> Of all the surveys STC ever took on the question of certification, the
> only one that didn't show majority support was a survey of fellows and
> associate fellows. In my opinion, one of the reasons certification was
> stalled for so many years is that the leadership, which was then (as
> now) heavily represented by such senior practitioners, didn't see the
> value of certification for themselves.
>
> In a sense, we only made progress when we stopped listening to folks
> like you (and me) 8^)
>
> -- Steve (Associate Fellow)
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