RE: Certification -- what's in it for writers

["Porrello, Leonard" <lporrello -at- illumina -dot- com>]

I would feel sorry for the recruiter who uses "certification" to exclusion of all other criteria. But tell me, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "very unlikely" and 10 being "certain," how probably would you suppose your scenario to be?


-----Original Message-----
From: Lynne Wright [mailto:Lynne -dot- Wright -at- tiburoninc -dot- com] 
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 9:08 AM
To: Porrello, Leonard; 'Kari Gulbrandsen'; Jerry Franklin
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Certification -- what's in it for writers

< I don't think that having "certification" vs. "certificate" on my resume will make any difference whatsoever.>

It will, if a recruiter is using electronic screening, and any cv that doesn't include "STC certification" is filtered out as a possible candidate.

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=tiburoninc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=tiburoninc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Porrello, Leonard
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 11:40 AM
To: 'Kari Gulbrandsen'; Jerry Franklin
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Certification -- what's in it for writers

Kari said: "By the way, I do have a certificate in tech writing -- but I gather from the discussion, that because it's from a university, it's not a valid measure of my ability, because it's not a "real-world" certificate."

There is an old saying that goes something like, "Never ask a horse dealer advice about a horse that you want to buy." (I'd be grateful if someone could identify the source for me.) Along these lines, the thing to remember is that those selling certification have a vested interested in devaluing certificates. While certification may improve the profession and may result in higher wages for writers, the primary reason for the program is to make money for the STC. (Now don't get me wrong; I have absolutely no problem with this and I do not think, by any means, that the profit motive devalues the STC or the other benefits that certification may bring. If the STC can continue to prove itself valuable and relevant, I hope they succeed wonderfully. A strong, well managed, prudent STC can only help our profession.)

Granted the relative obscurity of the STC, I find it difficult to believe that their certification will stand me in better stead than a certificate from a well-known and respected university. And perhaps more to the point, after 15 years of very successful experience and a portfolio of beautiful samples, I don't think that having "certification" vs. "certificate" on my resume will make any difference whatsoever.
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