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: Career Longevity From:"Cobb, Bryan K (B.K.)" <bkcobb -at- HSV26 -dot- PCMAIL -dot- INGR -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 4 May 1995 11:42:00 CDT
>In article <199504102329 -dot- TAA25596 -at- pace1 -dot- cts -dot- mtu -dot- edu>, "Shelly M. LaRock"
<smlarock -at- mtu -dot- edu> wrote:
>read a posting by someone saying that it's rare for
>a tech writer to stay at a job for more than 2 or 3 years.
>Is this true???
I worked for AT&T Bell Labs for 7 years, then moved to my current position
at Intergraph Corporation 5 years ago. I'm was a manager for my last 2
years at AT&T, and have been a manager during my entire stay at Intergraph.
I maintain contact with writers and managers at my former job, and many of
them have now been with AT&T for 3 to 6 years. Some members of my
department at Intergraph have been in it longer than I have; others have
been here only a couple of years.
Generalizing about career longevity is deceptive. Whether you stay at a
tech writing job depends on a number of factors -- how well you do, whether
you like what you do, whether you stay challenged, if you grow in the job,
if the company you work for facilitates your longevity (by staying in
business, or by ensuring the stabilty and growth of your organization), and
so on.
Bryan Cobb
System Software Documentation
Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville Alabama
