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: Experience VS Ability From:"Tamminga, Ernie" <et -at- DSC -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 12 Jun 1997 07:48:49 -0700
I agree with this view.
When we're recruiting for a writer or InfoEngineer position, we'll hire
the person with more solid experience in the tools we use, ALL OTHER
THINGS BEING EQUAL between such a candidate and another. But all other
things are rarely really equal.
Top criteria are ability to understand highly technical material that
comes from our software or hardware engineering staff, and to translate
that material into customer-oriented information. Our customer-oriented
information gets "published" in many media, from online help to
electronic manuals to hardcopy books -- so expertise with the
development tools is at the top of the "secondary" criteria. If someone
is especially strong in the "top top" criteria but doesn't already know
our specific tools, then evidence of ability quickly to LEARN
development tools and master their nuances, certainly counts.
--------
Ernie Tamminga
Director, InfoEngineering
Digital Sound Corporation
-----------------------------------------------
Opinions expressed are my own, and not necessarily those of Digital
Sound Corporation
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Nora Merhar [SMTP:nmerhar -at- CHASIND -dot- COM]
>Sent: Thursday, June 12, 1997 6:36 AM
>To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
>Subject: Re: Experience VS Ability
>
><<snip>>
> In some cases, I'm sure people ARE hired, at least in part, because of
>the software they know. The attitude of my managers (in my limited job
>experience), though, has been "Here's a software package--go learn it
>and do this project!" or even better (I love this) "Go find yourself a
>software package, learn it, and do this project!"
>
>Seems to me that a TW who can do the above would be more valuable to
>most companies than someone with a long list of SW to their credit and
>no flexibility.
>
>Nora
>nmerhar -at- chasind -dot- com
>
>p.s. For the record, my undergraduate degree was in English, and my
>
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
