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Re: Non-technical, Technical Writes - Vent on the Flip Side
Subject:Re: Non-technical, Technical Writes - Vent on the Flip Side From:John Gilger <JohnG -at- MIKOHN -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 7 May 1998 08:47:10 -0700
Carol,
You have hit another sore spot for TWs: morons in HR. Degrees don't
mean a whole lot in a profession where performance is the bottom line.
As to no title, it is socially acceptable to adjust your resume. If you
were writing documents that explained how to do something, call that job
tech writing. One of my best tech writing jobs had me labeled as a
planner/analyst. It is tech writer on my resume.
John Gilger
-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Anne Wall [mailto:mmpc0014 -at- PCLINK -dot- COM]
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 1998 4:30 PM
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Subject: Re: Non-technical, Technical Writes - Vent on the Flip Side
How about the flip side of the coin?
I can write online help, procedure manuals, technical documentation,
etc.
People rave about my work; it's detailed, accurate, and on-time! I even
have great rapport with programmers!!! (hee-hee!) But I can't break
into
"real" technical writing field because:
1) I'm lacking a degree in English or Technical Communication, and
2) I've never had the title "Technical Writer"
It doesn't matter that I have 10+ years of experience, and that
everything
I've learned I've done on my own. And it doesn't matter that I'm
looking
in Master's degree programs in Technical Communication and hope to
enroll
in 2000 when I have enough money saved up for the tuition.
We have an opening here in our Tech Writing department. I've created a
killer portfolio and a resume that highlights my talents. Heck, I even
won
a local award with one of the online systems I've developed for this
company. But I expect that I'll get rejected by HR because I don't have
the right degree (it's in Natural Science). I AM circumventing HR by
giving my materials directly to the supervisor of the area. But they
still
have to go through HR.
I keep plugging away, looking for an opportunity here at home. Hoping
someday I'll find a prospective employer who will look at my experience
and
skill, not my title or degree.
Thanks for letting me vent a bit!
Carol Anne
Carol Anne Wall
Marketing Systems Analyst
Minnesota Mutual Life - Individual Business Technology
St. Paul, MN USA
mmpc0014 -at- pclink -dot- com
