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Subject:Re: tech pubs under marketing From:Cyndy Davis <kivrin -at- ZDNETMAIL -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 28 Aug 1998 12:29:41 -0700
While I can understand some apprehension at this merger, I hesitate to tell you offhandly to do whatever you can to keep things as they are and look for a new job.
My advice:
At my current job I am in department entitled Communication underneath the Applications Development department. I do technical writing and marketing items. I even design the CD covers, brochures, training material, write the technical specifications for new products, and do all webmaster work. Based on the fact that you are in a small department (1), your company may be wanting to merge a related small department to consolidate management and budgeting tasks.
You comment that you don't like doing PR/Ad stuff. My question is are you certain that you will be doing that, or is just the title of your department changing? Obviously someone will need to write the user manuals and do usability testing.
My approach would be to write a concerned letter about the merger, including a written description of your job. State that you like your job, like your responsibilites and want reassurance that your job is not changing. Propose a possible sharing of management duties between the marketing assistant and yourself. I do question putting the marketing assitant in charge of a senior tech wriic.com