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: The 4-month itch [WAS: Coping strategies] From:JIMCHEVAL -at- AOL -dot- COM Date:Thu, 3 Sep 1998 14:36:46 EDT
In a message dated 9/3/98 10:53:57 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
smiller -at- PORTAL -dot- COM writes:
<< I think you're unusual; people who up and leave after a few months are not
common. Maybe because they don't get hired, and with good reason. I
mean, it takes months to get up to speed on your tools, processes, and
the stuff you're documenting. >>
Well, sort of.
My project here was SUPPOSED to be three months (I'm in my fourth.) It
depends a lot on what you're doing - by the end of the first month I'd already
created more documentation than this place had ever had.
As a consultant who's also an actor, I'm forever looking for short projects.
And I do find them - but then they get extended (by which time I've usually
seduced the client into letting me work my own eccentric, free-form way, so
it's not quite as oppressive as it could be.)
As far as the tools go, well, that's why they hired me - I already know them.
And I've seen similar processes in a number of other shops. Experience=speed.
But, then, that's why they keep me on too.
Basically, there's lots of room out there for lots of styles.