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Subject:Re: POV on Certification From:"Porrello, Leonard" <lcporrel -at- ESSVOTE -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 19 Nov 1998 12:47:00 -0600
Along these same lines is my recent experience with a contracting agency. Both of the project managers I worked with made it a point to tell me that they "had done a bit of writing." Next time I see a doctor, I think I'll tell him, "I've dissected a frog," and then I'll ask him to let me write my own prescription.
John is right on to suggest that a standard is needed to differentiate those with the will to practice our profession from those who merely want to dabble in something different from what they have done previously. Since technical writing really is much more simple and less critical (in most cases) than, say, medicine, as John suggests, the issue is really one of will. And unfortunately, from what I've seen in many user manuals, the will often seems lacking. I fear that many so called technical writers--no one on this list, of course!--would be put out work if even grammar certification (I can write grammatical sentences 90% of the time?) were required.
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From: jca18394[SMTP:jca18394 -at- GLAXOWELLCOME -dot- COM]
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 1998 12:21 PM
To: TECHWR-L; LCPORREL
Subject: POV on Certification
Colleagues -
I think that most of the opinions you've shared presuppose that the value of
certification is something to weigh along with other qualifications in an
interview or search process. I would like to offer another point of view.
I can't tell you how many times in the past 9 years, about the length of
time that I have been a Technical Communicator, that people who have no
earthly notion what it is I do, tell me that they are thinking of becoming a
Technical Writer. They are NOT interested in pursuing a degree, or if
possible, certification. They are merely thinking about changing jobs,
somewhat as if I suddenly decided, without any academic or professional
preparation, that I want to be a rocket scientist. Certification could lend
another level of professionalism to a profession that is seriously
undervalued, whether or not an interviewer might weigh it as an equal
against writing samples, for instance.
