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Re: What constitutes a senior tech writer and how to get there?
Subject:Re: What constitutes a senior tech writer and how to get there? From:Chris Hamilton <caxdj -at- EARTHLINK -dot- NET> Date:Fri, 30 Jul 1999 13:52:49 -0400
Bill Burns wrote:
>
> The manager's responsibility was to train and mentor the writer. Fair
> enough. The manager is culpable for not fulfilling his or her
> responsibility--as long as he or she didn't provide alternative training
> opportunities. The manager may also be culpable for not providing leadership to an entry-level employee. If these were the promised conditions, then the manager made some errors.
All of this is true, but so what? You can't control how your manager
will behave. If your manager ignores you, then you have an obligation to
yourself to do the best you can under the circumstances. You have to
pester people for work, suggestions, information, and whatever else you
need. If you get tossed in the middle of the tempest to sink or swim,
it's very likely unfair, but it's also reality. Should've beens are for
later. By having reality bite now, you might wind up being a world-class
swimmer.
As for the senior technical writer thing, you're a senior tech writer
when they tell you you are. If there's a job description, there's
something measurable to shoot at. If not, ask them for a specific set of
measurable items so you know what you need to do.
Chris
--
Chris Hamilton
Technical Writer
Tampa, FL
caxdj -at- earthlink -dot- net