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Subject:Lone Writers at Large Companies From:"Karin Heroux" <karinh -at- cqs -dot- co -dot- za> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 12 Apr 2002 10:04:18 +0200
I don't exactly work at a large company, but the general reaction in South Africa, when I mention that I am a technical writer, is "Huh?! You do What?! What's that?!"
I used to be a programmer, but when I went job hunting again, someone approached me with a Tech writer position. I didn't know at that point what it was or that such a job existed. It is still very obscure, but I am so glad that I finally found a job where I can combine my love for English with my interest in computers.
Technical writing is a relatively new field here and most of us had to learn the hard way (sitting glued to the chair, pecking away like mad) what we were supposed to do. Very few standards exist here and most of the information I have today, I gleaned off the net from sites like this one. Currently it hardly involves more than writing help, user manuals and training manuals for software companies, mostly involving financial packages. I had to barge my way into other areas to expand my skills, e.g. web design - bashed out a few attempts at a personal page and then volunteered to do the staff intranet, and so on...This enables me to now venture into HTML help and all the other new technologies that I have been dying to try out.
The general reaction here is still one of "oh, she is into languages and that cannot be really difficult so she is probably not so clever, etc. I only gained some respect with the programmers when they realised I used to program in Assembler and that I actualy understand most of what they do.
I currently work at a smallish company that never had a technical writer before, which is lovely. I can define standards, research best practices and learn a host of new skills without vultures hanging over my shoulder to tell me what I can or cannot do.
The sad bit is that my job is seen as non-revenue generating and therefor not important in the greater scheme of life. I can easily walk into the support department and do what they do (after all I know the packages better than they do in the light of what I do), but they cannot walk into my job and do what I do. And yet they get paid double what I do. The fact that in a sense we are specialists is not taken into account when salaries are structured. SIGH!
Karin Heroux
Technical Writer
CQS Technology Holdings (Pty) Ltd
PO BOX 598, Parklands, 2121, South Africa
Tel: + 27 11 507-0042
Fax: + 27 11 507-0001
Cell: 0824272025
Email:karinh -at- cqs -dot- co -dot- za
Website: http://www.cqs.co.za <http://www.cqs.co.za>
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