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.
If you have the time, resources, and energy to commit to a degree, and if
the field interests you, I'd say go for it. You never know when that degree
may come in handy! A good degree program should help you build skills, such
as writing, editing, problem-solving, and a skills in your technical
specialty, that will help you in building your career. Many also offer
internships, which will give you some practical experience.
On other thing a good tech writing program should give you is a decent start
on a portfolio, especially if you're new to the field. It should also let
you try out new approaches, new ideas, and new media, not just teach you one
way to do things.
Degrees, like any other credentials, are things that tell you *something*
about the person who holds them, but they aren't the whole picture, and they
don't come with any guarantees. If I were a hiring manager, I'd look at the
degree, but I'd also look at the whole package that you bring to the party.
And as Tom Murrell points out, it does help if companies are hiring! But if
you can afford it, learning new things, especially when that learning leads
to a degree, can certainly help.
My $0.02.
Marguerite
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