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Re: Why they don't ask for candidates by technology skills.

Subject: Re: Why they don't ask for candidates by technology skills.
From: D <ddavis -at- theobvious -dot- zzn -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 08:45:45 -0500



</lurk><rant>
I find this attitude among tech writers and it drives me mad. "I know PageMaker, Visio, etc., therefore I am a technical writer."

Well, I know how to use a hammer and a saw but don't ask me to build you a house. Tools are merely tools. Understand what you are documenting, understand how to create useful documentation, understand how to structure information for readability; tools are so far down the list as to be almost inconsequential. If you're a good enough tech writer, I'll hire a "Graphic Designer" for a lot less salary to format the docs.
</rant><lurk>

John Posada wrote:

| What seems odd to me is that recruiters are so preoccupied with tools.
They
| say, "What have you got?", which translates to, "What tools do you know
how
| to use." More valuable questions might be, "Can you diagram a process from
| start to finish?" or "Can you develop a coherent paragraph on a topic?."
| And, as John Posada reflected, a question or two about familiarity
| technology might be useful.

Robert...it isn't only recruiters who are centered on the tool. I'm sure
everyone remembers the thread a couple of months ago involving drawing
flowcharts using ABC Flowcharter.

To many on the list...it was the ability to use ABC Flowcharter that took
priority to knowing how to draw flowcharts.

John Posada
Senior Technical Writer
john -at- tdandw -dot- com



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Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: Why they don't ask for candidates by technology skills.: From: Robert H. Strickland
Re: Why they don't ask for candidates by technology skills.: From: John Posada

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