Re: Purpose Driven Technical Writing

[sburnf -at- au1 -dot- ibm -dot- com]

No TW can claim to be unique without knowing the skills and
experience of every other TW on the planet. But let's concede
the point that you have unique skills as a DFDing-TWer.
Are unique skills paramount to an interviewer?


OK, we've advertised again and you made the shortlist.

"Tony, we use the Plato Certified Extremely Agile Docs 
Methodology here. Can you work with that?"

"Stuart, I have extensive expertise utilizing rigorous 
end-user task analysis techniques - Data Flow Diagrams - 
to design end-user friendly documentation."

"That's great, Tony, but we use PCEADM here. Have you come
across it, or something similar? If necessary we would 
provide training."

"I have extensive expertise utilizing Data Flow Diagrams.
My own work experiences and discussions with hundreds of 
other TWs clearly indicate that I truely am unique in this
regard."

Well, we don't need someone unique. We really just want 
someone who has the right skills and can work with our team
to produce quality docs."

"I utilize DFDs to design end-user friendly documentation."

"Good, did you bring any samples?"

"No. You don't need to see the documentation. I utilize
rigorous end-user task analysis techniques. Therefore the
result is user-friendly. What's important isn't the end
result--it's the process you use to get it."

"But I need to verify somehow that your work is as impressive
as you stated in your application--samples, references,
something like that."

"Stuart, I truely am unique in having extensive expertise 
utilizing..."

"Sigh. [buzzes intercom] Joanne, send in the guy with the
unique experience utilizing VBA macros in Word."

[curtain falls]

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