Re: techwr-l digest: July 09, 2005

Subject: Re: techwr-l digest: July 09, 2005
From: Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 17:56:32 -0400


> David wrote <A degree in tech comm, perhaps with a minor in a scientific or
> technical discipline, and some first-rate portfolio samples and you
> should be a fairly hot ticket anywhere.>
>
> That would be nice, but seems a bit out of synch with reality. Are you by any
> chance a TW instructor?

It worked for me... back in 1996...

> The TW field has serious problems; according to WinWriters, one-third of their
> members have been downsized, outsourced, or flat out canned in the last year or
> two.

WinWriters? Do you mean WritersUA or are you looking at old data? Can
you point us to this data?

> That tends to create a VERY low demand career field, and that demand shows
> little indication of increasing in the near future. Yes, jobs are available.
> Yes, new entries can find work if they are willing to start for peanuts "to gain
> experience and fill out their resumes."

Um, that's how it generally works. What do you want for nothing? Rubber biscuit?

> The length of their "careers" is often
> the time from date of hire to first request for a raise--at which time they will
> be replaced by another dewy-eyed innocent willing to work 60-70 hours a week to
> "prove their dedication."

Um, data please. I don't see this as a trend at all. Yes, it does
happen, but it happens in just about every profession in varying
degrees.

> TW is a great field. My point was that expecting a degree to provide leverage is
> silly; most of the skills needed have to be acquired in addition to, not inside
> of, a degree program.

For entry level?

> There are a LOT of people out their with degrees in tech
> comm, and there are more every semester. To be employable, a bit more is
> necessary than a tech comm degree and a stunning portfolio; we all have those.

No, we don't all have those. The number of writers out there with a
techcomm degree are still in the minority (at least in polls that this
list and others like it have conducted), and stunning portfolios are
quite rare.

--
Bill Swallow
42.8162,-73.7736

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References:
Re: techwr-l digest: July 09, 2005: From: Edwin Dahlquist

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