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2. Education as part of the definition of "technical writer"
Point No. 1 Regarding "senior" tech writer status, my own experience
shows that Jessie's first paragraph is correct but also not necessarily
correct.
Before my current job as a contract writer, I was with a
nationally-known materials handling equipment manufacturer, I was
saddled with a subordinate (I'll call him "Bob") who was hired in after
I was already in place as the lone tech pubs staffer. "Bob" had no true
tech writing skills, but he was a former so-called amateur stock car
race driver, a good wrench-turner and a DAMN good schmoozer - all
desirable qualities in that male-dominated, totally dysfunctional office
where the saying, "No good deed goes unpunished" was proven everyday.
He had no publication design or page layout skills whatsoever, but could
make Book B from Book A only if you red-lined Book A like crazy. "Bob"
is five years my senior (which made him 55 at the time of hire), he had
only basic FrameMaker skills, but not enough to really do the job. He
disagreed vehemently with having to track down engineering drawings and
talk to engineers, etc., to research his source material. He was truly
likable, but I found really not suitable for the job. While one couldn't
help but like this guy, I found his work to be a real drain on my own
time and effort to get my own job duties done because part of my job was
to proofread his work as well as mine. Also, our book priorities were
changing almost every three days, thanks to our boss, who was probably
the "bully on the playground" as a kid. "Bob" had a heck of a time
changing gears to put one book on hold and pick up on another one with
no advance notice and complained about it constantly (even though I
explained many times that this is just part of the profession). Anyway,
my title had been Technical Publications Supervisor, so "Bob" lobbied
for and got his title changed to "Senior Technical Writer". But sometime
later, management restructured to give my boss even more power, so both
of us reported to Mr. BullyonthePlaygrond and I became just a tech
writer once more. "Bob" loved to flaunt his "senior" title on all
e-mails and outgoing communications (wouldn't you?), but when I inquired
to management about the propriety of this arrangement and pointed out
that _I_ was the true "senior" writer, I was told that the company knows
that, so just leave it alone. (Remember, "Bob" schmoozed very well and,
after all, we don't want to hurt "Bob's" feelings.)
So was "Bob" _promoted_ to "senior" writer status? Yes, but with no
salary increase (that I was aware of). I personally believed he was
hired because he said he knew FrameMaker and that he "carried" himself
well. I had no input into his hiring. Lots of relevant job experience?
He owned a local trucking company for awhile for short hauls in and
around town. You figure it out. (His company folded due to marital
problems.)
***************************
Point No. 2 Regarding education as part of the definition of "technical
writer", I gave upon getting a master's degree in technical
communication in the mid-1990s, after a fruitful career in newspaper,
pr, industrial advertising and publications editing positions. I watched
nonwriters - or at least non-TECHwriters - get jobs that I was more
qualified for, at least from the standpoint of "technical writing
knowledge and experience". (More than once did I hear stuff from hiring
managers like how qualified I was but that "my sister's brother's
nephew's uncle's friend does his church newsletter, so we're going to
let him handle our worldwide corporate communications functions.") The
episode with "Bob" occurred later, and underscored my belief that an
advanced degree in other disciplines is far more important to advanced
positions than an advanced degree in technical communications.
-- Kenpo
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+poshedlyk=polysius -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+poshedlyk=polysius -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Jessica Weissman
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 7:49 AM
To: Claire Conant; Ronald Schwarz; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Senior technical writer?
You're a senior technical writer when someone promotes you or has to
justify your salary. It's unlikely for someone to get to there without
lots of relevant experience.
I don't understand why formal education in TW should be a requirement,
though it might help. A writer who produces good work without the
formal education is extra-qualified, I think. We are constantly faced
with developing content without enough access to the sources; someone
who has technical writing skills without the formal education has
demonstrated this skill.
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