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.
I just thought I would put in a few thoughts from
someone who has 3 university based certificates
(tech writing, tech editing, and professional
writing).
These meant that I took more classes in these
areas (over and above my BA in English with
emphesis in Technical Writing), had to maintain a
B or better in all of them, and prepare a
portfolio of material for each that was then
judged by a board of 5 professors in order to
receive each certificate.
Did it make a difference? I think it did. I was
already in the field, running my own department
while doing this, and I still found it valuable.
First, it showed that I had additional education
in these things. I could pick up additional tool
sets and have examples of my work without
worrying about getting permission from my current
job (DoD). It also gave me a broad base for my
interests which are varied and prove that I am
competent in each...without a job experience for
each.
It let me be both an experienced worker (9 years
at the same company) and a college student (new
graduate in 2001) in my interviews. Did I get
more money? I don't think so... but it got me in
the door.
The coursework, interactions in classes,
experience in tools and requirements, all lead to
a highly successful and varied career.
Should it be required? No. Should it be
encouraged? It depends. Should I be derided for
having them? I hope not!
Have a great week,
Faye
--- techwr-l-request -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com wrote:
>> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 06:08:43 -0800 (PST)
> From: Chris Borokowski <athloi -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Tech Writer Certification
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <575012 -dot- 94728 -dot- qm -at- web57811 -dot- mail -dot- re3 -dot- yahoo -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> To my mind, what distinguishes a technical
> writer is
> the ability to pick up any discipline and
> explain it
> to others. We're communicators. Some would like
> to
> make it a technical degree, but that's probably
> foolish. It's a field for those who straddle
> liberal
> arts and sciences.
>
> --- Joanne Wittenbrook
> <jwittenbrook -at- ameritech -dot- net>
> wrote:
>
> > >Science and technology - basic
> > programming/physics/electronics
> > >Graphic design - layout, page design etc.
> > >Basic business - marketing etc.
> > >Anything else you think we should all know!
> > ________________________________
> > There are many tech writers who do not deal
> with
> > science at all.
>
>http://www.dionysius.com
> code | tech | docs | leadership
>
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo!
> Mail beta.
>http://new.mail.yahoo.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 14:14:10 -0000
> From: "Dubin, David" <David -dot- Dubin -at- sage -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Tech Writer Certification
> To: "Chris Borokowski" <athloi -at- yahoo -dot- com>,
> <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
>
>
<8ABBCACDB8290644935FDBF8BC86656501E23AEA -at- GS-CLUSTER2-2 -dot- gs -dot- adinternal -dot- com>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Chris Borokowski said, "what distinguishes a
> technical writer is the
> ability to pick up any discipline and explain
> it to others." I strongly
> agree with that, but would like to add one
> other aspect. In my opinion,
> the other thing that distinguishes a technical
> writer is his or her
> ability to understand how to organize the
> information they are
> documenting and present that organization in a
> logical and easily
> understood manner to others who are not
> familiar with that same
> information.
>
>
> David B. Dubin
> Senior Curriculum Developer
> Sage Software
> 727-579-1111 x 3356
> david -dot- dubin -at- sage -dot- com
> Your business in mind.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 09:28:06 -0500
> From: "Susan Hogarth" <hogarth -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: [TCP] certification (was: ranting
> STC)
> To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
>
>
<3889aa560703050628h5dfec827i526f4825bd562fe2 -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1;
> format=flowed
>
> On 3/2/07, Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>
> wrote:
> > Susan Hogarth wrote:
> > > On 2/28/07, Donald H. White
> <dwhite -at- jrtcllc -dot- com> wrote:
> > >> I still have no idea why the concept of a
> professionalization program
> > >> causes
> > >> so much ire. ...
> > > From a libertarian perspective, I think
> some people might see such a
> > > program as a first step toward mandatory
> licensing. It's unfortunate,
> > > but in so many cases private certifications
> have supported
> > > cartelization in this fashion.
> >
> > A tech writing cartel? Wow. Cartels are
> monopolies formed to control
> > the supply and price of a commodity.
>
> Yes, and fortunately they do not work very well
> unless they are backed
> up by the power of government requirements for
> the product
> (certification) they offer.
>
> > So now that you mention it, I
> > think I do see, that if TW certification was
> tied to an organization
> > that could effectively (through
> certification) control/limit the number
> > of TWs in the field, it would indeed suggest
> a cartel. This has happened
> > in other fields? I guess I had best google
> for more.
>
> Doctors? (AMA) Lawyers? (ABA) Either of those
> ring a bell? I would
> describe them as cartelizing organizations
> backed by the government.
>
> > While I'm confident that certification alone
> could never result in TWs
> > having cartel powers (cool if it could),
>
> I agree. It takes government backing to get
> anywhere close to a real
> monopoly. I for one do not find cartels 'cool',
> but that's just me. I
> guess I'm too consumer-oriented.
>
> > still, as I think you say,
> > certification could be awarded by a TW
> organization that somehow comes
> > to represent tech writers in the marketplace.
> That's a more potent (and
> > dangerous) situation, with the potential to
> control the supply of TW
> > (the commodity). I think I prefer to be an
> unherded libertine cat, and
> > keep my mits on the cream that such an
> organization would otherwise skim. ...
>
> As long as there are no legal constraints on
> hiring, businesses will
> have incentives to keep hiring 'uncertified'
> writers - they're less
> expensive, for one! But some may prefer
> certification; again - nothing
> the market can't handle unelss government steps
> in and makes
> certifications mandatory.
>
> --
> Susan Hogarth
>http://www.colliething.com
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________________
Don't pick lemons.
See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
