Re: Advice for someone re-entering the work force

Subject: Re: Advice for someone re-entering the work force
From: kcbillb2 <kcbillb2 -at- kc -dot- rr -dot- com>
To: Gene Kim-Eng <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:16:37 -0500

Unfortunately, I agree with Gene. The past 20 years have seem so many
changes, not just with computers/software, but also with workplace culture.

I'm afraid you friend will have to start over, in any career.


Now, as far as what she's been told by her soon to be ex's attorney,
that's b****t. If she hasn't already, she should get her own attorney,
who I'm sure will be much more encouraging...

I wish your friend well, hope it works out for her.

Bill


Gene Kim-Eng wrote:
> I can't speak on the Denver job market, but as a technical
> publications manager I would consider someone with a
> 20-year absence from the workplace who has not done
> anything on the side to maintain current knowledge and
> skills in the profession to be unemployable. In order to
> become qualified for a "good-paying technical writing job"
> in any company I manage writing for, this person is going
> to need a couple of years of formal reeducation and about
> five years of experience starting over again from entry level.
>
> Feel free to pass this assessment and my email address
> on to any divorce attorney or judge who might be interested
> in discussing it further.
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mary Headley" <mkheadley80503 -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:02 AM
> Subject: Advice for someone re-entering the work force
>
>
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> A friend who I used to work when we were both technical writers has asked for
>> advice about re-entering the work force after 20 years . My friend hasn't had
>> paid employment since 1987, when she quit working to raise her children,
>> although she has done a variety of volunteer work for churches, schools, and
>> several social service agencies. She has done no writing since then other than
>> the occasional letter. She has not kept her computer skills up-to-date,
>> although she knows the basics of using Word. She is in her mid-50s and has a
>> master's in communications.
>>
>> Because of a pending divorce, she has been told by her husband's attorney that
>> she could easily find a good-paying technical writing job in the Denver area,
>> although she may have to start at a lower level than she was in 1987. The
>> expectation from her soon-to-be ex (who is look to avoid paying any kind of
>> spousal support, even though he's rich) is that it would be both easy and
>> profitable for her to find a technical writing job again.
>>
>> Does anyone have any feel for how easy it might be for someone in this
>> situation to find a technical writing job in today's market? If so, what range
>> of salary might she expect? What kind of positions or companies would it make
>> sense for her to target? My friend has gray hair and uses a hearing aid. How
>> much "ageism" is she likely to encounter in this field? Would it perhaps make
>> more sense for her to try to parlay her volunteer work for social service
>> agencies into work in that area?
>>
>> I'm thinking she should take some classes in MS Office (Word, Office,
>> PowerPoint) at a minimum. Are there other classes you think are critical? (She
>> doesn't have a lot of time or money to spend on more education.)
>>
>> Any thoughts or perspective you can share would be much appreciated, as I'm
>> pretty biased in this situation.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Mary
>>
>
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--
Bill
kcbillb2 -at- kc -dot- rr -dot- com

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ComponentOne Doc-To-Help gives you everything you need to author and
publish quality Help, Web, and print content. Perfect for technical
authors, developers, and policy writers. Download a FREE trial.
http://www.componentone.com/DocToHelp/

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

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Follow-Ups:

References:
Advice for someone re-entering the work force: From: Mary Headley
Re: Advice for someone re-entering the work force: From: Gene Kim-Eng

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