RE: how bad is the job market?

["Al Geist" <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Lauriston" <robert -at- lauriston -dot- com>
> How bad is the job market? There's an ad on Craigslist today for an
> entry-level tech writer, $10-15 an hour depending on experience.
>
> In San Francisco, $10 an hour is 21 cents above minimum wage.

When I started my tech writing career (a government contractor in Benicia,
CA), I was paid $7.50 an hour, which tells me that the company in question
is about 30+ years behind the times in compensation. The sad truth is they
will probably get someone to do the job for that rate. It won't be a good
job and they'll probably develop a low opinion of tech writers in general,
but someone will do it. When I was out of work in Oregon several years ago,
I got a great job through Craig's List that paid quite well and would still
be there except my wife and I are north-woods people. The desert just wasn't
for us.

Al Geist
Technical Communicator, Help, Web Design, Video, Photography
Office/Msg: 802-872-9190
Cell: 802-578-3964
E-mail: al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com
Website: www.geistassociates.com
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