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Subject:What *is* a documentation specialist? From:Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:53:04 -0500
I found an ad on line for a "tech writer / documentation specialist" and
the job description seems to say that the writer will get stuck doing
all the clerical tasks, including arranging everyone else's stuff in
file cabinets.
That job is called "file clerk" where I come from, and is generally
entry level. The skills of creativity and investigation that are
required for being a tech writer would, I imagine, be a great hazard in
the person of a file clerk.
Should I bone up on coffee-making (I don't drink the stuff), make sure I
remember the order of the alphabet, and tell them $11.42 per hour is
just fine? (No, I don't know what they want to pay. It can't be much.)
If I were to file by second letter of the primary name, instead of the
first letter, then I would become totally indispensible and I could
demand a raise to $16.42. I'd never have any time to do their tech
writing, though.
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