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Subject:Re: What *is* a documentation specialist? From:Susan Park <su_duncan -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com, Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net> Date:Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:38:17 -0800 (PST)
I guess it depends on how much you want/need the job and how much you're willing to overlook. If they offered the job to you, perhaps you could show them that they would be better served with you writing rather than filing. Also, I've found that a congenial atmosphere makes up for a lot. But if you feel as though you can't stand to perform lower-level tasks like filing, then this job may not be for you.
--- On Mon, 2/1/10, Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net> wrote:
From: Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
Subject: What *is* a documentation specialist?
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Monday, February 1, 2010, 10:53 AM
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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Are you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author,
build, test, and publish your Help files with just one easy-to-use tool.
Try the latest Doc-To-Help 2009 v3 risk-free for 30-days at: http://www.doctohelp.com/
Explore CAREER options and paths related to Technical Writing,
learn to create SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS documents, and
get tips on FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION best practices. Free at: http://www.ModernAnalyst.com
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