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Can I join when I get just a few years older? 'And since I'm male, can
you change it to National Association of Geriatric (or gray-haired)
Geeks?
-----Original Message-----
From:
techwr-l-bounces+darren -dot- butler -dot- ctr=robins -dot- af -dot- mil -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+darren -dot- butler -dot- ctr=robins -dot- af -dot- mil -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot-
com] On Behalf Of Katherine Noftz Nagel (Kat)
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 9:50 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Sell-by date rant (was Re: Rates)
On 2010-10-27 8:56 AM, Elaine Garnet wrote:
> I so agree with the sell-by date. Mine apparently expired many years
> ago despite my technological aptitude. I am finding that companies are
> hiring candidates fresh out of university and training them for the
> job. These young ones will work long hours for dirt cheap wages. How
> can you compete with that if you have 10 years experience doing that
> job successfully and are a mature candidate?
I'm also discovering that gray hairs don't get the gold.
When I started my professional life as a research chemist, and later
started freelancing as a technical writer, gender was the issue. I had
to deal with managers and prospective clients who didn't believe a woman
could function successfully in a technical career. I managed, of course
<grin>. And had quite a lot of fun in the process.
Now, it's that gray hair. It takes a gawdawful amount of effort to
convince a 30-something engineer/MBA that 17 years as a research
scientist and 20+ years documenting new medical devices, laboratory
SOPs, computer networks, industrial safety systems, payroll and benefits
management software, and automated fork-lift trucks qualifies me to
write highly technical material such as a lab-management system user
manual.
Oh, I usually get the projects, especially if the engineer/MBAs mother
was a techie. But the process is exhausting. I'm considering starting a
professional association for people like me. Gonna call it NAGG.
--
K@
Kat Nagel, Owner, MasterWork Consulting
Founder, National Association of Granny Geeks(tm)
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