TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Do you need a degree? From:Tracy Boyington <tracy_boyington -at- OKVOTECH -dot- ORG> Date:Fri, 11 Jul 1997 10:43:57 -0500
Alexia Prendergast wrote:
> I've got a degree in Prof Writing. Everything
> practical I learned about writing, I learned on
> the job. However, my degree did get me in the
> door, particularly when the manager was not a
> writer. (Lucky for them, I'm a good writer and
> it worked out ;) So, it's a good marketing tool.
This an important point. It doesn't matter if we think a degree is
important (unless we're the ones who do the hiring). If you want job X,
and somebody (HR or manager or whoever) at company X won't even consider
you unless you have a degree, then you are out of luck. If this has been
happening to you, getting a degree might be worth it. If not, don't
worry about it.
BTW, here's a wild-guess theory as to why some might require their TWs
to have a degree... maybe other jobs on a similar salary scale require a
degree, and they're afraid people will complain that they should be paid
more than those whose jobs "don't even require a degree, for crying out
loud." I don't feel this way, of course, but I can see it happening,
especially in a very structured organization.
Tracy
==============================================
Tracy Boyington tracy_boyington -at- okvotech -dot- org
Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education
Stillwater, OK, USA http://www.okvotech.org/cimc/home.htm
==============================================
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
