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.
Mark Baker wrote:
> For me a degree or a diploma in technical writing earns a resume a
> pretty much automatic trip to the "no" pile.
> I look for people with a degree in the humanities and a real interest
> in technology.
> In my experience, the degrees which correlate well to success as a
> tech
> writer are history, theology, psychology, and sociology. Those which
> correlate least are English and technical writing.
>
I guess my misguided resume would have found its way to your "no" pile.
But then again, I had no idea that writing has nothing to do with
English. To get ahead in this field I should renounce my English degree
and apply to a seminary.
Lucky for me I found a company that was willing to roll the dice on a
kid who learned how to write in college instead of who won the Prussian
War.
I find it hard to believe that someone who puts so much stock in the
humanities would be so closed-minded about who makes a good technical
writer. BTW, isn't English considered part of the humanities?
I agree that technical writers shouldn't be too focused, but who's to
say that a tech writing degree is focused? Most writing programs I have
seen (tech or not) require (or allow) a wide range of writing and
humanities courses.
Don't just toss someone's future in the trash can because his or her
degree is in the field he or she is pursuing. That's pretty discouraging
for all college students.
Aaron W. Morrison
AaronM -at- medcmp -dot- com
Technical Writer
Medic Computer Systems, Inc.
My views are mine, not Medic's.
"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who
cannot read them."
- Mark Twain
