Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

Ned Bedinger doc at edwordsmith.com
Fri May 2 21:25:02 MDT 2008


It is a remarkably clear, communicative, and specific
job title. Still, I'm not sure recruiters anymore
know the difference between a programmer, an analyst,
a manager, and a technical writer.

I once had all of those words in my resume, because
I had a little piece about my career interests, but
I had to take them out. Recruiters getting their
leads from keyword searches were filling my mailbox
with endless solicitations for stuff I can't do. I
find that it pays to be direct, and have nothing in
my work-seeking material that I'm not prepared to
act out enthusiastically.

I want my job or title description to be the same way.

When the fallout of the dotcom era has settled,
and the vibrant pulse of the goldrush has muted,
and the mutated species have gone their own way
with their own specific job titles, I think
Technical Writer will be the preferred job title.

Ned Bedinger
doc at edwordsmith.com

Gene Kim-Eng wrote:
> No need to worry, or to load up that business card.
> Even if the ad I post says "aircraft service technical
> writer," the title on the HR job code still just says
> "technical writer,"  the job post will include the
> necessary qualifications and I know and will brief 
> the HR screeners on what I'm looking for in the 
> body of the resumes. 
> 
> Gene Kim-Eng 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ned Bedinger" <doc at edwordsmith.com>
>> Employers append the specific domain to the title
>> for recruiting purposes: "Avionics technical writer"
>> or ".NET technical writer." It is a versatile naming
>> system. I don't think we can be self-describing, though.
>> A dozen domains before "Tech Writer" on the business
>> card... I think that might be a source of unease for
>> the HR person accustomed to thinking just technical
>> writer.:-)



More information about the TECHWR-L mailing list