Question: Guest Admin rights

Subject: Question: Guest Admin rights
From: "Jill Mohan" <jillemo -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:05:34 -0400

I am in a bit of a pickle. After appx 7 yrs in the commercial world, I
recently joined the military-industrial complex. In the commercial world,
things are so tidy and trackable but the govt world is rather nebulous.

In a previous gig, I was given Guest Admin rights to the systems I
documented - Exchange, Project Server, BlackBerry Server and similar. Now,
I am on a project where the goal is to provide a central contact database,
technologies include Linux, Red Hat Directory Server, and some other
privilege management and identity correlation software.

To make me proactive and free up engrs' time considerably, I have asked for
Guest Admin rights as many "server technologies" as possible. I get a lot
of shocked expressions and stammers. To which I say, "you know, so i can
see everything but whatever I do/change - i just don't click OK for one
thing, and second, if I did, the system makes OK grey-ed out for me
anyway." The usual reply people have is to chew their tongues, look away,
shrug, and ask what I am doing for lunch. Answers have never resulted from
said lunch. :(

To my thinking, it should be just as easy as creating a new user who can see
everything but just not "touch" anything.

So really I am asking two questions here:

1. Am I out of my mind?
2. Should I really be documenting screen shots after the "action" is done?
What do you find is the most proactive way to document systems -
installation/configuration manuals, test plans, admin & operations guides,
user guides, etc.?

I feel a little like Snuffleupagus (sp)... i am the only one like me in the
org and people haven't usually worked with someone like me before. And this
is my first time working with dot mil types, mostly civilians. i think the
worst part of working with them is their indifference... i used to work in
supposedly cut-throat fortune 500 companies in NYC and I would at least get
an "You're outta your mind, lady!," which is oddly comforting.

Thanks for reading/sharing any wisdom!

Jill Mohan aka Snuffie


On 9/28/07, techwr-l-request -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com <
techwr-l-request -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> wrote:
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>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: A suite of tech comm tools (M. Palmieri)
> 2. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Damien Braniff)
> 3. Re: Web 2.0 explained (Bill Swallow)
> 4. Robohelp X5 Glossary is empty when opened on another computer
> (Bernd Hutschenreuther)
> 5. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Dori Green)
> 6. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Lauren)
> 7. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Milan Davidovic)
> 8. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (neilson -at- windstream -dot- net)
> 9. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (McLauchlan, Kevin)
> 10. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Al Geist)
> 11. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Gene Kim-Eng)
> 12. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (John Rosberg)
> 13. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Dan Goldstein)
> 14. Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
> (Karen L. Zorn)
> 15. Re: request for eLearning samples (Gregory P Sweet)
> 16. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Chris Borokowski)
> 17. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Gene Kim-Eng)
> 18. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Tariel, Lauren R)
> 19. RE: Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
> (Gause_Brian -at- emc -dot- com)
> 20. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Chris Borokowski)
> 21. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Gene Kim-Eng)
> 22. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Dan Goldstein)
> 23. Word table question (Joel)
> 24. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Melissa Nelson)
> 25. RE: Word table question (Chinell, David F (GE Indust, Security))
> 26. RE: Word table question (Fred Ridder)
> 27. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Pro TechWriter)
> 28. Re: Word table question (Joel)
> 29. Re: Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
> (Chris Borokowski)
> 30. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Bill Swallow)
> 31. Re: Word table question (Julie Stickler)
> 32. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (McLauchlan, Kevin)
> 33. Re: How to write technical specifications training (Richard Lewis)
> 34. RE: Word table question (Fred Ridder)
> 35. Re: Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
> (Stuart Burnfield)
> 36. Re: Technical Writing Certifications (Pro TechWriter)
> 37. RE: Technical Writing Certifications (Lauren)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:48:22 -0700 (PDT)
> From: "M. Palmieri" <tw_397 -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: A suite of tech comm tools
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID: <848841 -dot- 62186 -dot- qm -at- web45302 -dot- mail -dot- sp1 -dot- yahoo -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Thanks for the update.
>
> Interesting that earlier this week Author-it also made an announcement;
> it?s about its new 5.0 release which includes interactive authoring
> memory:
> http://www.author-it.com/
>
> Depending on requirements, it seems that rather than producing
> information products with a suite of tools, some authors may want to
> consider relying primarily on one tool such as Author-it, which offers
> powerful single-sourcing features.
>
> Author-it supports the addition of flash files to content.
>
> The 3D capabilities sound intriguing, but perhaps not necessary for
> everyone.
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who
> knows.
> Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:00:27 +0100
> From: "Damien Braniff" <Damien -dot- Braniff -at- asg -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <922F4B6675BE8E4D9E74FA67304CDC9203F512A9 -at- uksta3mail -dot- asg -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> As others have said - Certificates and Certification are two different
> things. Certification would be difficult because of the breadth of TWing
> so one option is to certify the basics that everyone should have (may TC
> certificates already cover this) with optional add-ons for specific
> industries etc. Not totally convinced we can even agree on the basics
> but, personally, I think they should cover (definitely not definitive!):
> Information gathering - research techniques,
> interviewing/listening skills, basic psychology, basic scientific
> methods (e.g. test/use product!)
>
> Rhetoric - we need the framework/techniques to describe complex
> ideas, craft balanced arguments, inform, persuade, warn... So we might
> need composition skills, rhetoric, logic etc.
>
> Science and technology - basics in maths/physics, electronics,
> programming, modeling, flowcharting.
>
> Graphic design - we're not graphics designers but we need to
> know the basics. So maybe design basics, layers/color, tools
> (Photoshop/Paintshop pro/whatever), diagram types, web design...
>
> Business basics - we need a basic understanding of business as
> our great works are only a part of the overall business picture. Perhaps
> it could cover marketing/branding, economics/finance, business
> management, time management.
>
> TW basics - layout, tools, usability, planning audience/task
> analysis, grammar/editing, English (!).
>
> To this you could add specialist modules on a pick 'n' mix basis -
> proposal writing, telecoms etc. Many of these may already be available
> via other routes as Gene suggested.
>
> I see the Basic Course as that - a start then you start learning once
> you get a job :-)
>
>
> Damien Braniff
> Sr. Technical Writer
> damienb -at- asg -dot- com
>
> Waterfront Plaza
> 8, Lagan bank Road
> Belfast, N. Ireland BT! 3LR
> Tel: +44 (0) 28.9072.3124
> Fax: +44 (0) 28.9072.3324
>
> ASG | www.asg.com
> Solutions at every turn.
> Service at every step.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:00:13 -0400
> From: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Web 2.0 explained
> To: "Chris Borokowski" <athloi -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> Cc: techwr-l <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <375e3cb30709270700x6247f2d7te4b7269bfe4bac9d -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Here's an excellent video that also explains the concepts. Basically
> it's a day's primer rolled into about 5 minutes. If you haven't
> watched it yet, I highly recommend it. And for those who are already
> well-versed in web 2.0 technologies and methodologies, you'll enjoy
> this as well.
>
> I passed it on to my entire team. If nothing else, it's highly
> entertaining and enlightening.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g
>
> On 9/25/07, Chris Borokowski <athloi -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote:
> > I like these writers, and think this free ebook will be a good
> > introduction to Web 2.0 terminology and technologies for tech writers.
> >
> > http://www.deitel.com/eBook/Contents/tabid/2480/Default.aspx
>
> --
> Bill Swallow
> HATT List Owner
> WWP-Users List Owner
> Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
> STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager
> http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:15:50 +0200
> From: Bernd Hutschenreuther <Bernd -dot- Hutschenreuther -at- net-linx -dot- com>
> Subject: Robohelp X5 Glossary is empty when opened on another computer
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID: <46FBBB16 -dot- 4080705 -at- net-linx -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi, I have a strange question about Robohelp X5.
>
> I built a glossary using Robohelp X5 (under Windows XP professionell)
> and I generated a help file as .chm file.
> On my own computer, it worked fine. I could see the Tab and the contents
> of the glossary.
> On the computer of another technical writer in my office, it worked
> fine, too.
>
> But when opened on other computers, the Glossary tab remains empty and
> gray. If I move the mouse pointer over the Glossary area, it changes to
> an bidirectional horicontal error, but it does not do anything.
>
> Did anyone have similar experiences, and may be, a solution?
>
> Many thanks for all hints.
>
> Best regards from Dresden from Bernd
>
> --
> Bernd Hutschenreuther
> Technical writer, Project Services
>
> net-linx Europe GmbH ? K?the-Kollwitz-Ufer 76-79 ? 01309 Dresden ?
> Deutschland ? Gesch?ftsf?hrer: Holm Hallbauer ? Sitz der Gesellschaft:
> Dresden ? Registergericht: Dresden HRB 4833
>
> phone: (+49) 351-31875-732
> fax: (+49) 351-31875-550
>
> http://www.net-linx.com
>
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>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:53:13 -0400
> From: "Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <B3ECDE119347404A8604DE7D54921F1365EFB3 -at- SDCEX -dot- associatedbrands -dot- ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Gene Kim-Eng wrote:
> All the
> tech pubs field has to do is agree what courses need
> to be taken in the non-writing skills.
>
> *************
>
> Heck, I'd be very pleased if STC developed a basic test and
> certification like Manpower uses for its temporary secretaries. A BS or
> even MS in Tech Writing/Communications/English does not guarantee that I
> will not still have to spend a lot of my time correcting typos,
> spelling, and grammar errors. Certification of basic "core
> competencies" in those three specific areas would bring a candidate to a
> significantly higher position on my "let's take a closer look" list.
>
> With those three covered, I next want to see evidence that they have a
> clue about how to use their brain to organize and prioritize
> information. It doesn't have to be organized and prioritized the same
> way that I would do it, but they have to show me that they have a clue.
>
> Of course I could teach all of those skills. But if somebody is
> presenting themselves as a professional tech writer, I should not have
> to!
>
> That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
>
> Dori Green
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:59:53 -0700
> From: "Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "'Dori Green'" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>,
> <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <20070927155548 -dot- 28DA07A0E6 -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> > From: Dori Green
>
> > Heck, I'd be very pleased if STC developed a basic test and
> > certification like Manpower uses for its temporary
> > secretaries. A BS or
> > even MS in Tech Writing/Communications/English does not
> > guarantee that I
> > will not still have to spend a lot of my time correcting typos,
> > spelling, and grammar errors. Certification of basic "core
> > competencies" in those three specific areas would bring a
> > candidate to a
> > significantly higher position on my "let's take a closer look" list.
> >
> > With those three covered, I next want to see evidence that they have a
> > clue about how to use their brain to organize and prioritize
> > information. It doesn't have to be organized and prioritized the same
> > way that I would do it, but they have to show me that they
> > have a clue.
> >
> > Of course I could teach all of those skills. But if somebody is
> > presenting themselves as a professional tech writer, I should not have
> > to!
>
> "I could teach you, but I'd have to charge." Isn't there a song like
> that?
>
> I think the club seems divided on whether tech writers should be
> certifiable, er, certified, but there does seem to be some interest in
> certification. I think we should look at this from the perspective of
> what
> would be involved in the certification process. Multiple choice test
> questions are favored in many processes because they can be more objective
> and they don't require a person to analyze the answer, which can get
> expensive. But technical writing involves writing, so a multiple choice
> exam can be tricky.
>
> If an ideal exam was developed, would success on the exam really measure
> the
> quality of a candidate? This could be a factor in determining the value
> of
> certification. At a minimum, I would like certification that required
> passing a basic grammar and spelling test. The test should include
> punctuation and other elements, but may need to avoid controversial
> elements, like comma lists and closing punctuation inside or outside of
> quotes. Basic analysis should also be tested, but may need to be
> something
> like "read this dialogue from and end-user and select the best option that
> describes the process."
>
> I think that the discussion could have more value if there was a test or a
> design for a test that we could analyze.
>
> Lauren
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:02:51 -0400
> From: "Milan Davidovic" <milan -dot- lists -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <98b2fdd50709270902t5c796397lcd21816e8f0500be -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> On 9/27/07, Dori Green <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com> wrote:
> > Heck, I'd be very pleased if STC developed a basic test and
> > certification like Manpower uses for its temporary secretaries
>
> Even with that in place, who would heed its results? Does STC have enough
> cred?
>
> The only external view I get of STC is from disgruntled ex-members, so
> I can't tell whether businesses would believe in this test. And that
> seems to me to be the key to meaningful certification.
>
> --
> Milan Davidovic
> http://altmilan.blogspot.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:18:59 -0400
> From: <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Dori Green"
> <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>,<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <
> 20070927161900 -dot- UXNN19750 -dot- ispmxmta05-srv -dot- windstream -dot- net -at- webmail-relay -dot- alltel -dot- net
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Dori Green wrote:
> > Gene Kim-Eng wrote:
> >> All the
> >> tech pubs field has to do is agree what courses need
> >> to be taken in the non-writing skills.
> > *************
> > Heck, I'd be very pleased if STC developed a basic test and
> > certification like Manpower uses for its temporary secretaries.
>
> Any newspaper editor has a test for would-be reporters or stringers.
> (A stringer is a free-lance reporter.) The test takes about an
> hour, and shows the ability to put together a bunch of jumbled
> facts, complete with misspellings and libelous accusations, into
> a coherent and mostly sane news story. I would bet that most tech
> writers could pass the test with ease. Any good news writer with
> a technical bent can do tech writing.
>
> Hence, if you want your prospective new tech writer to show some
> credentials, ask it to visit the local newspaper and apply
> as a stringer. The news positions generally pay less than tech
> writing. Only the truly driven news-hound will take the stringer
> position if tech writing is also available. Danger: you may incur
> the wrath of the local newspaper editor if you get caught using
> this technique too much.
>
> The writing and the desire to research and to write are the key.
> Maybe the ability to work through scientific and technical info
> without wrecking it. All the rest is tools, tools and fluff.
> Gimme a certifiable newswriter, and I'll get tech writing out of
> him.
>
> --Peter Neilson
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:39:02 -0400
> From: "McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>, "Dori Green"
> <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <979DB57738E1C2439A15E6B67CE1B6C01CAC76 -at- bel1exch002 -dot- sfnt -dot- local>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> Rant alert.
>
> As the certification thread rears its ugly head for (what?) the fourth
> time this year, some members were bantering about STC providing a "Basic
> TW Skills" test that would be useful to employers as a screening aid.
>
> I'd say that it would also be useful to current and prospective
> Technical Communicators who wanted to "see how I'm doing, how I measure
> up on what some people consider 'basic' to this kind of work".
>
> BUT...
>
> There's always a "but". If you develop a test that is useful and
> comprehensive, to the extent that candidates find it worthwhile to take,
> and employers (and others) find it worthwhile to see outcomes... what is
> the absitively, posolutely, guaranteed next thing that will happen?
>
> <pause>
>
> Ah, I see some knowing nods in the audience.
>
> Well, as soon as it becomes of value to any significant number of
> people, somebody will crack it. Just like at schools everywhere, a
> little industry will grow, centered on acquiring the latest version and
> selling the answers.
>
> Nothing is more vulnerable to that kind of thing than multiple-choice.
>
> Also, on a completely different tack:
>
> When I speak the same "language" as the test-maker, I _love_
> multiple-choice tests. Easy-peasy. It's clear to me what each question
> is asking, and it is clear WHY answers B and C are different. I can
> often ace a multiple-choice test about which I have far less education
> than the test-maker would have hoped.
>
> By the same token, if the test-maker doesn't have exactly the same set
> of assumptions and terminological slant and background that I do, then I
> thoroughly HATE multiple-choice tests. I could answer B if I take the
> question to mean THIS, but I could just as plausibly answer C if I take
> the question to mean THAT. Sometimes on a paper multiple-choice test, I
> go back and revise earlier answers because some later questions have
> revealed a slant that explains which interpretation of the earlier
> question was actually meant by the test-maker. Online tests often don't
> let you go back once you get to question 51 and the light goes on... "Oh
> THAT's what they meant back in question 33... or was it 34..."
>
> Multiple-choice tests refuse the test-taker the opportunity to explain
> why they made a choice. Often that explanation would be more valuable
> than the actual placement of the tick-mark.
>
> So, like personality inventory tests that have to repeat the "same"
> question a dozen times, throughout the test, using slightly different
> phrasing each time, you'd have to add that kind of bulk-inducing
> redundancy to your test, making it an hours-long ordeal for the taker.
>
> One of the nastiest situations to be in, when confronted with a
> multiple-choice test is to realize that you are FAR more worldly and
> educated than the test-maker, such that they cannot even conceive of the
> three _other_ ways their simple, obvious question could be taken.
>
> Kevin
>
> The information contained in this electronic mail transmission may be
> privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected from disclosure. If
> you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately
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>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:16:51 -0400
> From: "Al Geist" <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <011e01c8012a$3239c480$0201a8c0 -at- SEARCHINGOWL>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I don't understand the need for a certificate to show the world that we
> are
> all "certified." The simple fact that we have chosen to become Technical
> Writers instead of doctors, lawyers, carpenters, farmers, or some other
> respectable vocation should be enough proof of our certifiability. That,
> and
> the regular refills of the medication.......
>
> Al Geist
> Technical Writing, Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design and Award
> Winning
> Videos
> Voice/Msg: 802-872-9190
> Cell: 802-578-3964
> E-mail: mailto:al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com
> URL: http://www.geistassociates.com (Online portfolio and resume)
> See also:
> URL: http://www.geistimages.com (Fine art photographic prints for home or
> office and beautiful note cards for all occasions.)
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:21:35 -0700
> From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>,
> <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <000801c8012a$dbddcea0$8900a8c0 -at- genekoptx2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> I employ an "old Jedi techpubs manager trick." I talk to
> candidates about their past experience, projects,
> methodologies, etc., look at their work samples and ask
> them questions about them, then talk to their previous
> managers and/or clients. It's admittedly unscientific,
> but I guess the Force must be with me, because in 15
> years I haven't made any hiring choices I later regretted.
>
> What *I* really need is some way to test prospective
> *employers.*
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>
> > Heck, I'd be very pleased if STC developed a basic test and
> > certification like Manpower uses for its temporary secretaries. A BS or
> > even MS in Tech Writing/Communications/English does not guarantee that I
> > will not still have to spend a lot of my time correcting typos,
> > spelling, and grammar errors. Certification of basic "core
> > competencies" in those three specific areas would bring a candidate to a
> > significantly higher position on my "let's take a closer look" list.
> >
> > With those three covered, I next want to see evidence that they have a
> > clue about how to use their brain to organize and prioritize
> > information. It doesn't have to be organized and prioritized the same
> > way that I would do it, but they have to show me that they have a clue.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 12
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:00:04 -0500
> From: "John Rosberg" <jrosberg -at- interwoven -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <BFEEC9FA6DA2594D863C60FB07646C720150483C -at- exbecg02 -dot- Interwoven -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> There are hundreds of organizations that promise to teach you management
> (skills in which you can train most anyone -- spreadsheet manipulation,
> report generation, putting checkmarks into boxes) --
>
> There are scores of organizations that will claim to teach "leadership"
> (which is tougher to define, and, of course, tougher to teach) --
>
> Copying "good" managers is one technique that most always works --
>
> A colleague of mine and I have been kicking around the following idea
> for some time -- offering a civilian version of NCO (non-commissioned
> officer) training --
>
> - make a decision
> - be prepared to revisit said decision when new facts are available
> - respect your people
> - respect their contributions
> - take good (great) care of your folks
> - explain why what they are asked to accomplish is important
> - don't ask them to do something you are not prepared to sign up for
> - you're the first up in the morning and the last to sleep at night
>
> Simplistic, and somewhat out of context, but applicable, I believe.
>
> As others have said, "technical writers" have such varied duties and
> responsibilities that a blanket certification program would either be of
> little value, or would take decades to prepare for (the guy that writes
> instruction on how to mop the floor in a drug company lab and the woman
> who produces API guides for a software company are both technical
> writers, for instance).
>
> I've watch many proposals for Technical Communicator Certification
> Programs surface -- but I've yet to see one that was useful, in my
> opinion.
>
> YMMV, of course.
>
> rosberg
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gene Kim-Eng [mailto:techwr -at- genek -dot- com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:46 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Posada" <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> > However, if you are lookikng to manage a group;, you are hit with so
> may
> > required skills other than writing, that certification give you a leg
> up
> > on those skills.
>
> I wish I could say that there was some training that helped
> me as I became a manager, but unfortunately most of it was
> gobbledygook. For better or worse, I got to be whatever kind
> of manager I am by (a) copying the "good managers" I worked
> for as an individual contributor and (b) making a lot of
> mistakes.
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 13
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:17:56 -0400
> From: "Dan Goldstein" <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <0ADA9A22B5BC2147B360A22FD2BAD25CD488B2 -at- RMGBEX01 -dot- rmg -dot- local>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Ask them what they personally like most and least about working there.
> Ask them to estimate their annual employee turnover rate and average
> length of employment.
> Ask about their investors and recent financial history.
> Ask for an opportunity to walk around the work area.
> Ask about company-organized social events.
> Ask about money and work time allotted for continuing education.
> Ask if their managers mostly came up through the ranks or were hired as
> managers.
> Ask about the flow of employees (if any) between them and their
> competitors.
> Ask if the typical employee covers multiple areas of responsibility.
> Ask for the best-case scenario of where the company might be in five
> years.
> Ask what kind of work they've outsourced in the past, and to whom.
> Ask about the relative percentages of full-time employees, part-time
> employees, and contractors.
>
> OK, there's a dozen to start with...
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gene Kim-Eng
> > Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 1:22 PM
> > To: Dori Green; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> >
> > ... What *I* really need is some way to test
> > prospective *employers.*
> >
>
> This message contains confidential information intended only for the use
> of the addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, or the person responsible
> for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that reading,
> disseminating, distributing, copying, electronic storing or the taking of
> any action in reliance on the contents of this message is strictly
> prohibited. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify us,
> by replying to the sender, and delete the original message immediately
> thereafter. Thank you.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 14
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:14:26 -0700
> From: "Karen L. Zorn" <k -dot- zorn -at- zorntech -dot- com>
> Subject: Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
> To: "'Techwr-l'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <002d01c80132$3d8ea410$4000a8c0 -at- ZTDESKTOP>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> What *I* really need is some way to test prospective *employers.*
>
>
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
>
> Ah, what an *excellent* idea, the Potential Employer Test! If there was a
> vehicle like that TW contractors wouldn't have to deal with:
>
> - unpaid invoices
>
> - uncontrollable creeping project scope
>
> - lack of cooperation from SMEs
>
> - make it pretty demands
>
> - no invites to important project meetings
>
> - and so on....
>
>
>
> Karen L. Zorn
>
> Zorn Technologies, Inc.
>
> Mesa, AZ
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 15
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:29:16 -0400
> From: Gregory P Sweet <gps03 -at- health -dot- state -dot- ny -dot- us>
> Subject: Re: request for eLearning samples
> To: Mary Bono <elearnsamples -at- hotmail -dot- com>
> Cc: techwr-l-bounces+gps03=health -dot- state -dot- ny -dot- us -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com,
> techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <
> OF76572B67 -dot- 30A062CA-ON85257363 -dot- 0064ACBE-85257363 -dot- 00658EB8 -at- notes -dot- health -dot- state -dot- ny -dot- us
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
>
>
> Mary,
>
> First, join the aware listserv:
> http://ls.kuleuven.ac.be/archives/aware.html You'll get more samples and
> info than you'll know what to do with. Keep in mind that it was previously
> mostly focused on Authorware, but has grown to be more of an e-learning
> professionals list lately.
>
> Second, just as framemaker cannot make you a good technical writer, no
> software is going to make you an instructional designer or produce
> valuable
> e-learning for you. As the members of this list lament how "no one
> understand what we really do" you must accept that when going from
> technical writer to elearning creator you have a new skill set to learn.
> There is a reason there are advanced degree programs for instructional
> design and elearning creation.
>
> Now with that out of the way, you've basically got two choices. Techsmith
> Camtasia or Adobe Captivate. Both capture the instructors actions and then
> output it as a flash movie or some other format of your choice, though
> Flash is quite popular these days. Both write the requisite html to post
> to
> the web and both can create scorm packages if you are uploading to an LMS.
> Personally I prefer Captivate, but then I started with it way back when it
> was RoboDemo. My recommendation is to download each program and test drive
> them with some of your content, see which one you like best and go with
> it.
> And if you can incorporate some sound learning principles along the way,
> all the better.
>
> Unfortunately I cannot share samples my courses as they are all
> proprietary
> government-type stuff. However I encourage you to check out Total
> Training.
> I've seen a lot of on-line training and the stuff this crew puts out is
> really slick. http://www.totaltraining.com
>
> -Cheers,
>
> Gregory P. Sweet
> Health Media Training Specialist, Certified Synchronous Facilitator
>
>
>
>
> Mary Bono
> <elearnsamples -at- ho
> tmail.com> To
> Sent by: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> techwr-l-bounces+ cc
> gps03=health.stat
> e -dot- ny -dot- us -at- lists -dot- tec Subject
> hwr-l.com request for eLearning samples
>
>
> 09/26/2007 08:21
> PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I work as a tech writer for a firm that produces claimprocessing software
> for the insurance industry. Our trainingguide consists of 400 pages of
> task-based screenshots andprocedures. We want to convert most if not all
> of
> our trainingdocumentation to eLearning.
> I am looking for demonstration samples from eLearning authors orvendors,
> to
> help me to determine which tool might fit our needs.If you have authored
> eLearning and can provide links to smallsamples that you have created, or
> if you know of good vendors orfreelance eLearning authors who can provide
> sample eLearninglinks that I can view, please contact me
> atelearningsamples -at- hotmail -dot- com -dot- Thank you!
>
>
>
>
>
> IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail and any attachments may contain
> confidential or sensitive information which is, or may be, legally
> privileged or otherwise protected by law from further disclosure. It is
> intended only for the addressee. If you received this in error or from
> someone who was not authorized to send it to you, please do not distribute,
> copy or use it or any attachments. Please notify the sender immediately by
> reply e-mail and delete this from your system. Thank you for your
> cooperation.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 16
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:32:25 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Chris Borokowski <athloi -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID: <95052 -dot- 11500 -dot- qm -at- web57804 -dot- mail -dot- re3 -dot- yahoo -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> This is about the only kind of test I can imagine for this profession,
> namely a generalized one. We have to look at general skill sets, not
> some specific tests that as someone sagely noted, can easily be faked.
>
> --- neilson -at- windstream -dot- net wrote:
>
> > Any newspaper editor has a test for would-be reporters or stringers.
> > (A stringer is a free-lance reporter.) The test takes about an
> > hour, and shows the ability to put together a bunch of jumbled
> > facts, complete with misspellings and libelous accusations, into
> > a coherent and mostly sane news story. I would bet that most tech
> > writers could pass the test with ease. Any good news writer with
> > a technical bent can do tech writing.
>
> http://technical-writing.dionysius.com/
> technical writing | consulting | development
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with Yahoo!
> Autos.
> http://autos.yahoo.com/index.html
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 17
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:35:09 -0700
> From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Dan Goldstein" <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>, "TECHWR-L"
> <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <003c01c80135$21f3f630$5e00a8c0 -at- TDGKimEng>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Well, this is what I've been doing, with only about
> 60% success over the years...
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan Goldstein" <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>
> > Ask them what they personally like most and least about working there.
> > Ask them to estimate their annual employee turnover rate and average
> > length of employment.
> > Ask about their investors and recent financial history.
> > Ask for an opportunity to walk around the work area.
> > Ask about company-organized social events.
> > Ask about money and work time allotted for continuing education.
> > Ask if their managers mostly came up through the ranks or were hired as
> > managers.
> > Ask about the flow of employees (if any) between them and their
> > competitors.
> > Ask if the typical employee covers multiple areas of responsibility.
> > Ask for the best-case scenario of where the company might be in five
> > years.
> > Ask what kind of work they've outsourced in the past, and to whom.
> > Ask about the relative percentages of full-time employees, part-time
> > employees, and contractors.
> >
> > OK, there's a dozen to start with...
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 18
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:57:22 -0700
> From: "Tariel, Lauren R" <lt34 -at- saclink -dot- csus -dot- edu>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>, "Dori Green"
> <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <F454729E27C19E42B94474AB784675214D4756 -at- VSL2B -dot- saclink -dot- csus -dot- edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> How does the plan of interviewing candidates work in a market that is
> saturated with "technical writers" who really aren't qualified for the job,
> but can write up a resume, produce samples (possibly borrowed), and come up
> with references, so the TWs look qualified? If you are hit with 50 or so
> resumes from "qualified" candidates, how do you determine who to call for a
> phone interview and later bring in for an in-person
> interview? Certification can help slim the numbers in large markets.
>
> Lauren
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com on behalf of Gene
> Kim-Eng
> Sent: Thu 9/27/2007 10:21 AM
> To: Dori Green; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
>
>
>
> I employ an "old Jedi techpubs manager trick." I talk to
> candidates about their past experience, projects,
> methodologies, etc., look at their work samples and ask
> them questions about them, then talk to their previous
> managers and/or clients. It's admittedly unscientific,
> but I guess the Force must be with me, because in 15
> years I haven't made any hiring choices I later regretted.
>
> What *I* really need is some way to test prospective
> *employers.*
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 19
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:58:40 -0400
> From: Gause_Brian -at- emc -dot- com
> Subject: RE: Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
> To: <k -dot- zorn -at- zorntech -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <FEA8D40A7473E64A95AFE058FC897C3801657458 -at- CORPUSMX20B -dot- corp -dot- emc -dot- com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Good questions to ask potential employers:
>
> What do you expect from the technical writer who takes this position?
> How will you measure success or failure in this position?
> What is the most important quality for the person who takes this
> position?
> How many people are on the team?
> Was the TechPubs manager ever a writer?
> What are the growth opportunities for this position?
> What happened to the last person in this position?
> Describe the work environment and expectations.
> Describe the software development lifecycle (how often are releases?)...
>
> That's a few to start.
>
>
> Brian Gause
>
> Technical Writer
> EMC Captiva
> EMC Corporation
> 10145 Pacific Heights Blvd.
> San Diego, CA 92121
>
> P: 858-320-1202
> F: 858-320-1010
> E: Gause_Brian -at- emc -dot- com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+gause_brian=emc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+gause_brian=emc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
> Behalf Of Karen L. Zorn
> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:14 AM
> To: 'Techwr-l'
> Subject: Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
>
> What *I* really need is some way to test prospective *employers.*
>
>
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
>
> Ah, what an *excellent* idea, the Potential Employer Test! If there was
> a
> vehicle like that TW contractors wouldn't have to deal with:
>
> - unpaid invoices
>
> - uncontrollable creeping project scope
>
> - lack of cooperation from SMEs
>
> - make it pretty demands
>
> - no invites to important project meetings
>
> - and so on....
>
>
>
> Karen L. Zorn
>
> Zorn Technologies, Inc.
>
> Mesa, AZ
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
> or
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
>
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as gause_brian -at- emc -dot- com -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit
> http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/gause_brian%40emc.com
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 20
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:09:23 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Chris Borokowski <athloi -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID: <788318 -dot- 91473 -dot- qm -at- web57805 -dot- mail -dot- re3 -dot- yahoo -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> While that's true, is it the kind of slimming you would want? I have a
> friend who is a Human Resources ninja. I'll ask her how she would
> answer, but my answer is to look for some sense of purpose to the
> resumes. The people who have consistently developed skillsets and
> worked toward something will stand out, and that should cut the number
> to a manageable 20-25 people, which I don't consider an unduly heavy
> call load to find a match for a position.
>
> --- "Tariel, Lauren R" <lt34 -at- saclink -dot- csus -dot- edu> wrote:
>
> > How does the plan of interviewing candidates work in a market that is
> > saturated with "technical writers" who really aren't qualified for
> > the job, but can write up a resume, produce samples (possibly
> > borrowed), and come up with references, so the TWs look qualified?
> > If you are hit with 50 or so resumes from "qualified" candidates, how
> > do you determine who to call for a phone interview and later bring in
> > for an in-person interview? Certification can help slim the numbers
> > in large markets.
>
> http://technical-writing.dionysius.com/
> technical writing | consulting | development
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user
> panel and lay it on us.
> http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 21
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:10:44 -0700
> From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <000c01c8013a$1ad50c40$5e00a8c0 -at- TDGKimEng>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Generally, by sorting candidates in the following order:
>
> 1. Candidates I've worked with previously
> 2. Candidates recommended by people I work/have
> worked with
> 3. Candidates whose resumes show time at companies
> where I have networking contacts I can call for opinions
> 4. Everyone else
>
> It's actually pretty rare for me to have to pull candidates
> out of group 4.
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tariel, Lauren R" <lt34 -at- saclink -dot- csus -dot- edu>
> How does the plan of interviewing candidates work in a market that is
> saturated with "technical writers" who really aren't qualified for the
> job,
> but can write up a resume, produce samples (possibly borrowed), and come
> up
> with references, so the TWs look qualified? If you are hit with 50 or so
> resumes from "qualified" candidates, how do you determine who to call for
> a
> phone interview and later bring in for an in-person interview?
> Certification can help slim the numbers in large markets.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 22
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:35:12 -0400
> From: "Dan Goldstein" <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <0ADA9A22B5BC2147B360A22FD2BAD25CD488DC -at- RMGBEX01 -dot- rmg -dot- local>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Next step: Get 'em to sign a HIPAA waiver. :-)
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gene Kim-Eng
> > Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 2:35 PM
> > To: Dan Goldstein; TECHWR-L
> > Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> >
> > Well, this is what I've been doing, with only
> > about 60% success over the years...
> >
> > Gene Kim-Eng
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dan Goldstein"
> > > Ask them...
> > >
> > > OK, there's a dozen to start with...
> >
> >
>
> This message contains confidential information intended only for the use
> of the addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, or the person responsible
> for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that reading,
> disseminating, distributing, copying, electronic storing or the taking of
> any action in reliance on the contents of this message is strictly
> prohibited. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify us,
> by replying to the sender, and delete the original message immediately
> thereafter. Thank you.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 23
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:45:19 -0400
> From: Joel <eleysium -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Word table question
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <f9a03c3a0709271245m7b95cb1bqdec697a8ae24603d -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I have a table and I want the heading row to repeat on each page. I open
> Table Properties and click Row, but the "Repeat as header row at the top
> of
> each page" check box is greyed out and I can't click it. What is the
> reason
> for this?
>
> Thanks,
>
> JW
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 24
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:53:38 -0400
> From: Melissa Nelson <melmis36 -at- hotmail -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <BAY105-W230B5FC8F469B80A670543D9B10 -at- phx -dot- gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I would agree with Chris on this subject. While I have not hired a
> technical writer, I am in the process of helping the HR lady with hiring
> developers. One of the things that I have been looking for in resumes is a
> developer who tends to stregthen his resume with each position. One who
> shows an ability and desire to grow with each position. I would think this
> would also apply to hiring a technical writer. One who shows the ability to
> learn or strengthen a skill with each position is as important as one who
> has a certification.
>
> I know that I had a BA in Technical Communications when I joined this
> field, but my real growth and strength as a technical writer has come from
> straight up on-the-job experience, as well as not being afraid to try and
> learn something new each time. While I have failed at more than one thing I
> have attempted, and other things would not go on a resume because I would
> not want to do them at another position. I would still list that as my
> biggest strength to a prospective employer. Growth has a certification all
> its own!
>
> Melissa
>
>
>
> > Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:09:23 -0700> From: athloi -at- yahoo -dot- com> Subject:
> RE: Technical Writing Certifications> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> >
> While that's true, is it the kind of slimming you would want? I have a>
> friend who is a Human Resources ninja. I'll ask her how she would> answer,
> but my answer is to look for some sense of purpose to the> resumes. The
> people who have consistently developed skillsets and> worked toward
> something will stand out, and that should cut the number> to a manageable
> 20-25 people, which I don't consider an unduly heavy> call load to find a
> match for a position.> > --- "Tariel, Lauren R" <lt34 -at- saclink -dot- csus -dot- edu>
> wrote:> > > How does the plan of interviewing candidates work in a market
> that is> > saturated with "technical writers" who really aren't qualified
> for> > the job, but can write up a resume, produce samples (possibly> >
> borrowed), and come up with references, so the TWs look qualified? > > If
> you are hit with 50 or so resumes from "qu
> alified" candidates, how> > do you determine who to call for a phone
> interview and later bring in> > for an in-person interview? Certification
> can help slim the numbers> > in large markets.> >
> http://technical-writing.dionysius.com/> technical writing | consulting |
> development> > >
> ____________________________________________________________________________________>
> Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel
> and lay it on us.
> http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7 > >
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> > Create HTML or
> Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or > printed
> documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 > Microsoft
> Office, team authoring, plus more.> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList>
> > True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.> Help &
> Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical> documentation.
> Boost your prod
> uctivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com> > ---> You are currently
> subscribed to TECHWR-L as melmis36 -at- hotmail -dot- com -dot- > > To unsubscribe send a
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 25
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:10:19 -0400
> From: "Chinell, David F (GE Indust, Security)" <David -dot- Chinell -at- GE -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Word table question
> To: "Joel" <eleysium -at- gmail -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <C985BEA24580F34AB09A7C25C37DE6F6073B93F1 -at- CINMLVEM18 -dot- e2k -dot- ad -dot- ge -dot- com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Joel:
>
> I have Word 2000. I've tried to repeat your experiment, and I get the
> same, unexpected result using the Table > Properties dialog box.
> However, when I select a specific, eligible row, and use the Heading
> Rows Repeat command in that menu, I can assign that attribute to the
> selected row.
>
> Perhaps the Table > Properties dialog box is outsmarting us somehow --
> perhaps because the rows have different numbers of cells.
>
> Finally, I assume you're not trying to skip a row. The rows designated
> as repeating must start at row 1 and be contiguous. IOW you can't have
> row 1 and row 3 repeat, but not row 2.
>
> Bear
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 26
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:16:20 -0400
> From: Fred Ridder <docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Word table question
> To: Joel <eleysium -at- gmail -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <BAY106-W200AC144278DC54CC2B68FBAB10 -at- phx -dot- gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> eleysium -at- gmail -dot- com asked:
> > I have a table and I want the heading row to repeat on each page. I
> open> Table Properties and click Row, but the "Repeat as header row at the
> top of> each page" check box is greyed out and I can't click it. What is the
> reason> for this?
>
> First, I assume you are speaking of Word 2003 (or maybe Word 2000?)
> because Word 2007 does not have a Table Properties dialog.
>
> For the "Repeat as header row at top of each page" option to be valid
> (not grayed out), one of two conditions must be true. Either the insertion
> point must be in a cell in the topmost row of the table, or the currently
> selected row(s) must include the topmost row of the table.
>
> Fred Ridder
> _________________________________________________________________
> News, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. Get it now!
> http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 27
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:17:38 -0400
> From: "Pro TechWriter" <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <6b35bddb0709271317m781cb615sb1ac94b982f16c6a -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> *** Not expressing an opinion about certification, but only about
> certificate programs and education in general ***
>
>
> I understand Bill's viewpoint, BUT.....
>
> My $.02: I have experience, as a teacher, with certificate programs, and
> also about two decades working as a member of software development teams
> (sometimes as a PM, which I have been trained for). I believe that
> technical
> writing uses either different approaches to, or subsets of, the larger PM
> methods. And it's worth it to teach and learn those methods.
>
> I would not want anyone to feel discouraged about getting education
> relevant
> to a technical writer's career; I think it's very helpful if it is the
> right
> education.
>
> Many of the topics on your list were developed for the Technical Writing
> Certificate program I helped develop at the University of South Florida
> (USF). Our curriculum centered around what a technical communicator needed
> to know from those disciplines and how they could apply it at work, where
> it
> really counts.
>
> The program was set up an adult education course, and was taught by
> working technical communicators with an average of 15 to 20 years working
> experience. Also, students who had graduated from the "for credit" program
> (see next paragraph) were instrumental in lobbying the university for the
> Certificate program, because they >said< they had not been taught skills
> that prepared them to work in a high-tech company (or any other, really).
> (I
> do think the credit program is much improved now, but this was in 1999.)
>
> USF,primary "for credit" curriculum at the time was mainly based on
> English literature, had no computer science classes, and had very little
> to
> do with high-tech applications at all.
>
> I taught, among other things, project management and estimating
> specifically for technical writers. If there were students who wanted to
> go
> on and take a complete project management track, they could, but most of
> us
> don't need the whole thing to estimate and manage our documentation subset
> of a software development plan.
>
> The students who took the program believed it was valuable for their
> careers. I loved doing it, because I could provide those writers with
> some
> real world experience and methodologies to help them. It was not, however,
> "certification." It was a structured program for adult learners that
> focussed on the skills a real-world technical communicator needed to have
> to
> get started. It was very cool, and I got back more than I gave too, as it
> was also a wonderful learning experience for me.
>
> Remember, though, I am not talking about *certification* about which I
> have
> no current opinion at all, and flame on if you like :-PpPPPpp
>
> >>>Putting away soapbox<<<<<<
>
> PT
>
>
> On 9/26/07, Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> >
> > > Gene...I'm not so much talking about management training as part of
> > certification, as I am the tech writer skills that usually fall under
> the
> > manager's responsibility. Things like (following is only a very small
> part
> > of the list):
> > >
> > > - Project management
> > > - Calculating ROI and justifying expenditures
> > > - Localization, Internationalization, and Globalization
> > > - Agile and Extreme Development (or similar methodologies)
> > > - Six Sigma (or similar methodology)
> > >
> > < SNIP>
> > With the exception of L10n/i18n, I know that all of these listed items
> > have their own specialized certifications already ...don't see
> > ...these to be criteria ...[for] a technical writing
> > certification. They are extremely important, but not directly relevant
> > to technical writing itself.
> >
> > --
> > Bill Swallow
> > HATT List Owner
> > WWP-Users List Owner
> > Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
> > STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager
> > http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >
> > Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
> or
> > printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
> > Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> > http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
> >
> > True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> > Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> > documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
> >
> > ---
> > You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
> >
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> > techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > or visit
> >
> http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/pro.techwriter%40gmail.com
> >
> >
> > To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> >
> > Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> > http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 28
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:24:38 -0400
> From: Joel <eleysium -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Word table question
> To: "Fred Ridder" <docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com>
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <f9a03c3a0709271324t61a3d7b1s2ad6ae7e148b88bf -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Thanks to all. It's an issue of another table on top of it that it is
> apparently connected to. It was Word 2003 BTW.
>
> JW
>
> On 9/27/07, Fred Ridder <docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > eleysium -at- gmail -dot- com asked:
> >
> > > I have a table and I want the heading row to repeat on each page. I
> open
> > > Table Properties and click Row, but the "Repeat as header row at the
> top
> > of
> > > each page" check box is greyed out and I can't click it. What is the
> > reason
> > > for this?
> >
> >
> > First, I assume you are speaking of Word 2003 (or maybe Word 2000?)
> > because Word 2007 does not have a Table Properties dialog.
> >
> > For the "Repeat as header row at top of each page" option to be valid
> > (not grayed out), one of two conditions must be true. Either the
> insertion
> > point must be in a cell in the topmost row of the table, or the
> currently
> > selected row(s) must include the topmost row of the table.
> >
> > Fred Ridder
> >
> > ------------------------------
> > Get news, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. Check
> > it out! <http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx+>
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 29
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:29:54 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Chris Borokowski <athloi -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
> To: 'Techwr-l' <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <831926 -dot- 20558 -dot- qm -at- web57805 -dot- mail -dot- re3 -dot- yahoo -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> My only piece of advice here is something I learned from an old
> contract developer. When you go in for the interview, make sure to
> screw up a trivial thing at the beginning of the interview, like having
> a price tag still on your pants or misidentifying the street name you
> took to get there.
>
> If they ignore the error or make too big of a deal about it, they may
> be focused more on personality than the job itself.
>
> If they can correct the error with grace, this is someone who is both
> focused on the task and cares about people.
>
> I'm not sure how true any of this is, but I thought it interesting
> enough to remember (15 years later).
>
> --- "Karen L. Zorn" <k -dot- zorn -at- zorntech -dot- com> wrote:
>
> > What *I* really need is some way to test prospective *employers.*
>
>
> http://technical-writing.dionysius.com/
> technical writing | consulting | development
>
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail,
> news, photos & more.
> http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 30
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:42:12 -0400
> From: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Pro TechWriter" <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <375e3cb30709271342k76d691fat96f44a0b9ae9b1f1 -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I'll ask again, since this seems to be getting lost in translation:
>
> Are we talking about Technical Writing certification or Technical
> Writer certification?
>
> Or,
>
> Are we focusing on certifying proficiency in the task of writing or
> are we focusing on the proficiency in a role?
>
> I ask because the two are very different, and require a very different
> set of "passing criteria".
>
> On 9/27/07, Pro TechWriter <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> > *** Not expressing an opinion about certification, but only about
> > certificate programs and education in general ***
> >
> >
> > I understand Bill's viewpoint, BUT.....
> >
> > My $.02: I have experience, as a teacher, with certificate programs, and
> > also about two decades working as a member of software development teams
> > (sometimes as a PM, which I have been trained for). I believe that
> technical
> > writing uses either different approaches to, or subsets of, the larger
> PM
> > methods. And it's worth it to teach and learn those methods.
>
> --
> Bill Swallow
> HATT List Owner
> WWP-Users List Owner
> Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
> STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager
> http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 31
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:47:31 -0400
> From: "Julie Stickler" <jstickler -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Word table question
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <5eda48240709271447na1ed082x175b5e42b3318d03 -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> On 9/27/07, Fred Ridder <docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
>
> > First, I assume you are speaking of Word 2003 (or maybe Word 2000?)
> > because Word 2007 does not have a Table Properties dialog
>
> Hmmm, my copy of Word 2007 has a Table Properties dialog. Here's
> where I found it - Place your cursor inside a table, right-click, and
> it's there in the middle of the menu.
>
> Julie - who has learned to hunt for familar Word features in new and
> unexpected places in Word 2007 =p
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 32
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:19:11 -0400
> From: "McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID:
> <979DB57738E1C2439A15E6B67CE1B6C01CAF29 -at- bel1exch002 -dot- sfnt -dot- local>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hmm. But can you afford them?
>
> If somebody just likes techwriting, they'll accept a job at a congenial
> company and work there, producing the docs, help, etc. for years. You
> can count on them showing up, producing good work on time, interacting
> well - and knowledgeably with other staff, and ... that's about it.
>
> How/where they fit depends on your corporate size and structure. Do you
> have a documentation "team" that works together to produce this-and-that
> product? Or do you have a documentation "team" that is a writer or two
> at each of several locations around the country or around the world, and
> they rarely interact, because they work on different products?
> Or do you have "team" of one, because your company is small and they
> have not much more work than a single writer can handle, and not enough
> money to pay more than one writer?
>
> If you have a real team, do you expect each and every member to be
> constantly vying for the manager's position? Are you constantly
> grooming them all? Does every one of them expect (sooner rather than
> later) to work themselves out of actual writing and into a
> supervisory/managerial/planning role?
>
> What about good ole reliable "soldiers" who like the work, do it well,
> like to be challenged by new products and tools and such, don't mind (or
> they might even enjoy) mentoring beginners, but are relatively
> indifferent to the command track? You avoid them like the plague that
> they are?
>
> Consistently-developed skill-sets? Barring luck that would have placed
> somebody sequentially in a neat succession of jobs that developed a
> certain consistent(?) skill-set, then you are looking at a self-directed
> skill-set builder who will spend no more than 18 months to two years in
> your hell-hole, before moving on to the next checkbox-fulfilling
> position. So, just over a year from now, start the machinery to fill
> their soon-to-be-vacant slot on your team. Oh, and all your other
> team-members are equally committed to checking off acquired skill-sets?
> Which is worse, having them all leave at once, or having a constant,
> interleaved stream of slot-filling activity (search, screen, interview,
> hire)?
>
> Certain people that I could name have simply moved from job to job only
> because jobs disappeared or because a position became unpleasant. They
> routinely held a position for 7 years, 10 years, longer. They remained
> unexposed to entire major facets of the industry - such as Help - for
> years and years after such tools/delivery platforms/methods became
> popular. Yet those same people stepped up with alacrity when the company
> (or the writer(s) themselves) decided that a different solution was
> needful. Soon, they were churning out creditable work in the new form,
> just as they had for years in older forms. No directed schedule of
> acquiring the new skillset (by jumping to a company that used it);
> instead, they just picked 'em up when the opportunity or the need arose,
> without changing employers.
> Note that such people thereby retained years of accumulated
> industry-specific and company-specific knowledge that would otherwise
> have moved to a competitor, or been simply lost as no longer relevant at
> their new employment ... far from your constantly-hiring halls.
>
> I dunno. Do you think there might be a credible argument in here
> somewhere?
>
> I'll leave it to others (hiring managers) to decide, if I ever need to
> put it to the test. Er, I mean those peculiar writers that I described
> will... er... um....
>
> Kevin
>
> On Behalf Of Chris Borokowski said:
>
> > While that's true, is it the kind of slimming you would want? I have a
> > friend who is a Human Resources ninja. I'll ask her how she would
> > answer, but my answer is to look for some sense of purpose to the
> > resumes. The people who have consistently developed skillsets and
> > worked toward something will stand out, and that should cut the number
> > to a manageable 20-25 people, which I don't consider an unduly heavy
> > call load to find a match for a position.
> >
> > --- "Tariel, Lauren R" <lt34 -at- saclink -dot- csus -dot- edu> wrote:
> > > [...] Certification can help slim the numbers
> > > in large markets.
> > Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> > http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
> For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 33
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:39:33 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Richard Lewis <tech44writer -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: How to write technical specifications training
> To: Rebecca Hopkins <rebecca_hopkins -at- comcast -dot- net>, Tech Whirlers
> <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <948552 -dot- 24437 -dot- qm -at- web58512 -dot- mail -dot- re3 -dot- yahoo -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Great topic - how to write tech specs. While such has been a required
> task at all the places that I have worked at lately, unfortunately, I do not
> think you are going to find any existing books or training programs.
>
> I have found that, often, the major part of the task at hand is to
> supplement, as necessary, design artifacts (like UML activity diagrams,
> sequence diagrams, etc.) with addtional graphics and text.
>
> I am currently integratting a bunch of technical specs together. I use
> data flow diagrams, modified as necessary to be heavily implementation
> oriented.
>
> Generic Richard
>
>
>
> Rebecca Hopkins <rebecca_hopkins -at- comcast -dot- net> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> Our developers are being asked to write more and better specs. Most of
> them are not comfortable with the process, so I suggested a seminar. Anybody
> know someone in the Boston area that conducts such training? Or a good book
> on the subject, at least?
> -----
> Rebecca
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as tech44writer -at- yahoo -dot- com -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit
> http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/tech44writer%40yahoo.com
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
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>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 34
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:36:50 -0400
> From: Fred Ridder <docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: Word table question
> To: Julie Stickler <jstickler -at- gmail -dot- com>,
> <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Message-ID: <BAY106-W45952B47F6B3BE671D6BEBAB20 -at- phx -dot- gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> jstickler -at- gmail -dot- com responded to a posting of mine, saying:
> > > First, I assume you are speaking of Word 2003 (or maybe Word 2000?)
> > > because Word 2007 does not have a Table Properties dialog
> >
> > Hmmm, my copy of Word 2007 has a Table Properties dialog. Here's
> > where I found it - Place your cursor inside a table, right-click, and
> > it's there in the middle of the menu.
>
> I clearly haven't spent enough time exploring Office 2007 yet--and
> I won't get into how much I resent having to approach this new
> version of a familiar old tool (I've used no less than 14 different
> versions of Word, counting Mac, DOS, and Windows) as if it were
> a brand-new tool I have never seen before...
>
> But in my defense I'll point out that there is no reason to go looking
> for the Table Properties dialog just to set a header row for a table
> because that option is right there in the table ribbon (or
> whateverthehell it is they want us to call the new UI presentation...)
>
> -Fred Ridder
> _________________________________________________________________
> Discover the new Windows Vista
> http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=windows+vista&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 35
> Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:04:05 +0800
> From: Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- westnet -dot- com -dot- au>
> Subject: Re: Employer's Test, was Technical Writer Certification
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID: <46FC6F25 -dot- 5040803 -at- westnet -dot- com -dot- au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Chris B said:
> > When you go in for the interview, make sure to screw up a
> > trivial thing at the beginning of the interview, like having
> > a price tag still on your pants or misidentifying the street
> > name you took to get there.
> >
> > If they ignore the error or make too big of a deal about it,
> > they may be focused more on personality than the job itself.
> >
> > If they can correct the error with grace, this is someone who
> > is both focused on the task and cares about people.
>
> Huh? Why would I distract or embarrass the applicant by "correcting" an
> error that's irrelevant to the job and the interview? I think it would
> be tactful not to mention it.
>
> If someone accidentally left a price tag on their clothes or
> misremembered a street name it would have no influence on my decision.
> If I thought an applicant had _deliberately_ done this as some sort of
> bizarre, misguided personality test--I would have to suspect that person
> was *seriously* weird.
>
> Stuart
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 36
> Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:16:58 -0400
> From: "Pro TechWriter" <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID:
> <6b35bddb0709272116i57ee1dbfl80d9656e64d344e4 -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Sorry to be unclear. I was talking about "Technical Writing Certificate
> program." Like you, I don't know of any certification for technical
> writers.
> That doesn't mean there isn't one, somewhere.
>
> PT
>
>
> On 9/27/07, Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> >
> > I'll ask again, since this seems to be getting lost in translation:
> >
> > Are we talking about Technical Writing certification or Technical
> > Writer certification?
> >
> > Or,
> >
> > Are we focusing on certifying proficiency in the task of writing or
> > are we focusing on the proficiency in a role?
> >
> > I ask because the two are very different, and require a very different
> > set of "passing criteria".
> >
> > On 9/27/07, Pro TechWriter <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> > > *** Not expressing an opinion about certification, but only about
> > > certificate programs and education in general ***
> > >
> > >
> > > I understand Bill's viewpoint, BUT.....
> > >
> > > My $.02: I have experience, as a teacher, with certificate programs,
> and
> > > also about two decades working as a member of software development
> teams
> > > (sometimes as a PM, which I have been trained for). I believe that
> > technical
> > > writing uses either different approaches to, or subsets of, the larger
> > PM
> > > methods. And it's worth it to teach and learn those methods.
> >
> > --
> > Bill Swallow
> > HATT List Owner
> > WWP-Users List Owner
> > Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
> > STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager
> > http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 37
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:19:07 -0700
> From: "Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>
> Subject: RE: Technical Writing Certifications
> To: "'Pro TechWriter'" <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com>, "'Bill Swallow'"
> <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Message-ID: <20070928051456 -dot- 528C984117 -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> The junior colleges, universities, and university extensions in my area
> all
> have technical writing certification programs. Perhaps the tech schools
> do
> too, I don't know all of the places to get a certificate but there are a
> lot
> around here. There are also a lot of online programs that are easy to
> find
> with a web search. It seems that getting an education certificate in
> technical writing is relatively straight-forward these
> days. Certification
> as a technical writing professional is not exactly forthcoming, yet.
>
> An education can help somebody get started with the know-how of technical
> writing. "Winging it in a crunch" can give a person know-how in technical
> writing but with an application to the real world. Although, I don't
> think
> that there's really any substitute for years of qualified experience. I
> can't see a shortcut from wanting to be a technical writer to being
> respected as a technical writer other than years of experience.
>
> But to summarize my opinion on the matter, a well-designed technical
> writer
> certificate could help a person prove their qualifications of education,
> experience, and know-how and possibly place themselves at the top of a
> heap
> of equally-qualified technical writers in a nearly saturated market.
>
> Lauren
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
> > Behalf Of Pro TechWriter
> > Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 9:17 PM
> > To: Bill Swallow
> > Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
> >
> > Sorry to be unclear. I was talking about "Technical Writing
> > Certificate
> > program." Like you, I don't know of any certification for
> > technical writers.
> > That doesn't mean there isn't one, somewhere.
> >
> > PT
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
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> End of TECHWR-L Digest, Vol 23, Issue 28
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