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:Requirement for Academic Degree From:Daniel Wise <dewise -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 20 Sep 1996 21:04:05 -0700
Colleagues,
Yvonne Harrison asks why so many employers ask for a college degree.
Simple. It is a form of certification. I am not sure what it certifies,
but IMHO, that is why they want it.
Several times in my career my degree in Industrial Administration was the
deciding factor is whether I was qualified for a technical writing/editing
job. Of course, IAd has no more to do with technical writing than does
underwater basket weaving, but a degree in *something* was required.
I have also worked for a company that refused to interview a candidate I had
worked with previously and vouched for enthusiastically just because he had
no degree.
So we hired the scarecrow. We all know he got a degree.
