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Chris,
Is it true that you feel there are no core communication skills that are
widely required in our field and certifiable?
Bill DuBay
Technical Writer
Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
email: bill_dubay -at- phoenix -dot- com
(714)790-2049 FAX: (714)790-2001 http://www.phoenix.com
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Original Text
From: Chris Hamilton <chamilton -at- GR -dot- COM>, on 6/16/97 12:38 PM:
Four years ago, I stopped working as a government contractor. Today,
despite the fact that I have honed my skills significantly and I'm much
better at what I do than I used to be, I am not employable on my former
contract. Why? Because I don't have the appropriate degree (math, CS, or
english [and probably TC, now]). I have a political science degree. As
far as the Government is concerned, someone five minutes out of a
diploma mill is more qualified to do my job than I am, despite the fact
that this graduate probably has little or no professional experience.
Limiting the profession to those with only the proper degrees or to
products of a long, rigorous certification process will only reduce the
flexibility and breadth of experience we enjoy as a profession. If
you're writing software to automate a radio station, wouldn't it be a
bonus to have someone with radio experience on your team? (I have such
experience.)
I get my certification every time we release a product and don't get any
support calls about documentation mix-ups, or when our product is
reviewed and the documentation is praised. No certification board or
test can give me that.
Chris
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