RE: Why are companies now requiring techical writer candidates to be SMEs?

[Watson Laughton <WLaughton -at- orphan -dot- com>]

Perhaps I am laboring under a misconception wrt what an SME is, but it is my
impression that an SME is someone who actually DOES what is being documented
(e.g., programmer <"software engineer">, aerospace engineer, microwave oven
designer, etc.).  

Posting an ad seeking "an individual with demonstrated experience in
creating documentation for voice self-service applications and visual
configuration software," and who is experienced with "Voice self-service
application documentation (1 year)." seems to be nothing more than saying
that they want a TECHNICAL WRITER who is experienced writing technically
about the subject matter they will be documenting in the open position.

While entry-level positions are fine and dandy, it seems naive to think that
someone who has spent the past 25 years writing FDA new drug applications
for pharmaceutical companies could hit the ground running documenting
municipal power systems or spacecraft control panels.  Any more than someone
who has been a medical examiner doing autopsies for 25 years could pick up
where a psychiatrist with 25 years experience left off.



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