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Subject:Re: FrameMaker > Help > FrameMaker? From:"Chuck Martin" <cm -at- writeforyou -dot- com> To:techwr-l Date:Wed, 13 Aug 2003 19:07:23 -0700
"Goober Writer" <gooberwriter -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote in message news:209217 -at- techwr-l -dot- -dot- -dot-
>
> > As another list denizen repeats as a mantra,
> > you're worth precisely what people are willing to
> > pay.
>
> I'm going to be flat-out honest in my response... I
> think that's a load of crap and I'm extremely
> disappointed in people who believe that. You have the
> power to command your worth. You just need to do it,
> and make damned sure you're worth what you think you
> are.
>
But it's the (free) market that ultimately determines your worth. That said,
maybe "precisely" wasn't the right word. But both sides of the market do
drive proces, and i nthe past 2 years, the buyer's side has driven prices
down. Prices and value are not equivalent, nor to they march in lockstep.
Plenty of highly skilled workers are doing jobs they love for far less than
they made just 2 years ago, and not because they decided to be magnanamous
and work for less.
I believe the value I bring to an organization is equal to a programmer. I
know that my skills, while different, are at least equal in quality and
quantity.
But (most) buyers don't share that belief, and they make compensation offers
accordingly.
But you're welcome to dissuade me. What companies are hiring staff
senior-level technical writers in 2003 and paying $80+K to start?
(Note one of the critical keywords there: "hiring." I am sure many companies
who *used* to offer that much and who have retained some of their staff have
kept their remaining people at that rate, but (a) are they currently hiring,
and (b) if they are, what are they offering now?)
Chuck Martin
P.S. I do notice that when jobs are posted to TECHWR-L, almost none of them
are in the high-tech Silicon Valley region.
