Re: Rant

["Ed Wurster" <eawurster -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

Jon Steiner wrote:
> I've been going on interviews for tech writing jobs in NYC, and I am
> wondering:
>
> Are there any tech writing jobs anymore in which employers will just
> let you do your job and write a freaking website/manual? Every
> interview I've been on it's been about 'vision' and drinking the
> company kool-aid and such. (The industry in NYC that is the paragon
> of this is Wall Street, where apparently these people think they can
> do no wrong for the sole reason that they're making a profit.) These
> are temp positions, whereas the company management doublespeak has
> (in my 8 years experience) been reserved for actual employees (who,
> IMHO, are paid to take this.)
>
> Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that, with outsourcing and
> everything, the turkey may be done. Should I just pack it in and open
> a hotdog stand? Or are there some jobs out there in which you are
> 'left alone' to create a decent product?
>
> I guess after 8 years I am now an old-timer, and I just needed to
> rant. -J
>

I'm going thru my 3rd down cycle, the worst ever. These tend to happen every
5-7 years in our economy. When it is an employer's market, you will hear a
lot about vision.

You may also find employers who are looking for programmer-teacher-writer,
with knowledge of every core competency, but they also want you to have 2
years of experience (entry level), and you'll schedule the meeting room 3
out of 5 days.

We are coming out of the funk, but what it will mean for someone with your
profile and experience is anyone's guess.

I once met a tech illustrator who was a true player in the system. His
inking skills were really not good, and he could not think in blue lines. In
spite of his shortcomings he found work that paid very well in the Reagan
years. To supplement his "tech illustration" income, he had a hot dog cart,
and did very well with that. He had connections, as you must, that allowed
him to set up his cart and stave off the intrusion of other hot dog carts to
the location.

The best advice I can give you is to think ahead, and make decisions that
feel right for you.

A quote that I've held onto for a long time may help.

“…A
society, or
all mankind,
should study the
consequences that are
likely to result from each
decision that is possible at
the present time. By making
appropriate selections today,
society can influence its
future, rather than wait for the
inevitable to occur. The individual,
too, can consider what sort
of person he wants to become,
and what goals he wants to
achieve, before making a choice
between various alternatives.
He can set out to produce a
certain future for himself,
instead of feeling that his life
is completely determined
by forces over which he
has little control.”
Allen Tough
from
The Adult’s
Learning Projects

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ROBOHELP X5 - ALL NEW VERSION. Now with Word 2003 support, Content 
Management, Multi-Author support, PDF and XML support and much more! 

Now is the best time to buy - special end of month promos, including:
$100 mail-in rebate; Free online orientation on content management
functionality; Huge savings on support and future product releases;
PLUS Great discounts on RoboHelp training. OFFER EXPIRES April 30th! 
Call 1-800-358-9370 or visit: http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.