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So, if someone chooses not to go into management, and remain a TW
full-time, how do they advance? If they were fortunate enough to be at a
company where there were two tracks for management vs. advanced XYZ then
there is no issue. But if you're not, how would you feel professionally if
others in your department, with potentially less experience, advanced to
management and you remained in the same position? Would you rethink your
goals if that happened?
If management is not for you, what then?
"technical writing plus" <doc-x -at- earthlink -dot- net>
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Subject
RE: New position? - FEEDBACK NEEDED
Thing is, staying in a non-managerial role can indeed be a goal. -j
-----Original Message-----
Nope. Not this time, oh guru :^)
'What do you want to do?' should be the easiest question to answer because
everyone - EVERYONE - should have short term, medium term, and long term
goals in place at all times. Once the OPs Manager described the position
the decision is simply comparing the duties and responsibilities of the
position against these goals. Do I want to manage a group of tech
writers?
Yes or no. Do I want to be writer or a manager/editor?
The only difficulties arise when one has to establish goals first, before
considering the job.
- Jim
From: Gene Kim-Eng <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
I don't think it's a no-brainer at all. The question asked by the
OP's manager (what do you want to do?) is often the hardest
question there is to answer. Practical considerations aside, if
a possible position is not what one *wants* to do, one's
chances for success and satisfaction in the position are already
handicapped.
> This is a no-brainer.
>
> Your current position is here: (_)
> Becoming a supervisor would put you here: (-)
>
> Take the position. Learn XML. Don't look back, and stop trying to talk
yourself out of it.
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