Re: Ethics of Jumping To Another Contract Job

["Mike Starr" <mike -at- writestarr -dot- com>]

I won't say I walked in the door and instantly understood the technology... 
but I've always been immediately productive by understanding the 
requirements of documentation and beginning the documentation process, 
absorbing the technology along the way. I've worked in a number of highly 
complex environments... laser trim systems, industrial automation (PLC) 
software for ladder logic programming and communication, asphalt and feed 
mill plant operation, nuclear imaging systems, etc.

I just started an assignment three weeks ago and I've already adapted two 
existing manuals to a re-engineered software environment and I'm about 60% 
done with a new manual for an under-the-hood application that does the 
configuration for an incredibly complex national package sortation system. I 
got authorized to use the SourceForge system today, a tool I've never even 
seen before and I logged in and submitted three issues. It helps that I have 
an associate degree in electromechanical technology that taught me about 
hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, computers and programmable controllers.

So, software for petroleum engineering?? Sure, I'll give it a shot. Can't be 
much more difficult than the other stuff. At this stage, I'm fearless 
<grin>.

Mike
--
Mike Starr                            WriteStarr Information Services
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen" <ekarenski-techwrl -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "Mike Starr" <mike -at- writestarr -dot- com>; <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: Ethics of Jumping To Another Contract Job

> How "technical" is your technical documentation? You just can't come in 
> and hit the ground running in a petroluem engineering firm where you're 
> working with developing new software that only a very highly specialized 
> group of people really understand. It's not that I wasn't productive for 
> the first six months; however, I could not reach max productivity since I 
> was learning such complex material.
>
>  I'm not sure if your situation is "the norm".
>
>  Karen
>
>
>
> Mike Starr <mikestarr-techwr-l -at- writestarr -dot- com> wrote:
>  I've been on a lot of contract assignments in the last 15 years and I 
> can't
> remember ever starting an assignment and requiring more than the first
> morning on the job to get up to speed and begin being productive. I'm not 
> a
> manager and don't even play one on TV but I think if I hired a writer and
> they took two weeks to get up to speed, I'd seriously question my
> interviewing skills. 

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