Re: Advice for someone re-entering the work force

["Jonathan West" <jwest -at- mvps -dot- org>]

I have to say I also agree with Gene's response. The attorney's
analysis is grossly unrealistic and clearly is being put forward as a
bargaining chip.

Think about it. Computer skills not kept up to date since 1987?
Remember how antediluvian (by modern standards) computers were back
then? Windows 3.1 (the first widely adopted version) wasn't introduced
until 1992. WYSIWYG word processors were nonexistent for Windows
though Word for Mac had been around for a couple of years by then. The
first primitive version of Quark was released in that year and cost an
arm and a leg.

So your friend is first of all going to have to get used to modern
software and tools. She's unemployable in virtually any office job
(let alone tech writing) unless and until she gets those. She's going
to be unemployable specifically in a tech writing job unless she has
some familiarity with the additional tools used in the trade beyond
Office, so there is training needed on graphics tools, screengrabbers,
help authoring tools etc, other editors such as Framemaker.

Then there is also training needed on modern structured document
design and layout - things have moved on a long way in that field in
20 years.

All that is before you even start looking at more specialist niches
within the market that might pay more.

A significant amount of full-time study is going to be needed before
the idea of a job in tech writing can seriously be entertained.

Regards
Jonathan West
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