Re: How to I get into this field?

["Michael West" <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- com>]

> > My background in programming doesn't hurt. I feel comfortable
> > documenting my company's proprietary computer applications.  Background
> > is helpful, but it is secondary, however, to enthusiasm and
> > determination.
> 
> How does the person who is doing the hiring feel about that?


That may depend on how narrowly one defines "knowing something about the
subject."

But when I have been a hiring manager, I never considered subject matter
knowledge more important than mastery of technical communication skills and
enthusiasm for the task. And it always worked.

Sometimes "subject matter knowledge" is not a realistic expectation.
Sometimes it may be. But it is never paramount except in those rare cases
where the constraints include an extremely specialised subject, a large
contractor budget and a short timeframe. And there we're not talking about
an entry-level position.

--
Mike West

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