RE: Tools versus skill set

["Janoff, Steve" <Steve -dot- Janoff2 -at- Teradata -dot- com>]

What is the tool? 

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+steve -dot- janoff2=teradata -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+steve -dot- janoff2=teradata -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of Tammy Van Boening
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:23 PM
To: TechWhirl List
Subject: Tools versus skill set

All,

I have a colleague who has a superb set of skills for a job about which
she was recently contacted  - many, many years in the field in internal
QC and auditing documentation, but the potential employer is all hung up
about her lack of a single software tool. We all know that tools are
secondary and that it's the underlying skills that are critical. (I
can't tell you how many tool monkeys I have worked with during my career
that couldn't write their way out of a paper sack! I at least had one
potential employer recognize this and state "that he could get a trained
monkey to learn the tool to produce OLH - he needed someone who
understood the data flow of the product and how to appropriately chunk
and organize the information" - I got the job, learned the tool and both
sides were pleased.) That said, she is not giving up, and I am helping
her in redoing her resume that truthfully and forcefully highlights her
pertinent skill set. What I am looking for is any references/articles
that you may have tucked away in your archives that provide a solid
argument about why tools are frequently secondary - it's the person's
talent that you want. I swear I remember reading an article about this
topic in an STC journal (I think by the ubiquitous Mr. Hart) but for the
life of me, I can't seem to dig it up.

Any and all references/links/ etc. are sincerely appreciated. I know
that the many gurus and guru-esses on this list will have some guidance
and insight.

TIA,

TVB

Tammy Van Boening
Owner/Principal
Spectrum Writing, LLC
email: info -at- spectrumwritingllc -dot- com
web: www.spectrumwritingllc.com
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