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> Is the point here that people aren't listening to someone because of what they
> wear? or because of what they do (tech communicator)?
Believe it or not, this is reality. I worked for three years as a vendor at the
San Jose IBM site. I worked with engineers on a daily basis, documenting various
products. If I showed up to work dressed in a suit, they reacted as if I were
a manager or something. I could *not* get information. Basically, we came to the
conclusion that they were intimidated when we dressed more nicely than they did.
I am now working at a smallish (getting bigger by the day) software development
company (also in San Jose) where no one really cares what you wear. AND, believe
it or not, I have come across the SAME behavior! If I dress up, the developer
I am attempting to snag information from will usually comment that "you look
nice
today -- what's going on?" and manage to not provide the information I need.
Maybe this is a California thing?! I don't know. I do know that if I have to
dress more casually to get the respect of the engineers I work with, then I
guess that's what I will do! After all, the goal is to create quality
documentation,
not win a fashion show, right?
From the land of sunshine and Birkenstocks. . .
September Radecki
sradecki -at- sherpa -dot- com
Sr. Tech. Writer
Sherpa Corporation
