Re: 1 More Time: Tech. Comm. Survey....

[Kim Goolsby <goolsbyk -at- DG-RTP -dot- DG -dot- COM>]

> QUESTIONS FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS OF GRADUATING MS IN TECHNICAL
> COMMUNICATION STUDENTS

> Here at North Carolina State University, we are currently examining the
> relationship between the graduates of our MS in Technical Communication
> program and employers interested in hiring technical communicators. For
> this reason, we would appreciate your taking a few minutes to answer some
> questions about your expectations regarding the research skills of
> technical communication graduates entering the workforce.

> Your answers will be compiled anonymously, and re-distributed for your
> information:

> 1. Have you hired or been involved in the process of hiring a technical
> communicator? What were the requirements of the position that you were
> aiming to fill?

I am a senior tech writer.  I have a B.A. in English from NCSU and a Software
Technical Writing certificate from Durham Tech Community College.  In the five
years that I have been in this career, I have worked freelance.  The positions
required knowledge of different systems and editors (IBM BookMaster, Mac Word,
UNIX VI, Interleaf,etc.) as well as some graphics packages. Also needed was an
aptitude to come up to speed very quickly on the product about which I would be
writing.

> 2. Do you or your employees perform basic research to help you design more
> usable and comprehensive information? If so, what kind(s) of research do
> you perform?

Not really.  Usually, if a system is already in place, it is used (if for no
other reason than lack of time to consider a different way of doing things).
Also, changing the docs affects areas other than documentation (marketing,
development).  So, normally, the design is not changed unless there is a glaring
reason to do so.

> 3. Do you or your employees apply existing research in technical
> communication to help you design more usable and comprehensive information?
> If so, where do you look for the research that you use? What kinds of
> solutions does that research provide you with?
No.

> 4. Do you believe that it is useful for technical communicators to have
> experience performing original research? Is the process of writing a thesis
> valuable for the technical communicators that you hire?

Not at first.  Most writers are really revisers.  New books are undertaken once
to writer has experience with the system s/he's documenting & a relationship
with the developers to be interviewed.>

> 5. Have you ever asked technical communicators, as part of their job, to
> perform original research?

I have been asked to perfrom original research.

> 6. What skills do you think graduate programs in technical communication
> currently over-emphasize or under-emphasize?

I don't know.>

> 7. What series of activities do you think technical communication students
> absolutely need to be introduced to while in school?

How to write clear, concise, uncluttered documentation.  How to attend reviews
and respond to review comments (not personally).  How to create a mutually
respectful relationship with developers (including GREAT interviewing skills.

Also, students need to know that this is usually not a very exciting job. I
came into it thinking I would be writing new books and obtaining great
knowledge - t'ain't so, usually.  Tech writers need to be very organized,
resourceful and intelligent, basically.

> Please state briefly your title and the company or institution that you
> work for:

> Contract Technical Writer
  Data General
 Corp.__________________________________________________________________________
> Research Triangle Park
 NC__________________________________________________________________________
> __________________________________________________________________________

> Thanks in advance for your time and thoughtful responses. They will be a
> terrific help to us as we re-examine our program requirements. Please
> reply to brad_m -at- unity -dot- ncsu -dot- edu -dot- 

> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >> Brad Mehlenbacher         Office Phone: (919) 515-4138        <<
> >> Carolyn R. Miller         Fax:          (919) 515-7856        <<
> >>                                                               <<
> >> MS in Technical Communication                                 <<
> >> English Department                                            <<
> >> NC State University       E-mail:       brad_m -at- unity -dot- ncsu -dot- edu <<
> >> Raleigh, NC 27695-8105                                        <<
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


-----------------------------------------------------
Kim Goolsby                 goolsbyk -at- dg-rtp -dot- dg -dot- com
Contract Technical Writer   248-6019
Data General Corp.