Re[2]: what tools to learn? (fwd)

[Sherri Hall <shall -at- HILCO -dot- COM>]

Regarding tools vs. writing experience, it doesn't always matter what
we, as technical writers, think is most important.  Many times it matters
what the person hiring thinks--which is often a technical person who
doesn't have a clue about writing issues but does know about software
tools.  Again, you have to look at the ads to see what a company's looking
for.  Don't like it.  Yes, it makes my blood boil to think software knowledge
is more important than my writing expertise to some would-be employers,
but that's reality. Life isn't fair.

>      glen accardo    glen -at- softint -dot- com wrote, regarding tools:


> > Show me you can write a manual or a help file -- show me that you know
> > the differences in the writing -- and I'll make sure you learn
> > whatever tools I happen to use.

>    and joyce furthers:

>      Glen knows of what he writes.  "Listen" to him.

>      You may know more than I know about every popular package
>      on the market.  BUT, if you can't put together a grammatically
>      correct sentence, if you can't communicate in your native
>      tongue, if you can't organize a manual, then get out of my
>      office.  All your tool expertise is worthless to me.  You're
>      just another word-processor, page-formatter person.
--
Sherri Hall (shall -at- hilco -dot- com)