More about what tools to learn

[Regina Doorlay <regina -at- HPBBLB -dot- BBN -dot- HP -dot- COM>]

I agree whole-heartedly with Glen Accardo's comment:

>Being able to say that you can use FrameMaker will not make me hire you.
>At best it'll chop off a couple of days of initial training, which I'm
>willing to sacrifice for someone who can WRITE.

Is you are smart, show initiative & are willing to learn you'll learn a new
tool very quickly.  In my job, most of my time is spend analyzing and planning,
not formatting documents.  To create a document, I need to be able to:

- find information from whatever source I can (getting info can be tough!)
- digest it & fill in the gaps in my understanding by asking specific questions
- develop a plan for how to present this information so that the user will
    understand it
- create the document or other deliverable (for example online help)

As you can see, tool knowledge is only needed in step 4.  The most time is
spent analyzing the information & developing a concept. In fact, in future
interviews, I plan to ask the candidate to describe a well-known concept
(like "leap year") in 5 sentences or less.  Anyone who can't "think on their
feet" and communicate clearly & simply, would have trouble adjusting to our
fast-paced, independent work environment.

    Regina Doorlay

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