Re[2]: Certification

["Alexandria G. Khalil" <akhalil -at- SUNGARD -dot- COM>]

     Jane,

     What kind of experience were you looking for when you posted the
     position? If it was an entry level position I would have interviewed
     the two individuals you mentioned. I think it shows initiative and
     guts to apply for a position you are not quite qualified for but are
     willing to learn about. I hired two individuals who had no or very
     little experience in the trade. I trained them and they worked out
     great. When I was hired for my first technical writing job 5 years ago
     I had no technical writing experience and had never used a desktop
     publishing package. My manager thought I had potential and hired me.
     I'll take someone with initiative and desire to learn over anyone with
     a certificate. I think you made a mistake not interviewing those
     individuals, you might have found a couple of gems.

     Alexandria Khalil
     SunGard Capital Markets
     Phila., Pa
     Doc. Manager

     akhalil -at- sungard -dot- com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Certification
Author:  janeb -at- answersoft -dot- com at Internet
Date:    3/20/96 11:11 AM


> >On our last attempt at hiring writers, we got one from a man who
> >had written "procedures for carrying out duties  while in the army"
> >and another whose sole experience was "wrote a manual on bowling."

> >We've talked (and whined) a lot about the issue of certification on
> >this list, but I support it 100%. Until we start taking ourselves
> >and our education seriously, we can't expect our employers or the
> >general public to do so, either.

> I certainly agree, as Larry Kunz keeps saying, that we need to take
> ourselves seriously if we expect others to take us and our
> profession seriously.

> No amount of certification, however, will necessarily induce
> employers to change their hiring practices. If they get a product
> they're happy with from someone they're paying peanuts to, why
> should they pay more.

> You can't legislate respect and demand for quality. If the end user
> doesn't insist on it, if the client doesn't care about it, there's
> no way you can charge a premium for it.  ...RM

I don't remember this being about "pay" --- the point I was trying to
make was that if a PROSPECTIVE employer wants to ensure that he or
she is sifting out unqualified APPLICANTS, certification would
certainly help. I'm sure that some certified applicants could
conceivably be not-so-good writers .... and the reverse could also be
true, that some good writers may not be certified..... but it does
seem to be a better alternative than the current situation.

Jane
...............................................................
 Jane Bergen, Technical Writer
 janeb -at- answersoft -dot- com   or   janeb -at- airmail -dot- net
    "The difference between the right word and the
     almost right word is the difference between lightning
     and the lightning bug" (Mark Twain)
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