Re: FW: Re: Ye Olde Tar Heel...

[Peter Gold <pgold -at- NETCOM -dot- COM>]

Exactly right! Seek and apply for entry-level positions to make the "fit"
closer to 100%.

On Mon, 25 Nov 1996, Deborah Holmes wrote:

> >
> >>>PETER GOLD SAID
> >From the employer's side consider: would you hire someone at full pay who
> >is not fully trained and with a successful track record in what you need
> >the new hire to do pretty quick after coming board? <snip>
> >
> >
> >The answer is, overwhelming, yes.  That's why there are jobs called "entry
> >level." It may be that an entry level tech writer can't find a job outside of
> >the "tech belts." But in 1989, when I retooled and took off into tech
> >writing, I hadn't had an internship, I didn't have a degree in English, never
> >mind a Masters.  I got a job for $30K, and have worked through the major
> >downturn in Massachusetts, for ever-increasing salary.  I'm a little ahead of
> >the STC curve and I am not a technical wizzard.
> >
> >First of all, don't listen to gloomsters.  You *can* get work as a tech
> >writer.  What you need is an entry level job. Interview the company on the
> >phone before you go to talk with anybody so you don't waste your energy and
> >deplete you self-esteem.  I've talked to more than one hiring manager when I
> >was hunting for work, and have been offered jobs that I felt were beyond my
> >technical grasp. Lots of managers hire  new, bright, enthusiastic people,
> >because they know the newbies will offset their lack of knowledge with the
> >energy that mastering a new field brings.
> >
> >You can do it!
> >Deb
> >