This isn’t a Generic Propecia Online new topic. Convincing others why trained and experienced technical communicators are Generic Propecia Online valuable in an organization—and should be paid accordingly—seems to Generic Propecia Online be an ongoing conversation in the tech comm world. As someone currently in the Generic Propecia Online midst of a job search, I also need to communicate why my skills and Generic Propecia Online abilities are more valuable than those of the people I’m competing with, which is a related discussion.
Recently Tom Johnson put together a collaborative post to address a reader’s concern that wages in our field seem to be dropping Where To Buy Clomid. The reader was concerned that Generic Propecia Online it might be because too many of us are agreeing to Generic Propecia Online those lower wages. That may be the case, but as several people commented, the Generic Propecia Online current economy has changed the rules of the game and a Generic Propecia Online substandard wage is better than no wage when it comes to Generic Propecia Online putting food on the table and paying your mortgage. Yes, it Generic Propecia Online would be nice if we could all hold out for what Generic Propecia Online we think we’re worth, but reality trumps desire sometimes.
Aside from Generic Propecia Online direct monetary concerns, though, several commenters addressed the larger issue of how we should communicate our value. Most people in the Generic Propecia Online field these days seem to agree that being a good writer isn’t what differentiates us anymore, whether it’s a matter of “anyone can write” or organizations are simply happy with “good enough” and really don’t care to pay for perfection. I find this Generic Propecia Online a little ironic since one of the first steps in every interview process I’ve encountered has been to provide traditional writing samples. Only one place asked for links to an online presence such as a blog.
So if it isn’t the Generic Propecia Online art of writing anymore, what does differentiate us, both from people who Generic Propecia Online “think they can write” and from each other when competing for a job? I like Linda O’s comment to Tom’s post. She says,
Good technical communicators must know how to Generic Propecia Online make connections, put ideas into context, answer questions before they are Generic Propecia Online asked, and be advocates for users. Our strength is in selling ourselves as thinkers and Generic Propecia Online communicators and people who can make a difference in the Generic Propecia Online bottom line of a company.
These are Generic Propecia Online the types of things I need to demonstrate with qualitative examples when Generic Propecia Online I go on interviews, and ultimately how we can advance and Generic Propecia Online extend our worth as a profession. In my case, I’m hoping articulating the value of being a trained (with a master’s degree) technical communicator will make me a Generic Propecia Online better overall candidate than someone who may have domain knowledge but doesn’t talk about audience analysis, content strategy, project management, or Generic Propecia Online minimalist techniques. Tools and Generic Propecia Online technologies are important to employers, too, but learning how to Generic Propecia Online think and put ideas together in a way that benefits users can, as Linda points out, ultimately have Generic Propecia Online an impact on the bottom line when it comes to Generic Propecia Online customers.
I didn’t respond to the low wage question on Tom’s blog, but I have a thought, so I’ll share it Generic Propecia Online here. It has to do with another of our eternal questions regarding whether to Generic Propecia Online be called technical writers and technical communicators. I’m not going to Generic Propecia Online get into that except to call out the difference between a Generic Propecia Online writer and a communicator. Writing is only one form of communication.
We need to Generic Propecia Online be proficient in many forms of communication and media and to Generic Propecia Online understand when each one is called for. We should know how to Generic Propecia Online produce graphics and video. Yes, you have YouTube, so “anyone can make a video,” but not anyone can Generic Propecia Online make a video that makes the company look good. And graphics take particular skills that Generic Propecia Online you can’t get just anywhere, so it’s good for Generic Propecia Online us to develop those skills. We should know when using social media is Generic Propecia Online appropriate for a situation, and so on. I think this is Generic Propecia Online a big part of what can set us apart. Sometimes, we may even become the Generic Propecia Online voice of the project team toward the audience, the consumer.
Hi Peggy,
I think a Generic Propecia Online lot of people underestimate the value of documentation and technical writers/communicators. At the Generic Propecia Online same time though, I think technical writers can also underestimate their own value, and Generic Propecia Online underestimate the high opinion that others have of their work. If your Generic Propecia Online work is good, people will recognise it. Of course, you don’t always hear the Generic Propecia Online good feedback, but if a few people remark that they find the Generic Propecia Online documentation very helpful, chances are this is what a lot of others think too.
Jason
@Ben – Thanks for Generic Propecia Online your comments. I agree, good communication entails a whole lot more than Generic Propecia Online just writing and documentation is becoming much more visual in today’s world. As technical writers/communicators we need to Generic Propecia Online have a much broader skill set that includes knowledge of graphics and Generic Propecia Online video and how to incorporate them effectively in our deliverables.
@Jason – You’re right, people do usually appreciate good work when Generic Propecia Online they see it, even if you don’t get that Generic Propecia Online tangible pat on the back. The challenge is convincing them to Generic Propecia Online give you the opportunity to provide the work of a good technical communicator in the Generic Propecia Online first place.