Sorry to hear you're having such a hard time at your company Raj. I have been lucky in that with the exception of working for one of the auto companies in the late 1960s (shortly after graduating high school), I've always been treated as a valuable member of a team. I will admit that this is partly due to my attitude. If need be, I can be as arrogant as the developers, SMEs, testers, and managers. I don't allow anyone to talk down to me and I don't talk down to anyone. Then again, unlike your description of a majority of tech writers (no programming background or relevant domain knowledge), my background includes a minor in Computer Science, web development, and time spent building and maintaining complex electronic systems (hardware and software). As a manager, I tend to hire writers with at least some experience in software or hardware (depending on the project) because it overcomes many of the problems you are currently experiencing.
You can't demand respect....you earn respect Developers, SMEs, et. al. are extremely busy. If you want their respect, don't waste their time whining about how they treat you. Learn programming (at least the basics of the languages the company is using). If you are documenting hardware, learn to read schematics and production drawings. When you ask for information, be focused on what you want. I work hard at understanding the manufacturing, operation and service of the complex systems I document because I find it all fascinating and I expect every writer working for me to do the same. I don't want someone working for me just because it's a job. I want them working for me because they love writing and challenges. You will be treated as an irrelevant irritant if you are one. If you bust butt and become a knowledge sponge, and start asking relevant questions, you will find the attitude you describe toward tech writers will change. However, if you truly believe that this is a ridiculous and thankless job...get a different job. Nobody says you have to spend your life doing something you don't like. Al Geist Technical Communicator, Help, Web Design, Video, Photography Office/Msg: 802-872-9190 Cell: 802-578-3964 E-mail: al.ge...@geistassociates.com Website: www.geistassociates.com See Also: Fine Art Photography Website: www.geistarts.com "...I walked to work, quit my job, and kept walking. Better to be a pilgrim without a destination, I figured, than to cross the wrong threshold each day." (Sy Safransky) ______________________________________________ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
