Review of the USDA Basic Indexing Course

» jaya_s - USDA Applied Indexing Course

I recently completed the Basic Indexing Course and found it very useful. Kari Kells was my instructor and and she was absolutely great.

Even though I've completed the course, I still don't feel confident enough to send out my resumes. I'm wondering if I should do the Applied Indexing course, too. Can you tell me how good (or bad) this particular course is?

Any other advice for a beginning indexer would be highly appreciated, too.

Thanks

Jaya

-- posted by jaya_s

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» Indexlady - Applied Indexing course

I haven't taken the Applied Indexing Course, so I can't speak for it, good or bad. But, not as many people have taken it. According to "The Indexer", Vol. 20, No. 4, October 1997: "Since their origin...150 studetns have enrolled in the Applied Indexing course....Records confirm that 42 students have completed the applied course for a completion rate of 28%."

This is the same article that brought out the dropout rate for the Basic Indexing course is over 75%. The dropout rate for the Applied Indexing course seems to be a bit lower, but not by much.

I believe that the statistics were from 1987 through 1996.

I would think the stats would be a little different, since so many have discovered indexing. But no current information has been published (that I'm aware of).

Because these classes cost so much, I always like to enourage people to make sure it's what they really, really need.

It might be just what you're looking for. I personally know of one other indexer who is enrolled in the class, and she did it for the same reason--shaky confidence. But she just started it, and I don't know the results yet.

You didn't say what your shaky confidence stems from. There could be so many reasons, and the class may not address your particular need.

I will never forget sitting down with my first batch of page proofs, and breaking out into a cold sweat. I had only 2 weeks to do 150 pages. After crying, I remembered that I had that Project Checklist (or Vetting checklist), and I started there.

By the time I was done with that checklist, things sorta feel into place. It took me a full 56 hours to do that first project. Even though the page rate was good, I didn't make a whole lot per hour!!! Big laugh!

I still do work for this publisher--in fact, I have a 350 page book right now, sitting on my shelf waiting to be done, so I guess they liked my work, eh?

Since there are so many reasons that can shake an indexer's confidence, why don't you let me know more specifics, and perhaps I can help.

Dawn

-- posted by Indexlady

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