While the field of usability has existed for decades, the number and quality of careers in the field have greatly improved in the last 10-15 years. The long-term prognosis for the industry is good: there are constant opportunities in almost every industry since new products and technology come out all the time, in usability as well as user-centered design, interaction design and user experience design.
#14293
Career Resources: Writing a Resume
The Career Center: Writing a Resume section contains information that can be helpful when you are preparing to write a resume.
Burnett, Rebecca E. Thomson (2001). Careers>Resumes>TC
#14947
Career Workshop: Participation Is Inspiration
Like most technical communicators in the current economic climate, I've been considering where I've been and where I'm going. On Saturday, January 12, I had the golden opportunity to do some of that in the company of some 50 like-minded participants and a number of inspirational and practical speakers. Not incidentally, I was reminded what a tremendous reservoir of volunteer spirit the Willamette Valley Chapter of the STC holds.
Cass, Richard. STC Williamette Valley (2002). Careers>Advice
#23340
Careers For English Majors: Where Are They And How Can Departments Help?
The market for English majors is poor; yet with concentration, awareness of skills, strong support, and sufficient information, recent graduates and career changers can find excellent positions. In 1980, after performing two surveys of the career paths of 550 humanities majors and publishing a guide to career options, I resigned my academic post and began a full year of part-time teaching, medical and technical editing, and several other jobs, including career counseling. As a career counselor I collaborated with another former academic to develop a variation on the familiar career seminar for humanities majors.
Trzyna, Thomas. ADE Bulletin (1983). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing
#30870
Careers for Professional Writing Majors 
A short article about careers in technical and professional communication.
Aronson, Anne. Metropolitan State University (2005). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing
#20620
There are a number of careers in which people with a science background write as a major part of their job. What may spring to mind first when you hear the term 'science writer' is a reporter covering science topics for a newspaper, but writing careers for scientists are very diverse and include not only traditional science journalism, but medical writing, technical writing/editing, marketing, and science textbook publishing (and the list is by no means complete!). There is definitely overlap among the four areas listed below.
Yahoo (1995). Careers>Scientific Communication
#18357
Careers in Technical Communication: Usability 
This paper informs students, parents, and professionals within technical communication about the profession of usability. It starts with various research methods and sources of more information. Then the focus shifts to the profession of usability, discussing topics such as: user-centered design, the definition of usability, possible career tracks, educational opportunities, educational requirements, future trends in the profession of usability, and trends within the field of usability. The paper provides an overview of the profession and relevant issues surrounding it, as well as providing sources of additional information.
Berni, Kevin. Mercer University (2002). Careers>TC>Usability
#10449
Contrary to what many people assume, work as a technical writer involves much more than sitting alone at your PC. The job requires plenty of contact with technical professionals, from programmers to project managers, to write and design documentation for software. Solitary? Not quite. Collaborative? Most definitely.
Hoffman, Allan. Monster.com (2001). Careers>Writing
#14969
Careers In Technical Writing: Advising English Majors
Headlines on high technology are attracting the interest of undergraduates who aren't sure what they can do with an English major, of graduate students in English who find college teaching jobs increasingly scarce, and even of college English teachers who are hearing tempting rumors of undreamt-of consulting opportunities. Those of us who teach English in growing centers of high technology find our students and colleagues curious about this lucrative but vaguely threatening new field for liberal arts majors, while technical writing classes designed for science and engineering students are attracting (or stealing) increasing numbers of these majors. This paper provides the necessary background on the technical writing field for college English teachers who need to advise English majors and minors about career choices. My description of the profession is based on my recent experience as a technical editor for over four years. I've brought together surveys in professional journals, occupational literature available in college placement offices, and 1980 census data, as well as the more current monthly publications of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both the statistics and my own observations confirm that, for English majors and minors with appropriate aptitude for and attitude toward the sciences, technical writing promises a potentially rewarding career.
Norman, Rose L. Modern Language Association (1986). Careers>TC
#32048
While the 9-5 world isn’t for everyone, neither is freelancing. There also comes a time for everyone when freelancing is no longer the viable and exciting option it once was.
Contract Worker (2008). Careers>Freelance
#30063
The Case for "Technical Communicator"
While we understand how BLS could have stuck with the term 'technical writing' for so long, it's time to change this policy. To that end, STC proposes that the Standard Occupational Classification 27-3042, Technical Writer be replaced with 27-3044, Technical Communicator.
Martin, Maurice and Richard O'Sullivan. STC (2007). Careers>TC
#15099
Lists fifteen rules for conscientious cell phone usage.
Robart, Kay. Intercom (2001). Careers>Workplace>Collaboration
#24023
Certification for Technical Communicators: The Time is Now
The Society for Technical Communication (STC) has been debating certification for technical communicators for over 37 years in one form or another. Despite many attempts locally, regionally, and nationally to move toward establishing a certification process for the profession, the issue remains on hold.
Jacobson, Peggy. STC Puget Sound (2004). Careers>Certification
#29216
Certification in Technical Communication 
The debate over certification of technical and professional communicators has occurred with periods of relative intensity and quiescence for more than twenty years. This article surveys the historical developments of the debate; describes the arguments for and against certification; surveys technical communication curricula and theoretical arguments for literacies, standards, and competencies; and examines various efforts to study certification, including a description of published documents regarding certification.
Turner, Roy K. and Charles Paine. Technical Communication Quarterly (2004). Careers>Certification>TC>Education
#18157
Certification of Usability/User Centered Design Professionals: Proposed Competencies
The proposed competencies for a Usability Professional have been derived from ISO 13407, ISO TR 18529 and the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA).
Bevan, Nigel. Usability Certification Working Group (2002). Careers>Certification>Usability
#23619
Certifications and Credentials for Scientific Editors
Most professionals want to further their careers over the course of their working life. Scientific editors as a whole do not have well-defined paths for establishing their careers, unlike professionals such as lawyers and doctors, where the educational and credentialing processes are well established. Where can scientific editors get their training? Where can they get experience? This paper will explore experiences, certifications and credentials, as well as training, and degrees, specific to scientific editing that can help further the careers of scientific editors.
Firestone, Elaine R., Tony Caruso, Barbara Simmons, Earlene Hammock, Michael Ebinger and Sushil K. Oswal. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Certification>Editing>Scientific Communication
#13128
Certifying Technical Communicators: An Historical Perspective
STC members have shown interest in being certified as technical communicators for at least 37 years. The Society has made at least four studies of certification. This paper reviews the work of the 1975-80, 1981, 1982-87 and 1994-1998 committees. The three, multi-year studies had essentially the same results; significant numbers want certification, but too few to make a full certification program economically viable. The studies also revealed that creating a certification program might be divisive. The 1982—-87 study revealed an interest by employers in STC having an accreditation program.
Malcolm, Andrew and Lawrence D. Kunz. STC Proceedings (2001). Careers>Certification>TC>History
#18833
The Challenges of Technical Illustration for Customer Documentation in the High Tech Environment
As emerging computer technology and new graphics software packages allow for the creation of illustration and design by individuals without formal training, traditional illustrators from the “pen and pencil” era are continually challenged to compete in the industry. Choosing a career path in the technical documentation field presents a unique set of challenges for the technical illustrator and designer. This paper identijes the role of a technical illustrator and the tools and skills required for success in a high tech environment.
Moore, Donna Lynn. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>TC>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration
#18850
The Changing Role of the Technical Communicator
How many times have you said, 'I wouldn’t have to write 20 pages of documentation to explain this if the product was designed correctly in the first place!' Given our focus on user advocacy, the melding of the Web and the desktop, and the changes—away from those with which we’ve historically been associated—in the tools we use to develop information, we’re in a prime position to become more involved in product design. This paper briefly describes how the field is changing for many technical communicators and what you need to know to move into this exciting area.
Ames, Andrea L. STC Proceedings (2002). Careers>TC
#13526
The Changing World of the Independent: A Broader Perspective
The past few years have brought many changes in the profession of technical communication: the expansion of professional roles within organizations, new technologies for document design and presentation, and the global cultural influence as technology expands to overseas markets. Perhaps the most important change in the profession, however, is not external like these, but internal in the ways that the core business model has adapted to the new, information-based development model.
Barker, Thomas and Kathryn Poe. Technical Communication Online (2002). Careers>Freelance
#22881
Chapter Public Relations: Learn from the Winners
After nearly six years as a technical editor, I wanted a larger, more visible role in the environmental engineering company where I worked. Learning new skills in marketing and public relations through the Mid-South Chapter put me in the position to do that when my company reorganized its marketing functions this year. In this paper, I focus on the management skills I learned managing the public relations committee for our chapter.
Carbaugh King, Margaret. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>Management>Marketing
#23625
Choose More Than a Job… Choose How You Want to Work
Technical communicators can be found in various working environments, including consulting firms, traditional companies and organizations, and in entrepreneurial ventures. Each environment has advantages and disadvantages that you should consider. As a technical communicator, you have the ability to choose the working environment that is right for you during different stages of your career.
#14961
For years, would-be employees have undergone scrutiny by employers during the interview process. In addition to our resume, we have to provide personal and professional references. We have to pass drug tests and personality tests. We have to prove our education and in many cases, whether or not we actually served in the military. It's all for a good cause of course, but rarely is the topic of employer suitability mentioned in the Job Hunting context. These last few years have been unprecedented in regards to company ethics and business practices. One doesn't have to look far to hear a sad tale of over-promised benefits, stock, and promotions from companies who are now nothing more than memories. The ongoing telecom scandals have even further rocked our beliefs in the stability and ethics of Corporate America. With all the recent layoffs and 'restructuring' now is a great chance for employees to take time out to evaluate their next employer. employee happiness is possibly the most important area of a person's overall professional satisfaction. Thus, it is not to be taken lightly. Nothing else matters if you go to work for the wrong company - not even if you've been out of work for a year and you simply need the money. Sooner or later, you'll be back in the same jam.
Souther, Christopher. GaryConroy.com (2002). Careers>Interviewing>TC
#10834
Choosing and Using a Technical Writer
Offers advice for anyone looking to hire a technical writer on choosing a writer and using a writer.
Weber, Jean Hollis. Business Consulting News (1997). Careers>Advice>Management
#27563
CIO's Playbook for Adopting the Scrum Method of Achieving Software Agility
The authors of this whitepaper have helped many hundreds of teams adopt Scrum. Here they share how CIOs can implement Scrum on an organization-wide basis - the challenges they will face as well as the rewards - and provides a playbook for adopting Scrum in enterprises where software, and lots of it, is the key to competitive success in the marketplace.
Leffingwell, Dean and Hubert Smits. Rally Software Development (2005). Careers>Management>Agile>Scrum
#20977
Circumventing HR: Effective Job-Hunting Strategies
A common misconception is that Human Resources departments exist to help job-seekers find their place within a company. In fact, the role of HR departments is to act as the gatekeeper. Savvy job-seekers know how to get around, over, and bypass the gates of HR, to connect with the decision-makers who can really help you.
