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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.
201. #23639 Creating an Idea Culture: Six Tips for Managers The future of technical communication is about generating and implementing new ideas so that your team can change with the times. Other fields are vying for some of the same jobs in an organization that we are capable of performing. If managers do not take time to stay abreast of these changes nor tap into the minds on their team that are generating ideas about how to morph into different realms, then our profession is at a disadvantage to those in related fields who are drafting proposals for new jobs or innovative projects. This paper presents six tips for managers on creating an idea culture. It also argues why it is essential for managers to start their team's idea culture as soon as possible. Hansen, Heidi and Jennifer Square. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Management>Planning 202. #19565 Creating the Right Image Doesn't End with the Signing of a Contract Helpful hints on how writers can create a positive first impression with clients. Holland, Anton. Writer's Block (1996). Careers>Consulting>Communication 203. #27260 204. #15105 Presents 22 rules for considerate behavior in the workplace. Smith, Gary M. Intercom (2000). Careers>Workplace>Etiquette 205. #20138 Cultivate Career Skills through Volunteering Describes how technical communicators can develop their skills and make themselves more marketable through volunteering. Swindle-Troell, Elizabeth F. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC>Volunteering 206. #15107 CyberLaw and You: What New Media Communicators Must Know Describes developments in copyright law over the last few years that affect technical communicators. Juillet, Christopher. Intercom (2002). Careers>Multimedia>Online 207. #24081 Cybermarketing in English and German: Observations on the Multilingual Web Site of a Finnish Company Cybermarketing is a recent aspect of marketing strategy, which involves establishing company presence in cyberspace, in other words on the World Wide Web, or on the Internet. The instrument used in cybermarketing is the company web site - or the company home page as it was first called. The company web site is, likewise, a new concept; the first, most innovative business enterprises only established their web site presence in the second half of the 1990s. Indeed, business professionals have been slower than academics in adopting the communication potentials incorporated in electronic media on the whole, including the World Wide Web and the Internet. Yli-Jokipii, Hilkka M. Hogskolen i Ostfold (2001). Careers>Web Design>Localization>E Commerce 208. #27569 The first and most basic rhythm of the Agile feedback cycle is the daily standup. It's just what it sounds like - a daily meeting where everyone stands up for the duration of the meeting. When I give Agile workshops, one of the questions I'm often asked is how to do daily standups when the teams are geographically dispersed. While this can be a challenge to coordinate and maintain, you'll soon find that the benefits of the daily communication make it well worth the effort. Here are several options to consider with your team: Sliger, Michele. Rally Software Development (2005). Careers>Project Management>Agile>Collaboration 209. #23428 Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a contracting technical communicator? What is a typical day like? What background brings someone to technical communication, and how does that experience play out on a daily basis? Here are some glimpses. Priore-Garlock, Carmel. TC-FORUM (2000). Careers>TC 210. #22613 A Day in the Life of a Senior Technical Writer Any technical experience helps, because once you have a little, it's easy to get more. For example, if you understand the basics of programming, it's easier to learn about additional languages. Once you know the basic terminology, it's easier to learn more and you have the words to ask the right questions. I've found that degrees are not required if you can perform, but a technical or writing degree is always welcomed. Sereno, Lynda. Binary Girl (2000). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing 211. #14497 Dealing with Difficult Employees in the Technical Communication Workplace Some of the more intractable problems we face on the job are the human ones. But cranky though Microsoft Word often seems, most of its blowups are at least predictable; humans are anything but. The worst problems can arise when you find yourself in a situation where power relationships come into play, which is often the case when you're managing another employee and responsible for their work and their on-the-job behavior. For a variety of reasons, technical communicators are often seen as 'difficult' or 'problem' employees--this means that co-workers tend to complain about us and insist that our managers correct our behavior. Unfortunately, we often work in high-stress environments that make it difficult for us to work calmly and difficult for colleagues to work with us peacefully. Many communicators complain that developers and other subject matter experts (SMEs) don't bother to understand what we do and thus, don't respect our work. As a result, they often consider meeting their own deadlines far more important than helping us do our work, and when we must ask them to provide the information we need to complete our documentation or to review draft documents, we don't get what we need. The result? We're forced to nag, and that can get us labeled as problems, not colleagues. Hart, Geoffrey J.S. TECHWR-L (2002). Careers>Management>Collaboration>SMEs 212. #14723 Leonard-Wilkinson suggests how Web designers can cope with the problems of unemployment in a difficult market. Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2001). Careers>Unemployment>Web Design 213. #31706 Dealing With Professional Burnout Professional burnout can strike anyone regardless of their profession - tech writer, corporate trainer, freelance writer, website marketing specialist, butcher, baker, candlestick maker - but it's not always easy to detect until the damage has been done. This article looks at the signs of professional burnout and dealing with them head on - alone and with the help of others. It also provides resources you can use to break out of your rut. Potsus, Whitney. Writing Assistance (2007). Careers>Advice 214. #22032 Dealing With Staffing and Consulting Firms If you welcome and appreciate the freedom of a consulting or contract position be prepared to d the homework. You’ll need to have current information about the job market, rates, staffing firms, benefits, and all the thing that are a part of living that independent life. As you are working an assignment you’ll want to be preparing for the next one, monitor the jobs out there, basically look for the next assignment. 215. #26054 Dealing With the Salary Survey Thanks to Makarand, Paresh, Mira, and other contributors, some of our questions are answered after a gap of two years and we have some takeaways from the salary survey. Aiyyangar, Ramesh. Indus (2005). Careers>Salaries>Regional>India 216. #20294 Defining 'Value-Adding Work' of In-House Information Development Groups Many in-house information development groups are redefining their role (or seeking to justify their existence) around the concept of 'value-adding work.' But which tasks are value-adding? Finding an answer to this question is critical for the survival of information development groups. Unfortunately, there is no easy, 'one size fits all' answer, because the response depends largely on your point of view. Thus, deciding what is and isn't value-adding may require technical communicators to do more project-by-project task, audience, and media analysis than ever before. Collins, William L. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>Content Management>Information Design 217. #18356 Defining Technical Communication: Management Management of technical communication is a very broad field, consisting of everything from self-management to managing an entire department or cross-functional team. Though the field of management is generally the same in all occupations, managers in technical communication deal with slightly more technical material than those in business. My research has led me to view management of technical communication in terms of small, medium, and large-scale managerial job functions. McRae, Chris. Mercer University (2002). Careers>TC>Professionalism 218. #13530 In the past, companies hired independent contractors to perform special projects. Now, while still used for these purposes, ICs are also used in strategic positions throughout many organizations. The use of ICs in strategic roles is especially beneficial to small and medium-sized businesses that cannot afford the cost of permanently employing individuals for specialized functions. For instance, an experienced technical communicator specializing in project management could be hired by a small business as an independent contractor to provide project management services. Clements, Rhonda. Technical Communication Online (2002). Careers>Consulting 219. #18361 Defining Today’s Workplace: Employment Options for Technical Communicators A document about employment options for technical communication students. Bommarito, Julie. Mercer University. Careers>TC>Presentations 220. #13034 I presented a program recently that gave tips for becoming a more effective delegator. The tips explained the benefits of delegation and how to overcome common barriers. Because you can use these tips whenever you are leading a chapter, a committee, a team, or a department, I want to share them with you. If you are not delegating properly, you are making your own life more difficult. In turn, your subordinates suffer because their interests as well as their talents are being overlooked, however unintentionally. Laurent, J. Suzanna. Carolina Communique (1999). Careers>Management 221. #20767 Delivering Bad News Effectively (and Other Useful Communication Skills for Managers) Learning how to communicate effectively when people problems arise is a key to your success as a manager. To make the process easier for yourself, you should learn to set clear expectations of your employees, make specific observations of their work and behavior, conduct timely communication with them when problems arise, listen closely when they respond, and schedule a follow-up meeting after the crisis has passed. Giammona, Barbara A. STC Proceedings (1999). Careers>Management>Communication>Collaboration 222. #21829 Mavericks need not apply. In Web design, you have to collaborate. Giordan, Daniel. Adobe Magazine (2000). Careers>Web Design>Collaboration 223. #29640 Designing and Conducting Effective Role-Play Activities Role play activities allow learners to test new skills and apply them to the real world. Effective role-plays must be carefully planned and conducted in order to be effective. This article offers advice on creating and conducting role-play activities, and transferring their learnings to the real world. Swan, Bonnie J. and Carolyn Luttrell. STC Proceedings (2005). Careers>Management 224. #25157 Getting a job in the design field may not be as easy as you think. Seattle designer Melissa Mason goes for yet another job interview in pursuit of a big agency design job. Mason, Melissa. Design, Typography and Graphics (2004). Careers>Graphic Design>Regional>Puget Sound 225. #10567 Offers a large database of jobs for Software Developers and IT Professionals with the option to sign up for an email notification of the latest additions to the database.
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