Finding a Job as a Technical Communicator: Inspiration Plus Perspiration  

Today, there are many ways to practice our craft, and our main objective as technical communicators is to find a way to do just that. Those of us who are unemployed or underemployed know that we need to have the job we want in order to make the contribution we know we can. The same skills that make us good technical communicators will serve us well in our job search. With a little inspiration and a lot of perspiration, we can get the right job.

Gallob, Beth M. STC Proceedings (1993). Careers>Advice

Finding a Job as a Technical Communicator: Strategies for Defining Goals and Opportunities  

One of our main objectives as technical communicators is to practice our craft. Those of us who are unemployed or underemployed know that we need to have the job we want in order to make the contribution we know we can. Those of us who are currently employed should be continually looking for that next opportunity. The same skills that make us good technical communicators serve us well in our job search. With a little inspiration and a lot of perspiration, we can get the right job.

Eiler, Craig A. and Beth M. Gallob. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>Unemployment

Finding Hidden Markets

Tens of thousands of magazines and non-magazine freelance markets exist.

Yudkin, Marcia. Yudkin.com (2001). Careers>Writing>Journalism

Finding Proposal Money for Nonprofits  

Offers tips on how nonprofit organizations can search for and attain funding.

Munger, Roger H. Intercom (2001). Careers>Business Communication>Proposals

Finding Technical Writing Jobs

Technical writing as a field covers a variety of different skills and positions. Many people, when they think of technical writers, think of user guides and installation instructions. That is certainly one area a technical writer might work in, but it is far from the only area.

Finding Technical Writing Jobs. Careers>Writing>Technical Writing>Blogs

Finding That First Job  

Offers suggestions on finding work in technical communication for recent college graduates, professionals in other fields, and those who want to add documentation duties to their current jobs.

Block, Barbara M. Intercom (2001). Careers>Interviewing>TC

Finding Work

Job search websites for technical writers.

Tech-Writer. Careers>Job Listings>Writing>Technical Writing

Finding Work in Tough Times  

It's not easy to find rewarding work. Hart describes three steps you can take to help the process go more smoothly when searching for that new job.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2006). Careers>TC

Finessing Professional Transitions: Methods for Managing Difficult Changes  

Managing difficult changes in the workplace is possible by going through three clearly outlined phases. This approach to finessing professional transitions takes into account the differences between change and transition, defining transition as an interval with three phases. Communication style is a major contributor to moving effectively and smoothly through the three phases of a transition. Choosing one's words carefully, replacing commonly used and infrequently considered negative words with positive words, affects not only one's ability to finesse professional transitions successfully, but also others' perceptions of how well people manage their transitions.

Barnow, Renee and Annabelle Reitman. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>Workplace

Fire Up Your Frozen Job Search  

Graden analyzes the reasons why job searches sometimes stall and suggests how technical communicators looking for employment can regain momentum.

Graden, Katherine E. Intercom (2002). Careers>Unemployment

First Impressions--Lasting Results  

Your resume is the first sample of your writing that a manager sees. If your resume is fatally flawed, you might not get an interview. Writing a resume involves determining what to emphasize to potential employers; building a convincing case for your qualifications through how you document your education, skills, and experience; and presenting your resume professionally.

Mazza Panagakos, Denise and Cindy Thornton. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>Resumes

Five Reasons Why I Write for a Living

This article isn’t so much about copywriting itself, but about the reasons why I choose to write for a living.

Usborne, Nick. Excess Voice (2004). Careers>Writing

Five Tips for Developing the Soft Skills IT Pros Need  

As an IT support pro, you not only need to be able to diagnose computer problems, you also must be able to effectively communicate the problem to the user. Use these tips to develop your soft skills, become a star player, and move up the IT ladder.

Firey, Carla. TechRepublic (2003). Careers>Business Communication>Technology

Five-Year Career Plan  

Professionals do not have to leave career progression to fate. Chart a career course that will bring personal achievement and satisfaction. A five-year career plan is a road map that allows for progress tracking, and development of solutions or alternate courses of action. Develop this action plan through self-assessment, and examination of the present and future. Consider several factors during career plan development and update the plan on a yearly basis. Use the written plan as a career guide and self-evaluation tool.

Crump, Jocelyn. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>TC>Planning

Focus on Consulting: When Home is Where You Do Your Job

The freedom to be a consultant or independent contractor (C&IC), to work on your own, to work at home, to 'tele-commute' has become one of the principal aspects that entices otherwise happy, healthy, sane people to leave their jobs and hang out their shingles. But like nearly every other aspect of being independently employed, working out of the home presents advantages and disadvantages in such areas as lifestyle, professionalism, and tax considerations.

Boston Broadside (1989). Careers>Consulting>Freelance

For the Tech Writer's Library

The essentials for the budding tech writer including reference, style manuals, optional recommendations, and other various books on Technical Writing.

Tech-Writer. Careers>Writing>Technical Writing

Forging Effective Partnerships with Clients  

Numerous helpful references and courses teach us how information developers can create value for clients through good project management, but getting our partners to recognize that value remains a challenge.

Knodel, Elinor L. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>Consulting>Collaboration

Formalism and its Impact on Technical Writing

Discusses briefly the work market for technical communicators and their careers.

Baumert, Andreas. TC-FORUM (2000). Careers>TC>Multimedia>Technical Writing

Four Tips for Professional Development  

Discusses how technical communicators can keep themselves marketable at a time when technologies and work environments are rapidly changing.

Dimick, Sharlyn A. Intercom (2002). Careers>Education>Continuing

Four-Day Week Challenge

Constantly stressed out? Not enough hours in the day to get things done? Ryan Carson has a theory: your problem is too much work time, not too little.

Carson, Ryan. List Apart, A (2006). Careers>Workplace>Planning

Freelance Copywriters: Double Your Income

Freelance copywriters are a strange group of people when it comes to running their own businesses.

Usborne, Nick. Excess Voice (2005). Careers>Web Design>Writing

Freelance, Independent, Contractor, Consultant...

If getting into the technical writing business is a challenge, and it assuredly is, defining our employment status often poses a few questions too. Naturally, there’s the common full-time employee status we all know and understand fairly well, but when we find ourselves dealing with a technical services or technical consulting firm there can be some murky waters, and more than a few aberrations of the “traditional” understanding of the term. So, we need to define some “terms” of employment since the majority of technical writers will ultimately encounter variations.

Tech-Writer. Careers>Freelance>Consulting>Technical Writing

Freelance Online  

Freelance Online is a professional online service for freelancers in the publishing and advertising fields. It serves as a directory for employers and as a resource and information center for freelancers. Freelance Online was launched in January 1996. Located in a suburb of Philadelphia, Freelance Online is committed to serving freelancers and employers already established and those who are new to the world of freelancing. Freelance Online's goal is to provide the most comprehensive listing of freelancers available, including not only established, seasoned professionals but also fresh, new talent.

Freelance.com. Careers>Freelance