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.
#26590
FACE Considerations in Upward Influencing in an Indian Workplace 
This study is a first attempt at using Speech Act Theory (SAT), as a way to analyze and explain how upward influence (UI) strategies are performed. Based on SAT and considerations of face, as explained by Brown and Levinson (1987), this study tries to explain UI strategies used by members within an Indian workplace. We carefully selected six examples of UI to demonstrate how SAT can be useful in analyzing UI strategies. We found that even the slightest change in the anticipated degree of willingness or receptivity of the receiver necessitates a change in the strategy to be adopted. Violations of sincerity conditions and/ or inappropriate threats to face create infelicitous conditions and may lead to failed attempts at UI.
Kaul, Asha and Charlotte D. Brammer. Association for Business Communication (2005). Careers>Management>International>India
#15036
How do you get a group of socially withdrawn, uncommunicative techies' attention? Speaking expert Anne Warfield of Impression Management, often asks them to think of the last 20 people in their company who got promoted and assess whether they were the most technically qualified. 'Almost all of them will say they were not,' says Warfield. To get ahead these days, techies need a good mix of technical and communication skills. From PC support specialists to C++ coders, techies are infamous for their lack of communication skills -- and that's a polite way of putting it. Nontechies often think of technical folk as jargon-crazed, gadget-obsessed and not particularly interested in people. An extreme characterization? Yes. Unfair? Maybe. A stereotype? Sure it is, but techies have a well-deserved reputation for placing a priority on skills -- knowledge of XML, say, or Windows device drivers -- rather than personal relationships or being able to communicate what they know to others.
Hoffman, Allan. Monster.com (2002). Careers>TC
#13487
Feng Shui for the Tech Writer's Workspace
It sounds like something from a late-night infomercial: Enhance your productivity by cranking out online help files in half the time! Increase your prosperity by being promoted to head of the documentation department! Improve your interpersonal relations so that Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) are just waiting to review your documents. Ensure a long and healthy life, despite the stress of vaporware product launches! If an advertisement lurking in your emailbox claimed to have an ancient secret to give you all the above, you'd likely press Delete faster than you can say 'looming deadlines.' But what if millions of people--some as well-known and successful as Donald Trump--and major corporations, such as Virgin Airlines, The Wall Street Journal, and Citibank, attested to this 'magic' secret's power? In that case, you just might sit back in your office chair and listen.
Chroust Ehmann, Lain. TECHWR-L (2002). Careers>Workplace>Ergonomics>SMEs
#19638
A Field Guide to Technical SMEs
Although not rare birds in urban high-tech environments, technical subject matter experts (SMEs) are a fascinating species to observe—and a challenging breed for corporate communicators to manage. This tongue-in-cheek field guide identifies four common sub-species, and explains how to spot each by its distinctive markings and how to cope with its behaviors for companionable nesting.
Lange, Penny L. Intercom (2003). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing>SMEs
#18358
The Field of Technical Editing
Technical editing is more than checking spelling and grammar of a document; it is a professional career. Both employer and employee can benefit from the skills involved. This report is designed to inform those associated with technical communication – including current students, potential students, their parents, professionals/practitioners, other schools, and employers – about the purpose and function of technical editors. The information in this report came from many sources. Mostly, I used websites from professional societies such as the Technical Editing Special Interest Group (TE SIG). I also interviewed two expert technical editors: Diane Feldman – the manager of the TE SIG – and Julia Neunreiter – the newsletter editor for the TE SIG. In this report, I will discuss the role of the editor, the types of editors, advice for starting in the field of editing, advice for dissipating negative opinions about editors, information about trends in the technical editing field, and the benefits to companies and editors.
Wofford, Tracey Norden. Mercer University (2002). Careers>Editing
#18934
Fifteen Tips for Remote Collaboration
It will always be easier to rally a group of people who work in the same building, but you can accomplish just as much (or more) with a motivated remote team. Getting team members motivated in the first place and holding their interest are your goals. Here are fifteen quick and useful tips to get you started.
Young, Indi. Adaptive Path (2003). Careers>Collaboration>Online
#13467
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
#23555
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
#23707
Tens of thousands of magazines and non-magazine freelance markets exist.
Yudkin, Marcia. Yudkin.com (2001). Careers>Writing>Journalism
#15133
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
#28865
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
#15134
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
#13888
Finding the Right Job on the Web 
There are many companies out there hunting for scientific and technical communicators. This page will help you find them.
#20697
Finding the Right Technical Writer
What skills to look for, and what questions to ask when hiring a technical writer.
Scott, Kendall V. Software Documentation Wizards (1993). Careers>TC>Interviewing
#31076
Finding the Right Technical Writer
A no-nonsense approach to finding a great tech writer, even when you don't know what to look for.
Springsteen, JoAnna. CIO Magazine (2008). Careers>Management>Interviewing>Technical Writing
#22029
Job search websites for technical writers.
#28369
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
#31372
Finding Your Way: John Deveney, ABC, Discusses His Views on Consulting
Natasha Spring talks with John Deveney about the success of his consulting firm, client relationships, technology, and the challenges he has faced.
Spring, Natasha and John Deveney. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Careers>Consulting>Business Communication>Case Studies
#30138
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
#14778
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.
#20329
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
#32051
Five Must-Haves for International Communication
My fellow freelancers have been writing about international freelancing, where you cater to a global clientele. I can see the reasoning behind the interest though, especially if you live in a third-world country.
#31708
Five Questions to Ask Yourself While Creating a New Documentation Department
Being asked to take the reins of a brand new documentation department is a challenge that many professional technical writers relish, even though the training and development activities they participated in may never have prepared them for such a rewarding challenge. This article looks at forming a new documentation department and determining what's needed, when it's needed and what resources are available to help the new department carry out its mission.
Butow, Eric. Writing Assistance (2006). Careers>Management>Documentation>Technical Writing
#25225
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
#31709
Five Secrets to Successful Interviewing and Hiring
Frequently, technical communicators who have been promoted into management find themselves facing the need to interview candidates for open positions. While successful interviewing is key to finding the right match for open positions in the department, all too often interviewing skills are not a part of any management training programs that the interviewer may have completed - if management training was ever part of the technical communicator's career development program at all. This article unveils the secrets to successful interviewing and hiring.
O'Keefe, Karen. Writing Assistance (2006). Careers>Interviewing>Management
