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.
#10300
Is This Ethical? A Survey of Opinion on Principles and Practices of Document Design 
In a national survey, 500 technical communicators and 500 technical communication teachers were asked to assess the ethics of seven document design cases. According to the 455 respondents, manipulating typography and leading to fit more or less information on a page and using persuasive coloring or spacing are ethical practices, while the manipulation of pictorial illustrations and the distortion of graphics are unethical. Opinion on using typography to decrease readability is divided. In five of the seven cases, women are consistently more lenient or men consistently more strict in their answers: common practices, specifications, reader's responsibility, writer's responsibility, writer's intentions, consequences, judgments, principles, and insufficient information. The explanation most often given was consequences, indicating a 'goal-based' philosophy of ethics.
Dragga, Sam. Technical Communication Online (1996). Careers>TC>Document Design>Graphic Design
#24957
ISO Procedure Development: Using Kickoff Meetings as a Project Management Tool 
ISO procedure manuals are sophisticated, dynamic documents that are developed as the result of a complex process. This panel focuses on an often overlooked but critical aspect of project management—the kickoff meeting. Kickoff meetings bring together all the key people and issues from the beginning, thus mitigating rework and problems later in the project. Kickoff meetings can be used to introduce and manage the ISO procedure development process: empowering the ISO procedure-development team, gathering information to capture best practice, and reviewing and validating information.
McCulley, Stephanie and Janice J. Rowan. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>Project Management>Standards
#23716
It's a Marathon, not a Sprint: Managing Your Technical Writing Career
I've trained for and run three marathons. My marathon experiences taught me lessons that can be applied to going the distance in a technical communication career. Going the distance requires a willingness to “get going,” continually work on the basics, cross- train, avoid being distracted by what was and what could be, and learn from experience.
Harvey, Michael. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Advice>Writing>Technical Writing
#10840
One man's career transition from academia to the technical writing. He dicusses foiled ambitions, crossing over, what is shared, Is it different, and Is it a matter of worth?
#22627
A list of positions currently available for technical communicators in Western Canada.
#24411
Job Descriptions and Job Details
Job-descriptions.org is a free resource for job descriptions and job details. Our website currently contains over 13,000 job descriptions. These jobs are divided into categories, then divisions, then groups and finally the job descriptions themselves.
#22611
Job Futures for Authors and Writers (including Technical Writers)
A discussion of career prospects in writing, including technical writing.
Human Resources Development Canada (2003). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing>Canada
#21134
The Job Hunt: Rich Uncle vs. Monster.com
I'm now going to tell you the #1, surefire way to land a job with a great salary and benefits whenever you're ready to start working.
Berkowitz, David. WebWord (2000). Careers>Interviewing
#15152
Identifies several ways older technical communicators can protect themselves from age discrimination when searching for a new job.
Carliner, Saul. Intercom (2002). Careers>Interviewing>Discrimination>Elderly
#24372
Job Hunting in a Global Market
An international demand for native English-speaking technical communicators has provided many opportunities for North Americans to seek employment overseas. At the same time, there are many who have dreamed about working abroad. Those interested in pursuing international employment should learn various job-search techniques, and should be aware of differing re'sume' requirements. Know what you will do if and when a job offer is made, and prepare yourself for the move. Living and working overseas can be exciting, but it is also challenging. You must be willing to accommodate yourself to the local culture. The Internet is an essential tool for international job seekers.
Van Laan, Krista, Carol Chubiz and Donald J. Plummer. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>Unemployment>International
#15153
Job Hunting in an Economic Downturn
Offers tips for technical writers looking for work in a lean economy.
#31525
As with many things on the Web, job-hunting on the Internet has brought new meaning to the phrase "level playing field." Currently, there are literally thousands of "jobs boards," or Web sites tracking new job openings, in cyberspace these days, which together represent a potential career jumpstart that is far ahead of the traditional newspaper advertisements
Dysart, Joe. Communication World Bulletin (2003). Careers>Interviewing
#31381
The Job Interview: Job Interview Techniques Revealed!
The interview is where jobs are generally won and lost and the job interview techniques you employ will determine your success or lack thereof. During the interview process, the hiring manager gets to meet you face to face and decide whether or not you are someone they want to look at everyday should they hire you.
#32017
One of the most challenging modules in my business communication course is the job search. Why? Because it seems that everyone has a strong opinion and a list of "do's and dont's" or "best and worst" for job seekers. In my class, students who would normally be text-messaging, doing homework for another class, or puzzled by the "you-perspective" become excited when we start discussing job search topics—the wrong and right style for the résumé and cover letter, appropriate interview attire, legal and illegal interview questions. By the end of the module, we have discussed so many different views and exceptions to the rules that some students roll their eyes and ask, "So, what are we supposed to do, Dr. Muir?" And then we have another round at it! For those reasons, I refused to teach any aspect of the job search for several semesters. Instead I would send students to my university's Career Services office (because they actually handle recruitment and placement and have their own set of guidelines), or I would invite guest speakers from industry to talk with students on a variety of topics relevant to the job search. (Note: It is particularly rewarding and empowering when the guest speaker agrees with you on just about everything you try to teach students.)
Muir, Clive. Business Communication Quarterly (2008). Careers>Interviewing
#28182
A collection of job postings to answer the needs of information-development managers around the world.
Center for Information-Development Management. Careers>Job Listings>TC
#21663
Jobs for Writers: Technical Writing and Business Communications Jobs 
A specialist job opportunity newsletter for writers, copywriters, editors and content developers.
#18983
Jobs in Technical Communication: A Research Database
This paper reports on the development of a long-term research database about qualifications listed in job announcements for positions in technical communication.
Broadhead, Glenn J., Malcolm Culbertson and G. Scott Gehrs. STC Proceedings (2002). Careers>TC
#27259
This site is a consolidation of publicly available and privately submitted job postings in HCI, Usability, User Experience, Interaction Design, Information Architecture and Ergonomics.
OK-Cancel. Careers>Job Listings>Information Design>Usability
#19570
The Juggling Act: A Manager's Artform
Handling multiple priorities, coordinating the efforts of various teams, and ensuring that different projects remain under control are essential to survival in a climate of resource limitation and fast-paced change. I could talk about tips on staying organized, how to deal with uncooperative or under-producing staff, fixing problem situations, handling irate clients, re-working schedules while maintaining key deliverables in the middle of a project, ensuring a team functions as it should—but these are really textbook concepts. There are a hundred courses that teach the latest techniques for handling these situations. Anyone can learn to be a good manager to some degree; the key is wanting to be one and putting yourself in the right frame of mind.
Holland, Anton. Writer's Block (1996). Careers>Management>Writing
#19520
Juggling Projects: Managing Multiple Technical Communication Projects
Managing multiple projects can seem like juggling eggs in front of a crowd of people—sometimes you wonder if you’re going to catch everything! Many managers have difficulty maintaining the progress of multiple projects without focusing on one project while the others fall by the wayside. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the most common mistakes managers make and suggest techniques for staying on top of multiple technical communication projects. Before you know it, you’ll be juggling like a professional… juggler, that is.
Wise, Mary and Molly Hammar. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>Management>TC
#18656
JustTechWriterJobs.com is a gateway to a collection of technology niched jobsites.
#29373
Keep Pesky Business Types at Bay by Focusing on the Strategic Goal
If you have ever been forced to deal with business types who have no technical know-how, then you know how these types can work against IT's progress. Here's how to improve your business/IT communication by concentrating on the strategic goals.
Hardin, Ken. TechRepublic (2003). Careers>Business Communication>Project Management>Collaboration
#21240
Keeping Our Sanity: Managing Change in an Ever-Changing World
Change is an integral part of our lives. Businesses change, careers change, lives change. But what is the nature of change? And how can we effectively navigate change? Change is a dynamic process that in many ways is similar to the grief process. Strategies for navigating through change include humor, establishing and maintaining a vision, communication, other interests, adjustment time, and realizing that you have choices and options.
Eschen, Mary L. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>History
#10841
Keeping Recruiters Accountable
Sooner or later, most of us work with a recruiter or two (or three or four) to look for a job or to respond to the ever-increasing abundance of employment opportunities for technical communicators in the Triangle area. In fact, due to the tendency companies have for hiring technical writers on a contract basis, recruiters often play a necessary part in our career development. This site offers some tips on dealing with recruiters and avoiding poor recruiting practices.
Shuman, Ceil. Carolina Communique (1997). Careers>Advice
#24946
Keeping Up with New Technologies: Professional Development for the Freelancer
Online documentation... usability testing... multimedia—new tools and processes to support these and other technologies flood the technical communications field. All technical communicators face the challenge of keeping up with these developments. Freelancers, however, face a special challenge: they must be prepared to use any technology and must provide their own training. In this panel, four experienced freelancers discuss proven solutions to the professional development challenge.
Hayhoe, George F., Barbara J. Philbrick, Lynnette R. Porter, and David M. Taylor. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Technology
