#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
#24760
Current trends in Corporate America are changing the traditional role of technical communicators and creating new challenges and opportunities. Re-engineering the corporation, Total Quality Management, ISO 9000 compliance, and the continuing onslaught of the Information Age are all bringing formally 'invisible' technical communications functions into the limelight. It's not just writing and editing any more! As communication professionals and managers we need to upgrade skills and re-focus our efforts to become 'information managers.'
Anton, Kathy and Teresa J. Tarwater. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>Management>Documentation>Technical Writing
#20699
Published Tech Authors Only Need Apply
It seems Microsoft is foregoing technical writers for technology writers. Apparently they want technology journalists writing the online help for the next version of Windows.
Creative Tech Writer, The (2003). Careers>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing
#23329
Technical Writing in the Computer Industry: Job Opportunities for Ph.D.'s 
This essay answers some of the more commonly asked questions about the field of technical writing. It explains what software and software documentation are, what the software documentation specialist (hereafter referred to as the technical writer) does, and how to go about preparing and looking for such employment. It also attempts to assuage the anxieties and calm the fears of those humanists who are upset by the mention of anything remotely associated with computers.
Turnbull, Andrew D. ADE Bulletin (1981). Careers>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing
#30307
What Are Software Documentation Specialists, Anyway?
They call us 'documentation specialists' in the biz. Our mail is addressed to 'doc spec' because 'documentation specialist' doesn't fit on mailing labels. At social gatherings, people's faces go blank when we say we write software documentation or computer manuals. But what are we, really?
Olander, Karen Wise. Boston Broadside (1991). Careers>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing
#33695
Estimating the amount of time it takes to write documentation is tricky as it relies on many differing, subtle, factors and, for many people working outside of a highly regimented and heavily project managed team, it tends to boil down to a mixture of guesswork and experience. However, it’s not impossible to come up with a more reasoned estimate as long as you don’t mind doing a little planning.
McLean, Gordon. One Man Writes (2009). Careers>Documentation>Technical Writing>Estimating
#34030
What Doc Managers Look for in a Résumé?
Most hiring managers, and I am no exception, take a couple of passes when reviewing résumés. The first pass eliminates people who are clearly not what I am looking for. I try to answer two questions: first, are this person’s qualifications even in the ballpark for the job, and second, can he or she write at least well enough to create a competent résumé? Answering the first of these questions is not hard, but it does require that you understand the job requirements thoroughly and read the résumé closely.
Technical Communication Center (2008). Careers>Resumes>Documentation>Technical Writing
