#18907
Marketing Yourself as a Technical Communicator 
No matter what your current status—employee, looking for a job, or independent consultant—marketing yourself is necessary. Marketing is determining what your customers need and then showing how whatever you are selling meets those needs, i.e., provides benefits, and does it better than the competition. When you market yourself, you are basically doing the same thing. If you are an employee, how are you developing your skills so they continue to meet the changing needs of your employer? If you are looking for a job, how does what you bring to the table make you a better candidate than everyone else? If you are an independent, how do you benefit your clients so they turn to you over and over again?
Teich, Thea. STC Proceedings (2002). Careers>TC>Collaboration
#19793
In this interactive session, we will lead technical communicators through a process of setting up and conducting a study to find out how much support is costing their organization or their clients’ organizations. We will also help technical communicators cost-justify their work by estimating reductions in support costs. We will help them plan case studies to show how highquality technical communications can reduce support calls and costs.
Ramey, Judith A. and Janice C. 'Ginny' Redish. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Quality
#24944
Methods of Providing Employment Information
STC Employment Information Committees provide information to employers and job seekers in a variety of ways. They help job seekers with job hunting skills and resume writing. They enable job seekers to register their names with job banks and to receive job postings. They enable employers to list job postings and to receive names of job seekers. Many different methods are used to provide this information: newsletter articles, resume seminars, job fairs and workshops, job-seeking counseling, networking at meetings, resume banks, job listings, job phone lines, electronic bulletin boards, and e-mail listings.
Masse, Roger E. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Community Building>STC
#14048
Le Métier de Rédacteur Technique 
Le rôle du rédacteur technique est de permettre une compréhension et une utilisation simple d'un produit ou d'un service. Pour cela, il utilise un langage clair et pertinent, adapté au public concerné. Le rédacteur se met à la portée de l'utilisateur. Il connaît son public et l'usage qu'il fera du produit. Le niveau de vulgarisation varie donc en fonction de l'utilisateur. Le rédacteur technique est capable d'exécuter une grande variété de tâches.
#30004
Momma, Don't Let Your Babies be Tech Writers
If you have the stomach for it, technical writing can be the path to a full-time writing career. I did it for three years before switching to general business writing, which offers more variety. If you decide to go technical, be sure to keep reading the work of authors you admire so your day job doesn't make you forget everything you ever knew about 'real' writing.
Wormald, Karen. Absolute Write (2001). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#29663
Moving on Up: Process Management in the Ever-Changing Real World
This paper presents a case study of a technical publications department that tested the practicality of JoAnn Hackos’ process maturity model for a small team that experienced both resource cuts and increased workload pressures. The process of initial evaluation in terms of the model helped to identify management goals and actions that increased process maturity. The positive outcomes included both high quality, innovative work and also better structures for worker creativity, productivity, and satisfaction. This success story demonstrates the potential of the model and recommends it for consideration, even by publications groups facing critical challenges.
Rehling, Louise. STC Proceedings (2005). Careers>Management>TC>Case Studies
#24927
Navigating Change in Turbulent Times
This panel presents three different perspectives on change: Several forces are converging to change the field of technical communication; panelist predicts some of the skills needed to survive those changes. Panelist examines the toll that change exacts on the individual and suggests personal and professional strategies for managing that change. Panelist demonstrates that, in a tight economic market, technical communicators can learn to substitute the concept of a “portfolio careerâ€Ω for the traditional career ladder.
Cheirrett, Peg A., Mary L. Eschen, and Lori H. Fisher. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC
#29866
Needs Assessment of Technical Communication as a Profession in China
Is there a need for technical communication as a profession in China? This research aimed at answering the question through two surveys--one on the practice of technical communication in industries in China and the other on the opinions from users of technical documents. The survey results showed that there are problem areas that need to be addressed by professional technical communicators.
Cen, Wei and Yahui Zhang. STC Proceedings (2004). Careers>TC>Regional>China
#21242
Negotiating Skills for Technical Communicators
Negotiating with vendors, business partners, peers, or employees can turn differences to mutual gain. The following paper along with the paper entitled 'Successful Contract Consulting' provides background for a panel on how to optimize your success as a consultant, contractor, or an organization.
Modrey, Laurie and Emily A. Sopensky. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>Business Communication>TC
#14950
If you have all the work you can handle, your idea of networking might be showing up late to STC meetings, sitting in the back, and leaving before the speaker finishes talking. But, for the rest of us, networking requires a bigger investment of time and energy and a wider circle of contacts. As networking expert Kathy Condon points out, networking begins in our comfort zones-our neighborhoods, our offices, our STC groups. But to be effective, we have to search for other opportunities to meet people-groups and individuals beyond our usual contacts. Condon suggests attending meetings of professional and special interest organizations. Below, we've listed some groups to get you started. We include a Web address for each organization and a quote from their site.
Riley, Erin. STC Williamette Valley (2002). Careers>Collaboration>TC
#23546
A New Phenomenon: Industry Demands Industry Knowledge
The need for excellent technical communication has pervaded almost every nook and cranny of business, industry and government. As computers have become as common as telephones and typewriters, the ability to use them is almost assumed. Now a new, more pervasive need is appearing - the need to know about the business and application. Technical communicators are being called upon to have knowledge of and familiarity with the terms and practices of specific industries.
Katzin, Emanuel. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>TC
#19789
New Roles for Technical Writers: Technical Marketing Communication
Technical software marketing is a specialty that calls upon skills technical writers already possess. Clear, accurate product information is essential in today’s complex market; decision-makers need to know how your software will fulfill their business needs. In making the shift from documentation to marketing writing, it is necessary to broaden your sense of the writing’s purposes, and prepare for different ways of working with your material. However, many key aspects of the two specialities are the same, such as the need to uphold a consistent, well-defined tone and organization, and above all to strive for consistency and clarity.
Earle, Ralph. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>TC>Marketing>Software
#24928
The New STC Ethical Guidelines: A Practical Interpretation
Technical communicators with less than 3 years of experience face a special challenge: not only must they continue to assimilate technological change at a dizzying rate, but they must begin to effectively chart a course toward professional growth. Having established (or having faith in) their ability to survive in the profession, new and intermediate communicators must move beyond survival and begin to pursue success. This three-hour workshop is based on the premise that it's not enough to be a good writer with a strong technical background. You must possess multi-disciplinary skills to excel as a technical communicator and as a business person focused on the value you bring to your company.
Benson, Nancy C., Nancy L. Hoft, Janice M. King, Karen A. Steele and Mary Zoll. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Ethics
#15170
Nielsen Media Research: Must-See TV
The author shares her experiences working as a technical writer at Nielsen Media Research in Dunedin, Florida.
Passmore, Denise Annette. Intercom (2000). Careers>Workplace>TC
#20771
What is offshoring? It's shorthand for offshore outsourcing, the practice of hiring employees, usually through an outsourcing service, in another country. Companies seeking to reduce their labor costs use offshoring to employ workers at costs substantially less than at home. Typically, companies headquartered in the United States contract for employees in India, and increasingly in China, Russia, Israel, or Ireland, for example. Why is offshoring in the news? Because staff and contract workers in the United States see their jobs in the high-tech industry disappear as their current or former employers use offshoring to reduce costs.
Sampson, Fred. STC Silicon Valley (2003). Careers>TC>Outsourcing>Offshoring
#20772
Offshoring of Tech Writing: A Roundtable Discussion 
We organized this Roundtable because we thought we could get technical publications managers together to talk about the threat of offshoring and come up with ideas and strategies to protect our jobs. However, we learned that offshoring is inevitable and technical writers need to adapt. The speakers offered possible strategies for adaptation.
Ramos, Andreas and Walt Keefe. National Writers Union (2003). Careers>TC>Outsourcing>Offshoring
#24265
Offshoring: What Does It Mean for Us?
Summarizes a discussion about offshoring held at the Philadelphia Metro chapter's annual conference during which panelists suggested ways that technical communicators based in the United States can make their positions more secure.
Rosenberg, Nad. Intercom (2004). Careers>TC>Outsourcing>Offshoring
#20268
Our Changing Environment: Alternative Work Schedules
Alternative work schedules provide a way to allow you to manage your time and effort as well as keep your 'foot-in-the-door' at one place and 'find new heights' at the other.
Ricks, Debra. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>TC
#22614
The Personal Narrative of a Technical Writer
When I graduated with an Honours degree in English from St. F.X., I had no idea that I would find work as a freelance technical writer; in fact, I had next to no idea at the time what technical writing was. In short, a technical writer produces the literature of engineering, technology, software, and systems development.
Currie, John. St. Francis Xavier (1999). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#20435
Portfolio in Technical Communication
The Technical Communication Certificate requires you to keep portfolios of your work in TCC communication courses. When completing the TCC, you will then draw from these course portfolios to create a portfolio that represents your work throughout the curriculum.
#14954
Practical Considerations When Starting Your Own Business
One of the least glamorous aspects of running your own business is accounting and taxes, but if you want to be successful it is an area of importance. Whether you want to start your own business or have been running one for years, here are practical tips to consider for the independent contractor. When you were an employee, someone else did the accounting for you (the W-2 you used to prepare your taxes) and may have provided some non-taxable benefits (retirement plan, health insurance, disability coverage, etc.) that you will now need to provide for yourself. When deciding to become an independent contractor, one of the first things to do is to go through a budgeting process to confirm going out on your own is a good idea.
Rowntree, Raymond A. STC Williamette Valley (2002). Careers>Management>TC
#29669
Preparing for Change: A Technical Communicator's Guide to Survival
As communicators, we call ourselves writers, authors, designers, graphic artists, multimedia developers, editors, formatters, information developers, and a number of other labels. Whatever it is we call ourselves, the most important part of our profession involves gathering and making information available to people who need it in a form they can use. This paper discusses some of the latest business buzz and strategy in a simple, straightforward way. It explains how some business trends affect technical communications in particular, and offers advice on how to survive in today's budding information economy as a technical communicator.
French, Lee. STC Proceedings (2005). Careers>TC
#29024
The Process and Prospects for Professionalizing Technical Communication 
Despite claims for at least the past quarter century of mature professional status for the field of technical communication, studies in the history and sociology of the professions provide criteria that suggest we are not yet truly a profession. This article reviews economic, sociopolitical, and ideological factors that characterize the modern professions and argues that the technical communication field, at best, only partially meets the criteria. The prospects for professional status of technical communication might be improved by developing a critical consciousness of the processes of professionalization and concertedly acting in ways that facilitate those processes.
Savage, Gerald J. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (1999). Careers>TC>Professionalism
#18203
Professional Certification: Evolution, Revolution, or Status Quo?
The issue of professional certification for technical communicators has reappeared in recent years and prompted the Society to begin another formal study of the question. Certification is a form of voluntary credentialing developed and administered by private, typically non-profit, organizations. Certification’s value to STC and the profession is the focus of the Society’s current study. Using information compiled from focus groups, surveys, and literature reviews, the Certification Issues Committee has begun an RFP for a comprehensive feasibility study of certification.
Kunz, Lawrence D. and Terrance M. Skelton. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Certification>TC
#21270
Professional Development Issues in Canada
The Canadian Issues Committee (CIC) was created by STC in 1990 because it was becoming apparent that Canadian technical communicators sometimes had unique concerns resulting from the political, legal and geographic constraints peculiar to Canada, of which STC was unaware. Identifying these concerns and attempting to do something about them has been an ongoing commitment of the STC staff and Board of Directors and of the CIC. This panel discussion allows for direct input from members regarding such concerns, and also provides an opportunity to inform the Canadian membership what has and is being done on their behalf.
McFadden, John E. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>TC>Regional>Canada
