Don't Let Your Work Become a Commodity    

Learn specific steps technical communicators can take to respond to the commoditization of technical tasks.

Harvey, Michael. Intercom (2008). Careers>TC>Workplace

E-Careers and Technical Communication  

What is the single invention causing most changes today? The Internet and the World Wide Web.

Davis, Marjorie T. Mercer University (2002). Careers>TC>Online

Effective Scannable Resumes

The Career Center: Writing a Resume Effective Scannable Resumes section contains information that can be helpful when you are preparing to write a resume. It discusses how many companies are using OCR scanning to pick keywords out of a resume and enter them into a database. This section can help you write your resume so it will allow for effective scanning.

Burnett, Rebecca E. Thomson (2001). Careers>Resumes>TC

Electronic Mentoring Benefits for Practicing Communicators  

Electronic mentoring establishes relationships that might not otherwise exist. You have the opportunity to participate in professional community service, remain current on communication issues, and develop a future employment pool.

Stertzbach, Lori A. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Mentoring>TC

Emerging Technologies: Observations of a SIG Manager  

Charles, the manager of STC's Emerging Technologies special interest group, predicts that refinement and consolidation of existing technologies will be a major trend in the technical communication industry in 2004. 'With products becoming increasingly sophisticated and complicated,' Charles writes, 'the demand for supporting documentation will grow.'

Charles, Dan. Intercom (2004). Careers>TC

Employment Abroad: The View from Holland  

On the basis of my experience moving from the Boston, Massachusetts, area to the Netherlands three years ago, I’d definitely encourage you to consider employment here, or any other place that truly beckons you.

Peltz, Donna. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC>Regional>Netherlands

Employment Trends for 2003  

Carliner predicts that 2003 will again be a difficult year for employment in technical communication, but also identifies possibilities for increased employment of technical communicators in several industries.

Carliner, Saul. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC

Errors and Omissions Insurance: Assuming the Risk of Professional Liability  

Like most other business owners, technical communicators may, from time to time, have legal exposure for their actions and mistakes. Errors and omissions insurance is one way to manage the risks the associated with operating a business and while it may not be the best solution for everyone, it's worth considering whether the benefits of this of insurance coverage outweighs the costs.

Juillet, Christopher. STC Proceedings (2004). Careers>TC>Legal

Errors and Omissions Insurance: Assuming the Risk of Professional Liability  

Discusses the costs and benefits of errors and omissions insurance, a type of coverage normally obtained by independent technical communicators and consultants.

Juillet, Christopher. Intercom (2004). Careers>TC>Consulting

Ethical and Intercultural Challenges for Technical Communicators and Managers in a Shrinking Global Marketplace    

In today's shrinking global marketplace, many technical communicators face challenges related to intercultural communication. This article examines ethical issues in intercultural communication, beginning with a brief survey of classical ethical models, then focusing on the guidelines for ethical communication developed by Allen and Voss to provide a framework for discussion. Of Allen and Voss's 10 values for ethical communication, we focus on privacy, legality, teamwork, social responsibility, and cultural sensitivity. We offer specific suggestions for avoiding stereotyping, tokenism, and ethnocentrism in technical documentation, including before-and-after examples. We examine the risks involved in using graphics and icons and in attempting to translate idiomatic usages. The article concludes with guidelines for technical communicators preparing documentation for international audiences and with suggestions for managers who wish to give their employees guidance regarding ethical and effective intercultural communication.

Voss, Daniel W. and Madelyn Flammia. Technical Communication Online (2007). Careers>TC>Outsourcing>Offshoring

Expand your Skills in 2004

A sure way to find new work opportunities is to expand the range of skills you offer your employer or clients.

Usborne, Nick. Excess Voice (2004). Careers>Advice>TC

Exploring Our Future: Technical Communication in the Year 2013  

Recent fluctuations in the technical communication job market prompted this examination of trends that are likely to affect our careers. STC and other professional organizations’ publications describe how we can increase the value of our profession by embracing new skills and new technologies, but they rarely examine the larger environment in which these skills and technologies might be applied. For that, the researchers examined futurist publications and more general news sources. As well, they continue to survey technical communication professionals about their past, present, and future work. This paper reveals the initial findings of the research.

Highby, Marie and Beau Cain. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>TC>Planning

Exporting Technical Writing Jobs

Traditionally, contractors have played an important role in the technical writing field by providing specific expertise, thereby allowing companies to focus on their core competencies. Contactors have made it possible for companies to add temporary personnel when needed ' an important benefit in a field where work output peaks periodically.

VanNorman, Maggie. Carolina Communique (2004). Careers>TC>Outsourcing>Offshoring

A Failure to Communicate

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

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 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

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

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

From Classroom to Cubicle  

Identifies helpful courses and activities that can prepare students and new technical communicators for their duties in the workplace.

Johnson, Felicia R. Intercom (2002). Careers>Education>TC>Workplace

From Information Worker to Knowledge Worker: Emerging Technologies, Trends, and Skills Sets  

The business landscape has altered significantly over the past ten years. Downsizing, rapid technological innovation, and a new business common sense that stresses return on investment and value creation has permanently changed the way employees do their jobs. For technical communication professionals, these factors present new challenges and opportunities. The panel discussion will present an open dialogue and discussion about career development, technical innovation, and formulas for success now and in the future.

Squire, Ross. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>TC

From Tech Comm to Screenplays

Technical writing exists to communicate and disseminate technical information. And it's clearly a different animal from some other kinds of writing…say screenwriting.

Harper, Judith. Between the Lines (2007). Careers>TC>Writing>Screenwriting

The Future of Technical Documentation 2000-2010

The need for TCs with traditional writing skills will remain fairly stable, but the need for TCs in total will grow. The new technical communicators will come from the world of game design, where they know all about 3D-vector animation, and they will come from the world of TV and video production.

TC-FORUM (2000). Careers>TC>Documentation>Video

Getting a Job in the '90s  

This panel discussion focuses on how finding and getting a job in the ’90s has changed over the past five to ten years. The number of electronic sources of job information is growing rapidly. Major online services such as CompuServe and America On-Line link to these sources, as well as run their own listings. Many sites let you post your resume electronically. New techniques are needed to create electronic resumes.

Sharp, Michael V., Roger E. Masse and Jan D. Shelton. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>TC