Appraising Technical Communicators  

Appraisals based on objective performance criteria identify and measure the abilities and contributions of technical communicators. This workshop explores how to develop effective performance criteria, specific to technical communication, and how to use these criteria to evaluate performance and foster professional growth and development.

Gilbert, Catherine E. and Sharon A. Gambaro. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>TC>Assessment

Buggy Whips, the Arch Deluxe, and Quality Improvement  

Sometimes quality is not enough to ensure success. Do you know who made the world’s finest buggy whips? Neither do I. Doubtless the manufacturer continuously improved its product to a fare-thee-well, but once the automobile became popular, the market for buggy whips (to say nothing of the market for buggies) evaporated, and there was nothing to be done for it.

Jong, Steven F. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC>Assessment

Career Assessment in Changing Times  

It used to be the prospect of retirement that made us stop and think about who we are and how we want to spend the productive years ahead. Not any more. This kind of thinking and planning is critical for everyone today, given the dramatic changes taking place in the business world. As companies shed staff of all ages, we need to assess our own strengths and weaknesses and career options. This experienced panel talks abut reinventing yourself, overcoming obstacles - real and imagined, practical considerations for the part-time, home-based business and 'dream' career alternatives.

Jones, Sheila C., Roger A. Grice, William A. Mattingly and Coralyn K. McGregor. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>TC>Assessment

Re-Evaluating Your Skills

Given our current economic conditions, it is proving very difficult for a lot of technical communicators to find new positions as either contractors or full-time employees. It is important now, more than ever, to look closely at the core skills we have and can offer our future employers. Almost all of you that I have talked to are technical communicators who develop online help and hardcopy documentation. You are writers, editors, and managers. Many of you understand the intricacies of the tools of the trade like Adobe FrameMaker and RoboHelp from eHelp. You understand the products so well that you can troubleshoot the problems faster than the product support teams.

Bates, Michael P. STC Northeast Ohio (2001). Careers>TC>Assessment>Adobe RoboHelp

Revealing Your Hidden Value  

Have you ever felt as though technical communicators don’t get the proper respect for the work they do? This isn’t just a problem of identifying with the comedian Rodney Dangerfield. And I’m not just asking whether you go home at the end of the day with your feelings hurt, although job satisfaction is certainly an important factor. But even more important, you need to have the respect of your boss and co-workers to be effective in your job and to advance your career.

Laurent, J. Suzanna. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC>Assessment>Formulas

Using Wellness Assessment in Career Planning  

Wellness assessment provides a means of adding balance to our lives. When approached from an occupational perspective, wellness is a useful tool in career planning and skill assessment. A basic understanding of wellness can provide the foundation for helping technical communicators better define their career options.

Stertzbach, Lori A. and Sharlyn A. Dimick. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>TC>Assessment

What Do Technical Writers Find Stressful?

If you are new to the technical writing profession or are considering technical writing as a career, you may be wondering whether technical writing is a high-stress occupation. According to The Jobs Rated Almanac 2001 by Les Krantz, technical writers are rated as having a 'relatively moderate to medium level of stress' when compared to other professions. The Almanac ranks 250 professions based on a range of job demands that are considered to cause stress; the stress ranking for 'technical writing' is based on the large workloads, tight deadlines, stringent demands for quality, and the exposure to criticism characteristic of many technical and marketing writer jobs.

Singer, Warren. TECHWR-L (2002). Careers>TC>Assessment

What Strategies Can Technical Writers Use to Cope with Stress?

This article offers some practical suggestions for increasing your ability to cope with stressors. Rather than attempting to cover solutions in depth, this article provides a range of ideas to explore in addressing the stressors discussed in Part One. The 'See Also' section at the end of each topic provides links to additional resources related to the topic, which help clarify or expand on the strategies briefly described under each topic.

Singer, Warren. TECHWR-L (2002). Careers>TC>Assessment