Be Able to Say, 'Been There! Done That!': Cultivate your Career Skills through Deliberate Volunteering  

To attain your career goals, you cannot simply go to work and perform the assigned projects, allowing your manager direct your professional path for you. You must treat your working life much like you treat a documentation project and be deliberate. Take charge of your progress by volunteering to complete projects that challenge and advance your capabilities. Plan and prepare for challenging opportunities that provide you with new work experiences; identify and execute tasks that advance your skills, knowledge, and abilities; and evaluate your career development, results, and your accomplishments with each enterprise you complete.

Swindle-Troell, Elizabeth F. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>TC>Planning>Volunteering

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

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

Growing Your Job as a Technical Communicator: Guidelines for Getting In, Moving Up, and Staying Put  

Two seasoned technical communicators discuss the elements of 'growing their jobs,' using successes and lessons learned to offer practical suggestions for getting in, moving up, and staying put if the company downsizes.

Liebetrau, Suzanne F. and Sallie J. Ortiz. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Planning

Imagination->Innovation->Communication  

As we face an uncertain tomorrow full of challenges for our profession and our world, we should consider what ways to identify opportunities, what emerging trends will affect global businesses, and what new skills must be learned to make us more effective in a brave new world set spiraling in response to technological breakthroughs. Our theme, 'Imagination, Innovation, Communication,' captures the essence of what we do: transform ideas and innovations into a myriad of communication possibilities from technical manuals to virtual Web sites. The theme suggests a successful process with you at the center as an information juggernaut who must make critical choices as you approach a new millennium.

Hawkes, Lory. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>TC>Planning

Interesting Times, Interesting Measures

We've been living in 'interesting' times, as the saying goes, and many of us feel that we've had about as much interest as we can tolerate, thank you very much. Chapter meeting attendance has been down and the popularity of technical presentations has decreased, while the popularity of career cafes and career management days has increased. In any conversation between three technical communicators, at least one is unemployed, about to be unemployed, or thinking about a career change.

Bailie, Rahel Anne. MetroVoice (2003). Careers>TC>Planning

Managing Your Career  

We as Technical Communicators must take more control over our careers. This session provides a quiz to rate career management progress and then offers practical suggestions, specifically for to the Technical Communicator to manage a career effectively. Topics such as career plans, networking, increasing professional visibility and contact tracking tools are discussed. Activity includes writing a career plan.

Bailey, Cheryl and Gena Belcher. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Planning

Reinventing Yourself for the New Millenium  

Organizations are changing their model of employment. The current trend is toward one comprised of a small, highly leveraged, multi-skilled internal staff complemented by an external staff of independent contractors. The Information Age is in its twilight, giving rise to the Age of Knowledge. The Internet has made us all members of a potential virtual workplace, and Web careers abound for technical writers.

Szatkowski, Carol A. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>TC>Planning

Success is a Many-Splendored Thing  

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 towards professional growth. Having established (or having faith in) their ability to survive in the profession, new and intermediate writers, editors, and illustrators must move beyond survival and begin to pursue success. This 90-minute workshop is based on the premise that it’s not enough to be a good writer with a strong technical background. You must posses multi-disciplinary skills to excel as a technical communicator and as a business person focused on the value you bring to your company.

Atkinson, Jennifer M. and Lee Taylor. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>TC>Planning

Why Do We Gamble with Our Careers?  

When it comes to their future, however, some professionals seem willing to take drastic risks. Oddly enough, some technical communicators spend more time thinking about the pros and cons of the serial comma than they do about their own careers. When we fail to engage in a passionate pursuit of information about the trends in our industry, we bury our heads in the sand and blindly roll the dice regarding our future prosperity.

Davis, Douglas W. STC (2006). Careers>TC>Planning

Career Planning and Longevity for Technical Communicators    

Cooper discusses her unique approach to career planning and longevity: essentially, do what you enjoy doing and find people and companies that interest you.

Cooper, Suzanne. Intercom (2009). Careers>TC>Planning