http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Careers/Writing A listing of the most recently indexed works about Careers and Writing in the field of technical communication (and technical writing). en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Careers/Writing http://tc.eserver.org/35810.html http://tc.eserver.org/35810.html Technical writing is a position that requires a lot more than just writing. The ability to collaborate and coordinate is key and in actuality, only about 30 percent of your time is spent writing. The responsibilities of a technical writer includes constant contact with others. Job duties range from writing internal technical documents, writing and editing manuals, producing online tutorials, and in some cases, even web-based training programs. http://tc.eserver.org/35719.html http://tc.eserver.org/35719.html Most technical writers see outsourcing as a real threat. But, if you look at it from another angle, it’s one huge business opportunity. http://tc.eserver.org/35630.html http://tc.eserver.org/35630.html Jane R. in Texas asks for some tips on interviewing tech writers, especially when using assessment tests. Her company is about to hire their first full-time writer and they have not done this before. I’ve worked on both sides on the fence in the past, (i.e. interviewed and been interviewed) and picked up a few tings in the process. Hopefully, these will be of some help. http://tc.eserver.org/35541.html http://tc.eserver.org/35541.html There are no rules or absolutes in finding a tech writer. For example, I look for the following when hiring a candidate. http://tc.eserver.org/35542.html http://tc.eserver.org/35542.html Nobody graduates from high school and says, I want to grow up and become a tech writer. http://tc.eserver.org/35415.html http://tc.eserver.org/35415.html You are a high-tech/Bio-tech company and your first product is nearing release. The product requires documentation and you ask your self what are our options? Before deciding you should consider these factors. http://tc.eserver.org/35409.html http://tc.eserver.org/35409.html Observations about freelance technical writing in Israel. http://tc.eserver.org/35408.html http://tc.eserver.org/35408.html Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work. Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function. http://tc.eserver.org/35326.html http://tc.eserver.org/35326.html Although getting a job is the focus of the podcast, I also talk about what technical writers do, how they approach a project, how they decide what to create, and how they generate ideas for tasks. Specifically, I talk about about a project people can work on at tech.lds.org. People can start writing help for the project here. http://tc.eserver.org/35328.html http://tc.eserver.org/35328.html I worked as a technical writer many years ago and then quit to take care of my kids. Now I'd like to get back into the field. How do I get my foot in the door when all employers require experience? http://tc.eserver.org/35296.html http://tc.eserver.org/35296.html Technical writers write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, online help documentation, operating directions and maintenance instructions. Rank: 28th best job in America. http://tc.eserver.org/35279.html http://tc.eserver.org/35279.html My concern for US writers is that they fail to grasp the momentum that counties like India have established and the high quality of university graduates they are now producing. In the next 10-15 years, IT jobs which can be replicated offshore/offsite to lower costs will be embraced more aggressively. US companies have little choice but to do this. http://tc.eserver.org/35223.html http://tc.eserver.org/35223.html Like most people who entered the technical communication profession in India in the mid to late 1990s, I too became a technical writer more by accident than by design. I enjoyed my technical writing career thoroughly, but slowly moved away, and a decade later, I now find myself heading the Quality Management function at a multi-national clinical research and technology company in India. The career paths of no two individuals are similar. And yet, there are always some common themes in successful transitions from one career path to another. http://tc.eserver.org/35148.html http://tc.eserver.org/35148.html If you’re a college student looking to become a technical writer after you graduate, you face a formidable challenge: you can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job. Especially in a competitive job market, getting a job as a technical writer directly after you graduate — without a foundation of previous jobs, experience with a handful of tools, and an impressive portfolio — can be especially difficult. However, if you follow these seven steps, which are not easy, not something you can do overnight, you will find a job. http://tc.eserver.org/34977.html http://tc.eserver.org/34977.html For the freelance writer on the go, there are some items that are essential for what they're doing. This post looks at the gear that one writer uses when working away from the home office. http://tc.eserver.org/34786.html http://tc.eserver.org/34786.html It’s not easy to estimate how long a copy writing job will take due to the many factors involved in the estimation. http://tc.eserver.org/34708.html http://tc.eserver.org/34708.html Have you figured out where you want your writing income to come from? Fiction or non fiction? Long or short pieces? What is your area of expertise or are you a generalist? There are two schools of thought when it comes to specializing or generalizing. Proponents have strong opinions on both sides. http://tc.eserver.org/34698.html http://tc.eserver.org/34698.html It’s often useful to look at the economic and technological pressures in other industries, to see if the trends emerging there are relevant to the technical communications/publications sector. In recent Blogs, we’ve covered the issues emerging in education, but the telecommunications industry might also provide some useful insights. http://tc.eserver.org/34683.html http://tc.eserver.org/34683.html Technical writing is sort of a jack-of-all-trades profession. It requires diverse skills, so a lot of people stumble into technical writing by chance. I've personally met technical writers who used to be lawyers, educators, and published fiction writers, and I've heard stories of many other professionals drifting into the field. Their past careers required writing, teaching, or technical abilities, and these skills helped them segue into a technical writing job. http://tc.eserver.org/34434.html http://tc.eserver.org/34434.html A technical writer is a professional writer who designs, writes, creates, maintains and updates technical documentation including online help, user guidance, white papers, design specifications, system manuals and other documents. A technical writer should possess good research techniques, good sound of language and excellent writing skills. Apart from this one needs to have the following five skills. http://tc.eserver.org/34386.html http://tc.eserver.org/34386.html When seeking freelance copywriters, many buyers specify that their only interest is in writers who speak English as a native language. Frequently buyers will request writers from a particular country such as the USA, the UK, Canada or Australia. This overlooks the fact that English is spoken as a first or second language in many countries. In fact, except for Mandarin Chinese, English is the most spoken language in the world. http://tc.eserver.org/34387.html http://tc.eserver.org/34387.html The most effective and powerful resumes provide analytical, precise detail about your background and achievements. In fact, resume writing has a strong correlation to technical writing in that both styles demand extreme precision. In fact, most readers of your resume will assume that what you show on paper correlates strongly to what you can do for your next employer. http://tc.eserver.org/34314.html http://tc.eserver.org/34314.html In portfolio web pages, especially in the field of design, one of the first things that you will notice is an introductory text consisting of a few words about the company or the designer behind the site. This can be extremely useful for readers, as it provides quick and direct information about the designer, or the company behind the site. These introductions are generally highlighted by the use of large text, positioned at the top of the site, and always catch the visitor’s eye. They give a more personal feeling to the site and tend to replace the traditional taglines under a logo for example. In this article, we list 50 examples of excellent web page introductions used in portfolio websites that you can use as inspiration for your own designs. http://tc.eserver.org/34157.html http://tc.eserver.org/34157.html This article offers tips on breaking into the field of freelance writing—some from Alice Osborn herself, some from two of the books she recommends: "Secrets of a Freelance Writer" by Robert W. Bly; and "The Renegade Writer" by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell. http://tc.eserver.org/34092.html http://tc.eserver.org/34092.html A lot of cliches apply to freelancers — wearing many hats, fingers in many pies, juggling multiple tasks. In order to do everything that you need to do, you need the right tools. Aside from the usual suspects — productivity and publishing software, Web sites, and blogs — there are a number of essential tools that all freelancers should have at their disposal. http://tc.eserver.org/34066.html http://tc.eserver.org/34066.html Is taking on a side project or three actually worth the time and money? It depends. http://tc.eserver.org/34069.html http://tc.eserver.org/34069.html Is it possible for a technical writer to switch niches and write something different? Here's an example of one person who's done just that. http://tc.eserver.org/34054.html http://tc.eserver.org/34054.html What Qualities Do We Look For? Enthusiasm for writing -willingness to go the extra mile. Ability to gather, synthesize and critically analyze large amounts of data. Express ideas succinctly –not “academic” documents. http://tc.eserver.org/34055.html http://tc.eserver.org/34055.html The most important skills or previous experience in securing present job: medical/scientific knowledge/understanding; writing skills/experience; ability to meet deadlines. http://tc.eserver.org/34057.html http://tc.eserver.org/34057.html The term "medical writing" encompasses different kinds of work for clients in media, government, and industry. Pharmaceutical companies, medical-device manufacturers, and clinical-research organizations (CROs) all employ writers to prepare regulatory documents used to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for drugs and devices. Medical writers help doctors write research articles, monographs, and reviews on medical topics. Continuing medical education (CME) companies employ medical writers to produce educational materials and slide kits that doctors and nurses use to prepare for license renewals. Medical writers produce sales training materials, press releases for industry, and fact sheets or Web site materials for government organizations. Medical writers also write about research discoveries for medical journals, Web sites, newsletters, magazines, newspapers, and any other medium that includes coverage of health and medical issues. http://tc.eserver.org/34030.html http://tc.eserver.org/34030.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/34031.html http://tc.eserver.org/34031.html Medical writing is a career that is often not predetermined but decided upon en route. Medical writers are well-rounded in terms of having both communicative and scientific knowledge, and this also means that a wide range of academic backgrounds and job experiences are welcome in the field. Medical writing allows for acquisition of various necessary skills through whichever means most suits the individual. http://tc.eserver.org/34033.html http://tc.eserver.org/34033.html Information about average technical writer salaries in the United States. http://tc.eserver.org/34035.html http://tc.eserver.org/34035.html You might perhaps be considering whether to become a technical writer or not. You might be wondering: “What kind of a job technical writing is exactly and what does the future hold?” I can tell you right away that, at its most fundamental level, technical writing is safe and comfortable office work. http://tc.eserver.org/33809.html http://tc.eserver.org/33809.html A central element of any job we hold is the compensation we receive. While compensation is only one factor in our descision to accept a position, it's how many of us keep score and the way all of us pay the bills. The WritersUA Salary Survey provides you with detailed and comprehensive information about compensation for user assistance professionals. Our 2009 Salary Survey results were viewed on our web site by over 21,000 visitors. We hope you find these new survey results useful in gauging where you stand amongst your peers. http://tc.eserver.org/33734.html http://tc.eserver.org/33734.html Once upon a time, a technical writer got a job at an enchanted studio called Dreamworks Animation. http://tc.eserver.org/33695.html http://tc.eserver.org/33695.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/33603.html http://tc.eserver.org/33603.html All this talk of a depression is so....depressing. Still, it is what can happen when the economies of nations are so intertwined, so "single-sourced". America sneezes, and the world throws up. http://tc.eserver.org/33462.html http://tc.eserver.org/33462.html If you need a job, then you might look for companies that have never had a professional technical writer working for them. It may require making calls or networking with friends or former co-workers. Most companies have a ton of writing to do. Usually they put off their documentation requirements and their needs have piled up. You may also find that someone such as a regulator has confronted management about insufficient documentation and they have to put a writer to work immediately. http://tc.eserver.org/33416.html http://tc.eserver.org/33416.html Technical Writers (aka Technical Authors, Content Wranglers and Documentation Managers) have an unfair image. This project aims to challenge this image, by showing technical writers in a different light. The photos below are of technical communications professionals, doing a variety of activities. http://tc.eserver.org/33320.html http://tc.eserver.org/33320.html Some thoughts on what it takes to effectively mentor another technical communicator. http://tc.eserver.org/33169.html http://tc.eserver.org/33169.html Thinking of a career in technical communication? This article offers one point of view on what you need to know to be successful in the field. http://tc.eserver.org/32821.html http://tc.eserver.org/32821.html It's time to turn out the lights. I've had a great run as a technical writer and consultant but it's time to leave the profession. In some ways I've long outgrown technical writing because client needs as a consultant challenged me and pushed me to become more than just a technical writer. http://tc.eserver.org/32483.html http://tc.eserver.org/32483.html How do I break into a career in technical writing? http://tc.eserver.org/32490.html http://tc.eserver.org/32490.html Mentoring is an effective strategy that can contribute significantly to the career development of employees. It provides a cost-effective work-based learning strategy to achieve career development outcomes for individual employees. It is an effective method for the transference of professional, technical and management skills. http://tc.eserver.org/32493.html http://tc.eserver.org/32493.html Surprisingly, my first experience as an interviewer was as uneasy as my first job interview. I then realized that being on the other side of the table is not as easy as it is made out to be, especially if conducting an interview is unfamiliar territory. Later on, as I matured into this role, I created a style of my own and soon found it to be an interesting and inspiring proposition, though challenging. http://tc.eserver.org/32470.html http://tc.eserver.org/32470.html On the about page of this site I used to call myself a “developer/designer/occasional writer”. It’s a bit confusing, and I still find it hard to know what to answer when someone asks me what I do for a living. Am I a Web designer? A Web developer? A Web programmer? All of them? Neither? It really is a difficult question to give a simple answer to. http://tc.eserver.org/32258.html http://tc.eserver.org/32258.html Gives an in-depth overview of the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics information regarding salary data for technical communicators. http://tc.eserver.org/32209.html http://tc.eserver.org/32209.html What does it take to start your own technical-writing business? Chutzpa! Insanity! I began mine by getting a loan from my local bank for my first computer to set up a home office. It was a Micron desktop 386, the fastest computer in town! That was nine years ago. I now have a nice office, a sizeable staff, and all the work I can handle, most of the time. http://tc.eserver.org/32213.html http://tc.eserver.org/32213.html So you've got approval to hire a contract technical writer. Maybe it's for overflow work or a special project. Nevertheless, it is your responsibility and you want to do it right. http://tc.eserver.org/32215.html http://tc.eserver.org/32215.html One of the challenges of managing new writers is helping them discover and develop their writing process. Whether the new writers have just come out of school, or have recently 'fallen into' the field without the benefit of much training, they often experience the same problems in planning and composing -- which have their roots in how they learned to write. http://tc.eserver.org/32035.html http://tc.eserver.org/32035.html To many aspiring novelists, poets and journalists, working as a technical writer seems like the perfect stepping stone to their dreams. After all, you'll be paid to put pen to paper--something every wannabe writer dreams of. So what if it isn't the Great American Novel? You'll still have time for your own writing in your off hours. Or will you? If you are thinking about transitioning from your current non-writing position to technical writing because it's a hot market, you like technology, and/or you want to round out your freelance portfolio, you're on the right track. But if your main reason for considering the technical arena is that you enjoy writing, then re-evaluate your decision. http://tc.eserver.org/31942.html http://tc.eserver.org/31942.html It's hard to say how much money full time freelance technical writers make. But we do have some data on salaries made by full time technical writers working for a company. http://tc.eserver.org/31901.html http://tc.eserver.org/31901.html Beach time and bench time refer to paid or unpaid time off between consulting contracts. When you are a contractor, it is best to take initiative and find other options no matter how much you trust your recruiter. Never trust a company to have your best interests in mind. http://tc.eserver.org/31898.html http://tc.eserver.org/31898.html I couldn’t picture myself as a big time advertising writer, but technical writer was something that I figured I could do. I had plenty of computer experience. Half of my personal debt was related to computer equipment. I had been on the Internet since before there was a World Wide Web. I had a degree in creative writing and I had been an editor and writer for a few minor publications. Technical writer seemed obtainable. http://tc.eserver.org/31899.html http://tc.eserver.org/31899.html In the world of contracting, the entire hiring process can take place over the phone. Knowing the right tool (even a little) can get you the job. http://tc.eserver.org/31775.html http://tc.eserver.org/31775.html Technical writing exists to communicate and disseminate technical information. And it's clearly a different animal from some other kinds of writing…say screenwriting. http://tc.eserver.org/31705.html http://tc.eserver.org/31705.html If you have a group of stressed out and overworked technical writers and need to add to your staff, hiring the right technical writer can be a challenge. The author provides some tips on the hiring and interview process and what you might look for in exceptional technical writing candidates that will best fill the needs of your group of technical writers. http://tc.eserver.org/31708.html http://tc.eserver.org/31708.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/31711.html http://tc.eserver.org/31711.html When you finally get the approval to hire a contract technical writer you'll want to go about it the right way in order to avoid problems and ensure success. This article provides insight on what you need to do before you start looking for a contract technical writing professional and how to go about finding one suitable for your project. http://tc.eserver.org/31713.html http://tc.eserver.org/31713.html The marketplace for technical writers has often been challenging. In difficult economic times when companies seek to slash their budgets, it is often difficult for corporations to understand the need for a technical writer, let alone to understand the need to increase staffing in the documentation department. This article looks at the benefits of hiring technical writers, since their often diverse skill sets can be used across various departments in the organization. http://tc.eserver.org/31714.html http://tc.eserver.org/31714.html When you first ventured into the tech writing ranks, marketing the department was likely the furthest thing from your mind. You already had work to do, so marketing was somebody else's job. http://tc.eserver.org/31728.html http://tc.eserver.org/31728.html 'Lone writers' — those people who work as their employer’s only staff writers — are a different breed, with their own unique set of professional and personal challenges. At the same time a blessing and a curse, the lone writer life offers flexibility, variety, and autonomy, along with feelings of stress, isolation, and burnout. http://tc.eserver.org/31716.html http://tc.eserver.org/31716.html At first glance, technical communication (techcom) and technical marketing communication (marcom) appear to be very different genres. Where traditional techcom strives to help people use products, marcom seeks to make people realize they need products. http://tc.eserver.org/31717.html http://tc.eserver.org/31717.html This article is a collage of ideas and experiences from some people who've made the leap from writer to manager. Although it's not a step-by-step guideline, it provides some compelling insight as to what individuals might expect as they transition into the management ranks. Even if you are an experienced manager, you might find these ideas helpful. http://tc.eserver.org/31726.html http://tc.eserver.org/31726.html What does it take to start your own technical-writing business? Chutzpa! Insanity! I began mine by getting a loan from my local bank for my first computer to set up a home office. It was a Micron desktop 386, the fastest computer in town! That was nine years ago. I now have a nice office, a sizeable staff, and all the work I can handle, most of the time. http://tc.eserver.org/31732.html http://tc.eserver.org/31732.html Identifying management candidates and training technical communicators before they get promoted to management positions can make for a very smooth and successful transition for both the candidate and the organization. http://tc.eserver.org/31698.html http://tc.eserver.org/31698.html Contrary to what many assume, working as a technical writer involves much more than sitting alone at your PC. The job requires plenty of contact with technical professionals, from programmers and project managers to machine operators and medical technicians. Solitary? Not quite. Collaborative? Most definitely. http://tc.eserver.org/31655.html http://tc.eserver.org/31655.html Most professional writing jobs still require a college degree either in the liberal arts with a preference for Communications, Journalism, and English. Competition is expected to be less for lower paying, entry-level jobs. Writers who fail to gain better paying jobs usually can transfer readily to communications-related jobs in other occupations. http://tc.eserver.org/31388.html http://tc.eserver.org/31388.html Like many of you, each of us has played on both sides of the fence: We've worked as editors in the position of hiring freelance writers, and as writers on constant prowl for new markets and ways to make editors happy. Even if you've not strayed between camps, we're all communication professionals-so why does mutual disappointment or even frustration characterize the editor/writer relationship so often? http://tc.eserver.org/31162.html http://tc.eserver.org/31162.html Nowadays, outsourcing seems to be a de facto approach in the IT industry. As a part of the software development process, it seems reasonable to consider technical writing as a candidate for outsourcing. Through this article, I propose to explore the pros, cons, risks, and opportunities for outsourcing your technical documentation. http://tc.eserver.org/31140.html http://tc.eserver.org/31140.html If you're considering a move to the contract side of the fence, you might want to think about the questions in this blog post before making a decision. http://tc.eserver.org/31130.html http://tc.eserver.org/31130.html This 24-page e-book is a compilation of six articles, all focused on starting and growing a successful freelance copywriting business. In addition to the articles, there is also a resource page with suggestions for courses and further reading. http://tc.eserver.org/31111.html http://tc.eserver.org/31111.html Technical writing is one of those jobs in which you're constantly learning. New tools, new techniques, new methodologies. No one knows it all. That's especially true for the new technical communicator. If you've graduated from a writing and rhetoric course or a technical writing course, you have a pretty good grounding in craft. But you're really only at the base of the mountain. There's still a lot to learn, and if you keep your eyes and ears and mind open then you can quickly pick up what you need to know. http://tc.eserver.org/31106.html http://tc.eserver.org/31106.html Passion, though, is a funny thing. It's easy to become passionate about something. But the fire of that passion can also be easily dimmed or extinguished, often due to circumstances that are beyond your control. Throughout your career, you'll definitely find your passion waxing and waning. But holding on to that passion and nurturing it will make you a better technical communicator. http://tc.eserver.org/31105.html http://tc.eserver.org/31105.html So you've just started out as a technical communicator, or you've been on the job for a year or two. And you've decided that maybe, just maybe, technical communication is the career for you and you're in it for the long haul. Now what? Think about the future and how you want your career to develop. http://tc.eserver.org/31091.html http://tc.eserver.org/31091.html Tonight I participated on a career panel for technical writing majors at Utah State University. In preparation, I tried to think of answers to questions they might ask. The one question that I was sure some student would ask is this: 'If you were to do it over again, would you choose technical writing as your career?' http://tc.eserver.org/31076.html http://tc.eserver.org/31076.html A no-nonsense approach to finding a great tech writer, even when you don't know what to look for. http://tc.eserver.org/30870.html http://tc.eserver.org/30870.html A short article about careers in technical and professional communication. http://tc.eserver.org/30835.html http://tc.eserver.org/30835.html STIC-leden kunnen zich uitstekend vinden in het competentieprofiel voor de Technisch Communicatie-specialist. Dat blijkt uit de resultaten van de enquête die de werkgroep Opleiding en Trainingen in het najaar 2007 aan de STIC-leden voorlegde. http://tc.eserver.org/30643.html http://tc.eserver.org/30643.html There are some key differences between looking for publishing jobs and looking for technical writing jobs. http://tc.eserver.org/30593.html http://tc.eserver.org/30593.html The Mentoring Concept is a plan for training new writers quickly in a complex environment. A mentoring team uses checklists to plan for the training of new writers. The role of each member of the mentoring team is clearly defined. The key to the success of the mentoring relationship is the effective communication of responsibilities, requirements, and progress. http://tc.eserver.org/30578.html http://tc.eserver.org/30578.html This site is designed to give you insight into the daily life of several technical writers at National Instruments. http://tc.eserver.org/30520.html http://tc.eserver.org/30520.html Technology has reduced the need for managers to act as communication conduits. Instead they must add more quality to the work of their employees by wandering among them. Effective wandering means forgetting the telephone, using bull sessions, becoming a fifteen-minute manager, giving employees a vision, and looking at their work. http://tc.eserver.org/30379.html http://tc.eserver.org/30379.html Many articles discuss how to hire a great writer, but relatively few tell us what to do when we get one. The first weeks on a new job set the tone for a writer's experience at a company. If both manager and writer pay attention to getting a good start, the result will be that the writer settles in, feels welcome and at ease, and becomes productive quickly. http://tc.eserver.org/30333.html http://tc.eserver.org/30333.html Next to writing an enthusiastic thank you note for socks received as a birthday gift, the most difficult task for many writers is creating a help wanted ad that succinctly defines the requirements of the position while encouraging only perfect candidates to apply. http://tc.eserver.org/30306.html http://tc.eserver.org/30306.html To make the most of limited opportunities, you have to distinguish yourself from the crowd of other technical writers who'll be vying for the same positions you're after. In other words, you have to go into that job market armed with more than just a bachelor's degree and some classroom writing samples. Following are some suggestions that can help you acquire some professional technical writing experience, broaden your skills and knowledge of the technical writing field, and get you over the entry-level hump. http://tc.eserver.org/30307.html http://tc.eserver.org/30307.html 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? http://tc.eserver.org/30076.html http://tc.eserver.org/30076.html Leveraging on the success of my business, DocuStar, this paper describes some of the strategies I have used to grow my one-person freelance gig into a business employing over 65 employees on our own premises and servicing over 200 hi-tech companies per year. While the profit margin may not match that of the up-and-coming dotcoms, the needs of the market foretell a solid and ever-growing future within the technical documentation niche. With a strong commitment to hard work, an adventurous excitement for conquest and a paramount and obsessive commitment to quality and integrity, technical writing can certainly be grown into a big business venture. http://tc.eserver.org/30004.html http://tc.eserver.org/30004.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/29989.html http://tc.eserver.org/29989.html Perhaps the most obtuse way of explaining what a technical writer is to say that the profession is misnamed; the real description should be non-technical writer. In other words, a person who turns technical text into non-technical information. http://tc.eserver.org/29868.html http://tc.eserver.org/29868.html Offshoring will not go away. Technical communicators can improve their prospects by taking offshoring into account as they envision their futures. After defining offshoring and outsourcing, this paper presents a brief history of offshoring and the myths associated with it, followed by a reporting of observations made by practitioners in the field. The conclusions of this report include recommended strategies for technical communicators to consider as they move forward in their careers. http://tc.eserver.org/29521.html http://tc.eserver.org/29521.html L'ecriture technique est une limite qui represente un ensemble d'activites de plus en plus large qui sont concues pour communiquer l'information comprehensible qui peut aident a peuple soit productive. Le contenu cree par les auteurs techniques a traditionnellement implique des articles comme 'comment-' aux manuels, aux guides de reference et aux rapports de corporation. L'apparition de nouvelles technologies, de tendances et de coutumes nous incite a augmenter l'armature de la reference qui entoure les activites d'un auteur technique. http://tc.eserver.org/29524.html http://tc.eserver.org/29524.html Technical Writing is a great career with more than 5,000 practicing professionals in India. http://tc.eserver.org/29421.html http://tc.eserver.org/29421.html Sure, the economy's booming now, but as the Asian crisis becomes the North American crisis, it pays to remember Newton's famous law of gravity: what goes up must come down again. And, of course, when the economy comes down and pension fund managers start asking those awkward questions about why they should remain invested in your company's stock, managers have a lemming-like tendency to trim staff to make room for short-term profits and long-term plausible deniability. As a technical communicator, you're obviously well up on the hit list, which some might see as a bad thing--but there's a silver lining to every cloud (or, in our case, a copper lining; they don't pay us well enough for silver). In fact, the good news is that it's easy to ensure you're the first one fired, so you can leave before the job becomes mundane without looking like a quitter. Then there are all those perquisites (severance pay, a little downtime)... http://tc.eserver.org/29420.html http://tc.eserver.org/29420.html Technical communicators represent one of the most mobile groups of professionals I'm aware of, with some sources claiming that the average time between changing jobs is as low as four years. This means that many of us will soon find ourselves in the position of working with newcomers, whether permant staff or 'temps,' and this means we may face the problem of how to mentor or supervise someone new to our workplace. This article discusses how to work with someone who already has the basic training, but is nonetheless naive in the ways of your particular organization. http://tc.eserver.org/29364.html http://tc.eserver.org/29364.html How do you explain highly technical designs in terms that nontechnical managers and executives--who typically have decision-making power over the budget--can understand and appreciate? Unless you know a technical writer who can translate for you, you're going to have to do it yourself. http://tc.eserver.org/29332.html http://tc.eserver.org/29332.html This article offers tips for project and development managers hiring a technical writer to document a software development project. http://tc.eserver.org/28865.html http://tc.eserver.org/28865.html Technical writing as a field covers a variety of different skills and positions. Many people, when they think of technical writers, think of user guides and installation instructions. That is certainly one area a technical writer might work in, but it is far from the only area. http://tc.eserver.org/28850.html http://tc.eserver.org/28850.html As a programmer or developer, the Subject Matter Expert is concerned about developing code that is bug free and serves the client's purpose. They need to have task wise in-depth technical orientation, which often results in having a limited perspective of the user requirement. But those who wish to swap into the technical writing arena are required to have an in-depth overview and analytical outlook of the user perspective and the project in its entirety. As a Technical Writer, the Subject Matter Expert has to understand the user's mindset. Identifying the target audience, producing a document that will answer their questions readily and meeting their expectations is no easy job. http://tc.eserver.org/28421.html http://tc.eserver.org/28421.html A collection of up-to-date advertisements for technical writing positions in industry. http://tc.eserver.org/28420.html http://tc.eserver.org/28420.html Talent matters. And not everybody has it. I have never and will never tell a writer that it's time to give up. http://tc.eserver.org/28371.html http://tc.eserver.org/28371.html As much as you may try to avoid it, conflict among your employees is bound to rear its ugly head from time to time. While you may not be able to resolve all conflicts, with the right approach, you can manage many of them. http://tc.eserver.org/28373.html http://tc.eserver.org/28373.html Writing for technology companies has its own unique set of challenges. Here's how to work around some of them. http://tc.eserver.org/28189.html http://tc.eserver.org/28189.html Those who are interested in breaking into medical writing received the inside scoop from L. Megan Day and Dr. Susan Dakin, the panelists at the chapter meeting on January 9 at Dreyfus Auditorium at Research Triangle Institute. Day has a bachelor's degree in chemistry, a master's degree in anatomy and has written for pharmaceutical companies for 10 years. Dakin has a bachelor's degree in biology and psychology and a Ph.D. in zoology. Self-employed since 1984, her specialties are scientific writing and proposal writing. http://tc.eserver.org/27978.html http://tc.eserver.org/27978.html Project management principles that can easily be applied to working as a documentation manager. http://tc.eserver.org/27977.html http://tc.eserver.org/27977.html It is quite challenging for a manager to integrate a diverse group of intelligent and creative professionals into a single, cohesive unit. As much as you may try to avoid it, conflict among your employees is bound to rear its ugly head from time to time. http://tc.eserver.org/27964.html http://tc.eserver.org/27964.html A selection of writing samples for cover letters, CVs and resumes. http://tc.eserver.org/27838.html http://tc.eserver.org/27838.html Ghostwriting has a lot to offer the young (or not-so-young) writer or editor with the right personality, professional skills, and appetite for variety and adventure. But it's not for everyone. You can make money, have fun, learn new things, and meet interesting people. You can also get horribly ripped off unless you know your value and how to use it. If you put someone else's name on your work or push someone else's favorite cause or ideas, do it so you come out a winner. Below are a few suggestions and observations gleaned the hard way. http://tc.eserver.org/27772.html http://tc.eserver.org/27772.html Freelancers often wonder where to find clients. What kind of companies need white papers written for them, anyway? Here's three simple questions that will tell you the answer. http://tc.eserver.org/27598.html http://tc.eserver.org/27598.html Technical writers produce, organize and edit scientific and technical information, crafting language that can be understood by people who service, maintain, or operate various types of equipment. To gather data about the subject matter, they may observe production processes, interview production and engineering staff, or refer to trade journals and other such publications. http://tc.eserver.org/27320.html http://tc.eserver.org/27320.html Money Magazine and Salary.com rate careers on salary and job prospects. Technical writing comes in as the thirteenth best career in America. http://tc.eserver.org/27108.html http://tc.eserver.org/27108.html Collaboration is a key element of the documentation process at SolidWorks Corporation, and it contributes significantly to the high quality of the technical documents. 'We couldn't produce the volume of documents that we do in the time that we have without working closely together,' says Georgia, manager of the Technical Publications department. Five technical writers and eight translators collaborate with each other, with developers and testers, with a translation house, and with a print house. Together they produce a user's guide, a tutorial, multiple online help systems, and numerous smaller documents with each release of the software. Releases occur about twice a year. Because each release includes major new functionality, the documentation schedule is very tight. 'Taking into account that we have to wait for the engineers to complete their changes, and that we have to freeze the English version in time for the translators to translate before the release,' says Georgia, 'the schedule is even tighter than it appears at first.' Some of the techniques that make this situation workable are an integrated hardware and software system, careful distribution of responsibilities, explicit procedures and style guides, and file maintenance. http://tc.eserver.org/26982.html http://tc.eserver.org/26982.html Technical writing is fast emerging from the shadows and becoming a key area of specialisation in the IT industry. An insider's brief about the nature and scope of the profession. http://tc.eserver.org/26739.html http://tc.eserver.org/26739.html The project was a good test of the personal and portable knowledge worker tools that I have been recommending over the past four years, and a chance to reflect on how they all fit together. These are the items of hardware and software that proved most valuable to me. http://tc.eserver.org/26725.html http://tc.eserver.org/26725.html You have to stand out from the crowd. You have to sparkle. How do you do this? Simple. It all starts with The Big Idea. http://tc.eserver.org/26617.html http://tc.eserver.org/26617.html Beware the need for a vacation when the normally exciting and always rewarding nature of your technical writing job begins to lead you astray. http://tc.eserver.org/26616.html http://tc.eserver.org/26616.html Responses from an inquiry about the type of writer most likely to do well in a start-up environment and what management needs to do to keep those people committed and dedicated for the long-term. http://tc.eserver.org/26598.html http://tc.eserver.org/26598.html While our job requirements and responsibilities are ever-changing, our allies remain the same. They include one crucial team member who will help you far more than you realize ∆ your attorney. If you don’t already have one, you may think that this is an additional expense that you cannot afford; after all, how often do you plan on being sued? However, good attorneys do more than represent you in court. Let’s take a look at what they can do for you. http://tc.eserver.org/26483.html http://tc.eserver.org/26483.html Post announcements about job openings in this forum. Posters are encouraged to send their announcements to WPA-L as well. http://tc.eserver.org/26304.html http://tc.eserver.org/26304.html Staffing services and placement agency for technical writers. http://tc.eserver.org/26153.html http://tc.eserver.org/26153.html The cost depends on how long and complex the document is, and how much editing is required. Most editors have a fixed hourly rate, and will quote for a job after they have studied the document. Skilled wordsmiths usually charge more per hour, because they do the job faster. When you find a fine wordsmith, handle with care. They are not exactly thick on the ground. http://tc.eserver.org/26053.html http://tc.eserver.org/26053.html Are Pune technical writers the highest paid of the breed in India? The word on the street doesn't say so. As a hiring manager, I don't believe so. But, the salary survey suggests so. http://tc.eserver.org/26028.html http://tc.eserver.org/26028.html You're more than a writer, you're a business owner. You're a manager, a marketer, a negotiator, a technology guru and more. http://tc.eserver.org/26027.html http://tc.eserver.org/26027.html If the world really is run by C students, then you have to ask yourself a question: How do I market myself in an ocean of average? Today's competitive job market can be a hard nut to crack. How do you stand out in that crowd? http://tc.eserver.org/25903.html http://tc.eserver.org/25903.html The name of your company or consulting practice can offer prospects a clue into the work you do, which is especially necessary if it’s not readily understood, but if it bears your name, you’d better have a tagline to do the explaining. http://tc.eserver.org/25787.html http://tc.eserver.org/25787.html Thorough, ongoing documentation is the key to well-written Self-Appraisals that increase your perceived value within your Company and impact your performance rating. http://tc.eserver.org/25597.html http://tc.eserver.org/25597.html A directory listing that crawls the web several times a day and gathers the newest jobs posted on a large variety of job sites.