Unemployment Benefits for Out-of-Work Consultants

If you have been paid as independent contractor for work you have performed, you might assume that you are ineligible for unemployment compensation when a client or a temporary agency can no longer keep you busy. The client has no more work, so you think you're on your own to look for work, without the benefit of unemployment compensation. But what if a client or temporary agency should have paid you as an employee, instead of treating you as an independent contractor? In many cases, you would be entitled to collect unemployment compensation, even if you had signed a contract stipulating that you would not be eligible for benefits.

Randolph, Brett W.F. Boston Broadside (1993). Careers>Unemployment

Usability Testing: A Definition Analyzed

Usability testing actually measures human factors as they apply to performed tasks based on the interaction between documentation and a product user. As technical communicators, we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance human factors have on our profession.

Ruhs, Michael A. Boston Broadside (1992). Articles>Usability>Testing

Usability Testing: A Field Test Report

The following is a brief description of how I tested a user manual for a word processing program to be used by low-level and intermediate-level users.

Cheng, Ting Ting. Boston Broadside (1992). Articles>Usability>Testing>Documentation

User Interface Design: An International Approach

A well-thought-out design and well-written content reduces the time required for good international products and saves money. As a bonus, most internationalization issues apply across all languages and usually help improve the quality of the American-language product as well.

Swain, Cindy. Boston Broadside (1997). Design>User Interface>Translation>Localization

The Value of Research in Technical Communication

Over the years, there has been much debate and discussion in the Society as to whether technical communication is a field, an endeavour, a profession or a discipline, none of the above or all of the above. The topics of professionalism, certification and accreditation have often appeared in the pages of Technical Communication and Intercom. I would like to take the opportunity to review the status of technical communication and to highlight the role of research in technical communication.

Hosier, William J. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>TC>Research>Body of Knowledge

Wearer of Many Hats

We currently use a variety of software and hardware tools to do our work. Unfortunately, there isn't one perfect software package that does everything we need.

Peterson, Carol. Boston Broadside (1992). Articles>TC>Software

What Are Software Documentation Specialists, Anyway?

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?

Olander, Karen Wise. Boston Broadside (1991). Careers>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing

What to Expect from a Translation Agency

Leverage, CAT, translation memory, and aligning are quite interrelated and build on each other in the process.

Musgray, Uta. Boston Broadside (1997). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization

When Products Become Easy to Use, What's Next for Writers?

People who follow the right trends will someday lead them. Such an opportunity now lies in the hands of technical writers, as the computer field moves toward standardized, graphical, easy-to-use interfaces.

Oram, Andrew. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Usability>User Centered Design>Documentation

The Why You Need an Up-to-Date Resume

Provide your boss and the personnel department with a copy of your resume each time you update it. They will be interested to learn about any educational or training programs you've completed, changes in your current job responsibilities, new professional or civic organizations you've joined and any technical skills you've acquired since starting your current job. A resume should also reflect special accomplishments and your on-the-job performance record.

Davis, Portia. Boston Broadside (1993). Careers>Resumes

Writing at the User Interstices

The most coveted writing assignment in the computer industry is the overview of an integrated software package. It calls for careful pacing, creative metaphor, and lavish graphics, all integrated with the highest skill. Here stands the pinnacle of a career, to be 'writing at the user interface.'

Oram, Andrew. Boston Broadside (1990). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>User Interface

Writing for Trade and User Magazines

If you're a technical writer, writing an article and getting it published in a trade or user magazine is a good way to expand your capabilities, enhance your resume, promote yourself, and have fun. And if you want to establish yourself as an expert on something, there's no better way.

Boston Broadside (1992). Articles>Writing>Publishing