#26600
If you are a newly-appointed documentation manager hiring your first technical writer, you are probably wondering what you have gotten yourself into. Do you know how to attract quality applicants, assess candidates’ qualifications, effectively interview , compare candidates, ensure a good fit, make an offer, negotiate compensation, and measure success? Where should you start? Hiring employees can be difficult whether adding one employee or staffing a full team from scratch.
O'Brien, Paula. TECHWR-L (2005). Careers>Management>Interviewing
#27447
Writing Software Requirements Specifications 
For technical writers who haven't had the experience of designing software requirements specifications (SRSs, also known as software functional specifications or system specifications) templates or even writing SRSs, they might assume that being given the opportunity to do so is either a reward or punishment for something they did (or failed to do) on a previous project. Actually, SRSs are ideal projects for technical writers to be involved with because they lay out the foundation for the development of a new product and for the types of user documentation and media that will be required later in the project development life cycle. It also doesn't hurt that you'd be playing a visible role in contributing to the success of the project.
Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. TECHWR-L (2000). Articles>Writing>Specifications>Technical Writing
#31965
Your Own Best Ad: Promoting Yourself as a Contractor
Most contractors can't afford the time or money to advertise. If they can, there probably aren't many places where an ad would reach potential clients anyway. By default, then, your reputation as a contractor rests on your behavior at each job. Leave a happy client behind at the end of each job, and you'll soon start a word-of-mouth campaign that will keep you employed the rest of your working life.
Byfield, Bruce. TECHWR-L (2008). Careers>Consulting>Freelance>Marketing
#32155
Ten Technical Communication Myths
Technical communication has accumulated its share of mythical rules of thumb, but the good news about our profession's myths is that they too contain grains of truth and insights into things that are truly important to us. (This work is a reprint of http://tc.eserver.org/10500.html, but not locked for STC members only.)
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. TECHWR-L (2000). Articles>TC
#32228
Inspiring Reviewers to Review Your Documents
To obtain good reviews, you must make the process as painless as possible for reviewers.
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. TECHWR-L (2008). Articles>Editing>Collaboration>SMEs
#32229
Making the Mentor Partnership Work: Part Two (For the Mentor)
When you act as a mentor, you're agreeing to serve as an ad hoc advisor and sounding board to someone less experienced in the career world than you.
Chroust Ehmann, Lain. TECHWR-L (2008). Careers>Mentoring
#32230
Making the Mentor Partnership Work: Part One (for the Mentee)
Few people enter the work world with a ready-made mentor. Instead, you need to actively pursue finding one--and take good care of her once you find her.
Chroust Ehmann, Lain. TECHWR-L (2008). Careers>Mentoring
