General Meeting: Employment Avenues for Technical Communicators

by Margie Yundt, Quill Editor & Webmaster

We kicked off our chapter's 2006/2007 STC year with a general meeting on how to get a job, or transition to a job, as a technical communicator. In light of the topic, we took a more personal approach to this meeting and decided to run it as a progression. This format allowed for eager participants to meet with the speakers they were most interested in, turn the tables, and interview them! Thanks to our wonderful panel of enthusiastic speakers, and some great questions from everyone, the event was a rousing success!

Our speakers from left to right: Sharon Caverly, Tanya Gillert, Peggy Jarvie, & Kate O'Donnell

But if you missed this one, don't fret; we have compiled just a few of the questions asked at each of our speaker tables and included them in this article (thanks to Debbie and Pauline for their contributions to this article — you rock!). We have also posted resource materials from Tanya on our website (http://www.stc-soc.org/calendar/2006-09-19.php ). Read on…

Sharon Caverly - former Human Resources Manager at companies such as Nortel, Switchview, AlliedSignal (now Honeywell) and Spicer Corporation

Should you send handwritten thank you cards after an interview?

While handwritten thank you cards are nice, an emailed thank you is just as nice, and it is the only way that you can guarantee that a person receives it.

When you go for an interview, and they say that they will get back to you in about two weeks, when should you contact the people who interviewed you?

Call the company about three days before the two weeks are up.

Be upbeat when you call (smile while you are talking). Try to call first thing in the morning (before 9:00), just before lunch, just after lunch, or just before the end of the day to increase your odds of reaching the person who interviewed you. When you speak to the person, recap who you are and provide a brief overview of your interview to refresh the person’s memory. Provide any information that you forgot to mention during your interview, and ask the person if there is any other information that the person may need to help with the decision process.

Tanya Gillert - Career Counsellor at University of Waterloo

What is the best way to market yourself?

• Do as much personal branding as you can, and create a professional looking website for yourself. Employers will “Google” you so have something to show them!
• Create your own calling card, which is like a business card. It should have a logo, your name, contact information (but no mailing address) and your website address.  More info
• At a networking event, always wear your name tag on the right side so that people see it as they are shaking your hand.
• Create giveaways such as bookmarks for career fairs, job fairs, and networking events.
• Create a broadcast letter that says what you can do for others. When you send it out, designate a time that you will contact them and then follow through. More info
• Always try to get a face-to-face meeting with a manager. Be as persistent as you can.

How do I get started in technical writing as a career?

• Do research into the field using the Internet and any other resources you can find.
• Do a self-assessment of your skills and working style and compare it to that of a successful technical writer.
• Target an industry that you have a passion for or that you have worked in.
• Take note of what is important to you and make that your selling point.
• Auction your time at a charity event.
• Network! Word of mouth is powerful, and statistics show that people who network typically have a salary 30% higher than those that don't network.

What are some ideas for making my portfolio stand out?

• Make them look professional.
• Create your portfolio on a CD-ROM, include links to website you have worked on, and show your creativity!
• PowerPoint is also a good tool to show what you have done and can do.
• If you are student, include project work and testimonials.
• Good resource: KEEPToolkit website

Peggy Jarvie - Executive Director Co-operative Education & Career Services

What are the advantages of a co-operative education program?

It's a good way to learn what you don't want to do. It also lets the employers try before they buy. Many employers use it as a recruiting tool.

What are some of the issues facing co-op and other education programs?

In many cases, we've built up our children's confidence too much so they expect that everything is easy. Academic integrity is not where it should be. To address this issue, U. of W. has formed a special task force.

Kate O'Donnell - Independent Contractor

What is the best way to get started?

• Choose two or three agencies and sign up with them. Try and get to a specific agent within the agency that has been recommended by someone else.
• Give some freebies to prospective clients. A little taste of what they can expect from you can lead to a contract.
• Let people know what you do—the power of networking is greater than you think.
• Having prior experience in the industry or in the type of writing needed is a very good thing.

What are things you need to be careful of?

You need to make sure that you deliver on promises. If you're not always available, be up front about this. Make sure you are always respectful of your clients’ needs and requirements.

What are some of the advantages of being an independent contractor?

• Your time is almost always well used because the client knows the meter is running for every hour they have you on contract.
• You usually have complete flexibility around what type of work you take on. Many clients are also willing to let you work at home at the hours that work for you. They want results, not time spent.

And finally...

The council would also like to thank Communitech for its help and support in promoting this event, and AMI Semiconductor for donating the fabulous door prizes! Congratulations to Justin Hines and Carol Lawless , our lucky door prize winners! Hope you are enjoying your goodie bags—let us know if you need any help with them.

About Margie Yundt

Margie is a senior member in our local STC chapter and has been kicking around the Kitchener-Waterloo/Guelph area since...well, forever it seems. She is a technical writer at heart and enjoys mentoring her kids in the Art of English. She lives in Guelph with her family and enjoys a daily commute into Waterloo to join her many co-workers at Research In Motion as a Knowledge Operations Specialist.