TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Financial Services
Policy and procedures (P&P)/internal end user manuals
My first TW experience was as a Training Assistant (in the Internal Training
dept.) at a credit card company. That was a very fun job. My boss knew I
wanted to move up into a Training Specialist position, and gave me a
hardware documentation project. I documented how to use an IBM PC XT, and
she had me teach the class as well (all employees had to take that class = a
couple hundred of 'em).
When management downsized Internal Training, I landed a job at a
medium-sized credit union as an H.R. Generalist. Someone had to edit/revise
the Employee Handbook (500+ pages) every other year, and update the H.R.
P&Ps on an as-needed basis. Because my old boss and I created the HR
department at the credit union, I was there from the beginning, and luckily
became "the" Editor. I feel very proud of that old Employee Handbook!
After nine years at that job, an old coworker called me and invited me to
apply at her new employer... a major bank. I landed a Training Documentation
Specialist contract (temp) job in the Internal Training department at that
bank's credit card division. We documented the nonGUI (CICS) computer system
the customer service representatives used to access customer accounts, and
initiate transactions. That was a departure from my P&P experience into
software documentation, and I loved that as well. The four-month contract
ended up being an over three-and-a-half year regular position.
I left the bank to get married in another state, which means I was also
suddenly unemployed. I took an 18-month contract position as a Senior
Business Analyst. I did some writing on that job. However, it was a Y2K
project, and it ended on January 31, 2000.
After that contract assignment, I landed my current position. I'm a Senior
Technical Writer on the Field Training team at a major life insurance
company. I was hired on a Monday, and on Friday my supervisor gave me the
assignment to write a user manual on our newest Web application. (Audience:
our sales office staff and independent agents) I worked on that for ten
months, and I really, really love documenting software. The development team
adopted me, answered my questions patiently, and they continue to invite me
to their "special occasion celebration" lunches. Now, my fellow TWs and I
are working on both P&Ps and the documentation of some internal
applications. The variety is great. (Sorry, no open positions.) We're
especially excited about moving our P&Ps onto CD-ROM using eHelp's RoboHTML
WebHELP.
I haven't had to experience the frustrations with SMEs that Techwhirlers in
the software industry face. In fact, most of the frustrations listserv
members have written about are mostly foreign to my experience. I don't know
if that's because I've been in the financial sector. Could be. However, the
financial services industry is heavily regulated, which means the
review/approval cycle for documentation can take time.
I've met other TWs in financial services, and most of them also worked in
the Internal Training departments of their companies. They document P&Ps and
internal applications, and they create CBTs and WBTs. Larger financial
services corporations also have TWs in their I.T. divisions.
Financial services also faces mergers, acquisitions, and layoffs. However,
not as much as other sectors. I've been in the life insurance "sub-industry"
only one year, and it seems to be very stable. My company is over 130 years
old, and is rapidly deploying the latest that technology has to offer.
<<How did you get into your jobs?/How did you find your job?>>
1. Personal referral by a current or former coworker.
2. Local STC chapter's Web site job listing page.
<<What are the qualifications?>>
A bachelors degree (in anything) can be helpful. Definitely, the ability to
write clearly and effectively so that internal customers can provide high
quality external customer service, which increases revenue. Some experience
in the training field can also be helpful. [As an undergrad, I took several
"extra" writing courses, including a Technical Writing class (one
semester).] I have my M.A. in Spanish (I've done translations for former
employers)and my TESOL Certificate (ESL).
Thanks for reading this far. Hope it's helpful.
Jenise Cook-Crabbe
<<opinions are my own
not my employer's; no
not one bit.>>
-----Original Message-----
From: C. Crowley [mailto:claudia -at- billmax -dot- com]
Anyone on this list who is documenting non-computer stuff --how'd you get
into that? What are the qualifications? How did you find your job?
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
Sponsored by Cub Lea, specialist in low-cost outsourced development
and documentation. Overload and time-sensitive jobs at exceptional
rates. Unique free gifts for all visitors to http://www.cublea.com
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
