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Depending on how badly you need a steady job at the moment, I broke into my
technical writing job by going through a temp agency that placed office
help. I asked to be placed in companies that had technical writers or would
have a need for a technical writer. I was a receptionist at a Web Hosting
company and about a month into it, their technical writer quit and while
they were looking for more experienced writers, I offered to help out by
doing a little technical writing while working in the reception area until a
new writer came along.
It worked out great for both of us, they got a $12 an hour tech writer for a
couple of months and I got experience. In the end I was also hired as a
technical writer when they decided they didnt want to lose me. The only
moral of this story is that your first technical writer gig may come in a
very off the wall manner.
Good luck, you will love it...it is a great career!
From: Joe Pisko <joep95 -at- comcast -dot- net>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Getting into technical writng
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 11:58:07 -0700
>Hello,
>
>I assume that this question has hit this email list some number of
>times, I apologize for the repetition. I have a degree in English
>and I am something of a computer geek. I am looking to get into
>technical writing. I am working on getting a certificate in
>technical writing (it will look good to the morons that seem to
>staff HR departments.) I am also looking to develop professionally
>by reading books on XML (I am already HTML literate) and computer
>programming etc While all of that is swell and all, breaking into
>the field is reportedly difficult. Any advice for a newbie? I have
>read quite a bit about the field and it sounds perfect for me. Aside
>from having good communication skills and liking technical subject
>matter, I like to continually learn new things. All of this seems
>fine but that first job has not as of yet surfaced. Thanks for any
>advice.
>Joe
>
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format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today!. http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
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