RE: Breaking into the tech writing job market

["Melissa Nelson" <melmis36 -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

  HI Vincent...you should look through the list archives, there have been a
  lot of interesting posts on this during the year I have been on this list.

  My advice is always just to try and be creative in looking. I got my first
  tech writer job while working as a receptionist in a company that I knew had
  a tech writer, he quit not long after I started and I offered my services
  while they were looking for a new one. They hired a new one and still hired
  me (they appreciated the four months of having a tech writer who worked for
  a receptionist salary).

  Basically, what I did right out of college was go to a temp agency that was
  affiliated with a technical recruiter and offered to whatever temp jobs came
  up in companies that hired tech writers. I am not sure where you live but
  check out Robert Half, they have a technical recruiter and a temp agency, as
  does Addecco and both are national with offices all over.

  Good luck and hang in there, it is a great career!

  Melissa
      ______________________________________________________________

    From:  "Vincent Marianiello" <vincent -dot- marianiello -at- gmail -dot- com>
    To:  <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
    Subject:  Breaking into the tech writing job market
    Date:  Tue, 8 Aug 2006 14:57:21 -0500
    >Greetings all,
    >
    >
    >
    >I'm new to the list and have a question (somewhat related to a previous
    >discussion about certification)  for all you tech writing veterans:
    >
    >
    >
    >How does one get that first tech writing job without the experience?
    >
    >
    >
    >I have a Masters in English, but apparently that doesn't mean much to
    >potential employers. It seems that there's no such thing as an entry
    level
    >tech writing job (all the job listings I've seen demand 5+ years of
    >experience) so how in the world would someone, fresh out of college,
    embark
    >on a tech writing career?
    >
    >
    >
    >I'm sure this may appear as a rather dumb question but, being new to the
    >scene, I haven't a clue. The headhunters I've talked to make it sound
    like
    >one needs a science degree to be a technical writer; firms want engineers
    >who write, not writers who write about engineering. I've read in other
    >places that a good way is to do pro bono work for non-profits. Any other
    >advice, suggestions, ideas?
    >
    >
    >
    >Thanks in advance.
    >
    >
    >
    >Vincent Marianiello
    >
    >vincent -dot- marianiello -at- gmail -dot- com
    >
    >
    >
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