Re: Breaking into the tech writing job market

[Beth Agnew <beth -dot- agnew -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>]

There's a common misunderstanding in our field that is perhaps unique to 
technical communication. It revolves around the definition of "expert". 
We do not necessarily have to be experts in the material we write about, 
but we DO absolutely need to be experts at communicating about that 
material. We must be expert at handling words, organizing information, 
managing a documentation project, plain language, information extraction 
and SME wrangling, product user testing, evaluation, analysis, 
observation, problem-solving, answering unasked questions, setting 
priorities, relationship-building, layout and publishing, research, 
manipulating graphics, rapidly acquiring technical knowledge, ... and 
the list can go on for quite some time.

When our friend Vincent and others who want to break into the field look 
at their qualifications, I am sure they find they are already expert at 
some of those things. Or if they do not feel expert, they feel competent 
enough to trade that skill in the marketplace. Indeed, they lean toward 
a career in techwriting because they have an affinity for doing those 
things. A good techwriter is one because s/he wants to be.
--Beth

--
Beth Agnew
Catch the Buzz: http://bethbuzz.blogspot.com
STC Presentation archived at:
http://www.301url.com/podcasting

Professor, Technical Communication
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
Toronto, ON 416.491.5050 x3133
http://www.tinyurl.com/83u5u

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