RE: [EXTERNAL] Re: Interested in input from managers and individual contributors on hiring newbies

["Van Laan, Krista" <Krista -dot- VanLaan -at- itron -dot- com>]

Thanks! A lot of great ideas from everyone so far.
Krista

From: Charlotte Claussen <charlotteclaussen -at- gmail -dot- com>
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2021 11:20 AM
To: Van Laan, Krista <Krista -dot- VanLaan -at- itron -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Interested in input from managers and individual contributors on hiring newbies

I started over 10 years ago, but I think that what I did would still work:

  *   I joined forums within technical communication, and I read articles online.
  *   I got in touch with a technical writer who was kind enough to take time to talk to me about the job and give me some tips on what I could do
  *   I looked at job ads to see what employers were asking for

     *   At that time, most employers asked for FrameMaker, so I took a FrameMaker class. I didn't use FrameMaker in my first few jobs, but the course on my CV helped me landing those jobs. And also, I was extra lucky. The teacher, who is now both my mentor and friend, offered me an internship, and he introduced me to people.
One thing I would have done differently: I would have joined an organisation like tecom, ISTC, or STC sooner. I believe they all offer mentoring for junior members.
Also, I recommend going to meetups and conferences in technical communication, content strategy, UX, and similar areas.

For getting through the application software, using keywords that match the application is important. I have also been made aware of a few other things I never thought of, such as the use of images or that not all AIs read PDF well. See for example:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/18/how-to-write-the-best-resume-for-artificial-intelligence-and-robots.html<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.cnbc.com/2019/12/18/how-to-write-the-best-resume-for-artificial-intelligence-and-robots.html__;!!F7jv3iA!kv2jeg0kVv_f_gyUhUwM-U5kieTaEfmN7m5LhvZNG2o1ntdvftrJvlkqj4iE_cK9FA$>
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2019/03/23/how-to-write-a-resume-that-passes-the-artificial-intelligence-test/?sh=5c9296ee6ea7<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2019/03/23/how-to-write-a-resume-that-passes-the-artificial-intelligence-test/?sh=5c9296ee6ea7__;!!F7jv3iA!kv2jeg0kVv_f_gyUhUwM-U5kieTaEfmN7m5LhvZNG2o1ntdvftrJvlkqj4j-B1nykQ$>

Looking forward to hearing about other people's way in.

/Charlotte

On Fri, 19 Mar 2021 at 16:53, Van Laan, Krista <Krista -dot- VanLaan -at- itron -dot- com<mailto:Krista -dot- VanLaan -at- itron -dot- com>> wrote:
I am working on the second edition of "The Insider's Guide to Technical Writing" and would like to update the section on breaking into the field. Job-hunting has changed a lot over the years, and it seems to be harder than ever for a new graduate or career-changer to meet real hiring managers or get around the impersonal job application software.

For hiring managers: How do you recruit new hires who have no experience? What do you look for when hiring someone like this?

For individual contributors who have started within the last ten years: How did you find your first job?

Krista Van Laan


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