Non-computer industry jobs

[Cathy McNair <cmcnair -at- SPICER -dot- COM>]

At the risk of getting flooded, I'm interested in hearing from folks who are
NOT working at a computer software or hardware development firm, but in some
other industry. I'd especially like to hear from people working (on a
contract or permanent basis) for:

* Banks or other financial institutions
* Universities, colleges, or school boards
* Canadian municipal government
* Hospital or other medical centres
* Insurance companies
* Environment engineering consultants

I'd like the information for an article I'm writing on the range of
technical writing options out there. I don't plan to identify any individual
or company by name, but I'm not looking for corporate secrets either. Since
my experience is all in the computer industry, I mainly want to know what's
it's like working elsewhere.

What do you document (in-house software, policies and procedures,
regulations)? In what form (reference manuals, training materials, online
help, newsletters)? Who is your audience? Apart from writing (and the
implicit planning, researching, and editing), do you perform other major
tasks (training, UI design, customer support)? Do you have a more technical
or a more communications background, or really a combination of both? How
many other technical communicators work with you?

Don't feel obliged to answer all those questions, just whatever you feel
like sharing. And if possible, please respond to me directly
(cmcnair -at- spicer -dot- com), because I only get the TECHWR-L list in digest form.

Thanks! I look forward to hearing from you,
Cathy McNair
<cmcnair -at- spicer -dot- com>