Re: Academic careers vs. technical writing

[James Hutchinson <hutch -at- ECE -dot- UIUC -dot- EDU>]

>I an very new to the list. When I got on, there was a discussion going on
>about leaving academic careers in favor of technical writing. I am in that
>situation right now. I was an assistant professor of political science at
>Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, but I was denied tenure by the
>President of the college, overruling the recommendation of the Promotion and
>Tenure committee in my favor. In 1995, my wife and I emigrated to Israel,
>but I could not find a decent job in the political science field. The best
>that I was able to find was a part-time abstractor job in an Israeli
>political think tank. I took a course in technical writing that was offered
>locally, and one year after the classes were over, I found a part-time job
>as a technical editor. I was caught in the classical job hunting Catch-22
>situation (can't find a job without experience, can't get experience without
>a job).
>
>One of the most heart-wrenching things that I have to deal with is the
>prospect that I may have to leave my love of the political science
>discipline behind. From the course that I took, I do feel that I may enjoy
>technical writing, but I find it hard to give up political science.
>
>I have a related question--just how does a liberal arts person break into
>technical writing?

You may not get a full-time, "permanent" position immediately without
experience, but you can get part-time, hourly work immediately--doing
things like proofreading and small editing and writing jobs. Behave
yourself and hang around long enough and eventually you'll become "known"
enough at one or two companies to be considered for a staff position. At
least, that's what I did.

>Every employer seems to want a technical background.
>Well, I took some computer courses in addition to the technical writing
>course, but that does not seem to be enough. Also, what is the demand for
>technical writers in the United States, and in which regions of the United
>States is the demand most pressing?
>
>I am willing to hear ideas and experiences both on and off list, especially
>from former liberal arts people who are now in technical writing.
>
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