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I just finished a job search. I conducted my entire search over the
internet. It was efficient and easy. Of course, a lot of it will depend on
whether you are willing to relocate.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WordWriter [SMTP:wordwriter -at- MINDSPRING -dot- COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 1998 7:55 AM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Jobs in Chicago area?
>
> I read this listserv on another account normally, but today it's time to
> post something important. I am starting to look for a new job. I have a
> lot of reasons to do so, but primarily I want to be in a position where
> the
> tech writing department is more than one person (me). However, I'm at a
> loss as to how to go about my search. My current job, which is my first
> as
> a technical writer, was one that came about a lot more through luck than
> anything else. Now, with just over a year of experience under my belt,
> I'm
> starting to look elsewhere, and I hope that this listserv can point me in
> the right direction.
>
> Basically, I'd like to find a position in or around Chicago where I could
> work with at least one other technical writer. Thus far, I've only done
> software documentation, but I've gone through two versions in my year, and
> feel I'm up for more challenge. I've used Doc-To-Help to create both the
> printed and online help, but I imagine I could learn RoboHelp or ForeHelp
> relatively quickly.
>
> So far, I've seen job listings around for technical writers with more than
> two years experience - and I don't have that yet and it won't matter in my
> current position. It's not likely that I'll learn much more about
> technical writing in the next year in my current job, and being the sole
> writer means I have to stumble through most of the time on larger issues.
> I think being around other collegues would help as I get farther into my
> career - I love to write, and I love to help people understand complex
> technical issues.
>
> Does anyone out there have any ideas on what to do, or where to go? While
> leads on jobs would be great - especially ones that take into account one
> year of technical writing experience and not group people with one year of
> experience in with people with none - I'd also like some advice on where
> to
> turn, what to look for, etc. Starting out in a career and life is
> difficult, and I want to make sure that I'm at least heading down the
> correct path, even if it isn't the most direct route to take.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=
> =
>
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<TITLE>RE: Jobs in Chicago area?</TITLE>
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<P><FONT COLOR=3D"#008080" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">I just finished a =
job search. I conducted my entire search over the internet. =
It was efficient and easy. Of course, a lot of it will depend on =
whether you are willing to relocate.</FONT></P>
<UL>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D1 FACE=3D"Arial">-----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=3D1 FACE=3D"Arial">From: </FONT></B> <FONT =
SIZE=3D1 FACE=3D"Arial">WordWriter =
[SMTP:wordwriter -at- MINDSPRING -dot- COM]</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=3D1 FACE=3D"Arial">Sent: </FONT></B> <FONT =
SIZE=3D1 FACE=3D"Arial">Wednesday, August 12, 1998 7:55 AM</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=3D1 =
FACE=3D"Arial">To: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=3D1 =
FACE=3D"Arial">TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=3D1 =
FACE=3D"Arial">Subject: </FONT>=
</B> <FONT SIZE=3D1 FACE=3D"Arial">Jobs in Chicago area?</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">I read this listserv =
on another account normally, but today it's time to</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">post something =
important. I am starting to look for a new job. I have =
a</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">lot of reasons to =
do so, but primarily I want to be in a position where the</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">tech writing =
department is more than one person (me). However, I'm at a</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">loss as to how to =
go about my search. My current job, which is my first as</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">a technical writer, =
was one that came about a lot more through luck than</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">anything =
else. Now, with just over a year of experience under my belt, =
I'm</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">starting to look =
elsewhere, and I hope that this listserv can point me in</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">the right =
direction.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Basically, I'd like =
to find a position in or around Chicago where I could</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">work with at least =
one other technical writer. Thus far, I've only done</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">software =
documentation, but I've gone through two versions in my year, =
and</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">feel I'm up for =
more challenge. I've used Doc-To-Help to create both the</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">printed and online =
help, but I imagine I could learn RoboHelp or ForeHelp</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">relatively =
quickly.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">So far, I've seen =
job listings around for technical writers with more than</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">two years =
experience - and I don't have that yet and it won't matter in my</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">current =
position. It's not likely that I'll learn much more about</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">technical writing =
in the next year in my current job, and being the sole</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">writer means I have =
to stumble through most of the time on larger issues.</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">I think being =
around other collegues would help as I get farther into my</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">career - I love to =
write, and I love to help people understand complex</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">technical =
issues.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Does anyone out =
there have any ideas on what to do, or where to go? While</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">leads on jobs would =
be great - especially ones that take into account one</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">year of technical =
writing experience and not group people with one year of</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">experience in with =
people with none - I'd also like some advice on where to</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">turn, what to look =
for, etc. Starting out in a career and life is</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">difficult, and I =
want to make sure that I'm at least heading down the</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">correct path, even =
if it isn't the most direct route to take.</FONT>
</P>