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Subject:How should this little piggy go to market? From:"@" <alison -at- totten -dot- net> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Thu, 20 Apr 2000 18:07:00 -0400
Howdy folks! I could use some advice on how to market myself, mainly
because I don't know what I am. No rude remarks, please.
A little background:
I just left a 2.5 year contract with a major telecommunications company,
supporting their SAP and Siebel SFA roll-outs. I did so many things on
that project it's hard to be concise. I came on board with IBM
Consulting as a Technical Writer and Editor for the "Telco" 's SAP
training documentation, but was re-assigned after 2 weeks to converting
their user procedures into RoboHelp (context-sensitive extended help for
SAP). I then re-engineered their documentation process (moving them
towards "clusters" to maintain their training modules), including
revamping their Notes databases and moving them to .pdfs for the print
process. Just this project alone gave me tons more experience
developing Word and Powerpoint templates, CBTs using Powerpoint to
simulate the software, WBT, intranet GUI design, Notes database design
(so the training documents could be published via Domino on their
intranet), RoboHelp, SAP (MM, PP, SD modules), Siebel (Sales Force
Automation), and on and on. In addition, I provided desktop support for
the team for the MSOffice suite and NT (I can troubleshoot PCs and
software glitches). It was great fun, and really helped to complement
my experience as a desktop publisher and on-site production support
person for a couple of global management consulting firms. I've also
held the position of information manager for one of these consulting
firms.
I've been spending the last month or so upgrading my web development
skills. I was so busy at "Telco" I really didn't have time to keep up
with the latest software. I am almost to the point where I would say
I'm proficient with Dreamweaver. I'm just playing around with Flash and
Director. I did get a lot of experience "storyboarding" the Telco sites
and developing the information architecture. Another great area to
explore.
So you see my dilemma. I can write user documentation but also like
technology and prefer working with tools rather than editing. I didn't
really pick up a lot of SAP, Siebel or telecommunications industry
insight as I was more focused on the tools than the content. I like
developing training, especially stand-alone training than can be used as
CBTs. Heck, I like everything I did on the last contract. So what am
I? Technical writer? Documentation specialist? Cock-eyed optimist?
Opinions PLEASE!!!!