RE: New tech writer employment tips?

[Barb Einarsen <barb -dot- einarsen -at- gnnettest -dot- com>]

Hi Paul,

It seems like you've done all the right things: Education => Portfolio =>
Networking ... (by the way, I like your site).

Where are you located? 

"How I Broke into Technical Writing", by Barb Einarsen :-D 

First, I didn't realize that people actually did this for a living until my
brother got a co-op position at IBM (recruited from the university's
Creative Writing department). After university, I moved to Toronto to spend
the summer with him (I've been here ever since). 

At my brother's suggestion, I took a technical writing class at a local
community college. One of the instructors offered hands-on, unpaid work
through his contracting company. I jumped at the opportunity. In fact, I was
surprised to realize I was the only one who did. There was a lot of
grumbling about 'working for free' and such. I have never regretted working
for free. I gained more from the experience than the instructor who offered
the work.

After the course was over, the instructor offered me some paid work. When he
heard about a full-time writing position, he recommended me for my first
job. It's been onward and upward from there. 

Barb Einarsen

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