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Subject:Re: Career Change From:laura99 -at- execpc -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 18 Dec 2001 14:30:52 -0600 (CST)
Tony said in part:
> I've just been forced into a career change at 55. My career has been
in telecommunications, both hands-on technical and operations
management.
<snip>
> As professionals, what do you think about the opportunities to do
this kind of writing for a person of my age and without any formal
experience? Any thoughts on how to pursue this would be appreciated.
My advice would be to stick to looking for tech writing jobs in areas
where you have expertise, such as telecommunications. Many tech
writing jobs ask for experience in the field. Then, if you wrote some
documentation in your previous life, you can use that as relevant
experience. It's a start.
Writing skills are important, but so is expertise in the subject
matter. The first tech writing job I got was at an insurance company
where I had been a CSR. I knew the subject and had the writing skills
to back it up.
At a previous job, I had an intern who was around your age. He was
enthusiastic, had great people skills, and made a transition from a
sales career. I believe that on the whole, quality people will find
work, no matter their age.
Good Luck.
Laura Winkelspecht
Technical Writer
ShopKo Stores, Inc.
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