Re: Breaking into the tech writing job market

[Beth Agnew <beth -dot- agnew -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>]

One of my technical communication students in our post-grad diploma 
program was passed over for an internship because she didn't have much 
work experience at all. She decided to use her four-month work term to 
work on her own project, so she created a user guide for an open source 
product to have something for her portfolio. She methodically went 
through all of the steps in the document development life cycle and 
produced an excellent result. The open source developers were thrilled 
to have her professional documentation, and she now has a great 
showpiece that is in use and available for download with the product. 
She is approaching graduation and already getting interviews from 
potential employers.who are impressed with her initiative.

Bottom line: Just jump in and go for it! You can find things to document 
easily enough, and there are plenty of organizations and companies 
needing your services. It doesn't matter what area of technical writing 
you start in, whether institutional writing or high tech user 
documentation. It's all valuable writing experience, and you will carve 
your own career path as you go. There is no one "right" way. Just having 
the desire puts you ahead of others who may be "better qualified" or 
more experienced but not as hungry.

Best wishes in your new career!
--Beth

--
Beth Agnew
Catch the Buzz: http://bethbuzz.blogspot.com
STC Presentation archived at:
http://www.301url.com/podcasting

Professor, Technical Communication
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
Toronto, ON 416.491.5050 x3133
http://www.tinyurl.com/83u5u

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