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I think one important thing I've not seen mentioned in our assessment of
how to be successful as a new communicator...
DON'T BE AFRAID OF CRITICISM OR CRITIQUE.
If your document goes out to review and comes back bloody, be it from an
editor, SME, or whatever....remember, it all ultimately leads to a
better document. You will learn so much from other people this way. If
you are lucky enough to work with people that take time to read your
material, treat is as a precious resource...don't waste it, reuse it if
you can, and treat it kindly.
Defend your point of view, but be prepared to make compromises that
don't jeopardize relationships, especially early on.
Oh yeah, and plan or attend a happy hour every now and then ;)
Robert J. Landry
Senior Technical Writer
Rapt Inc.
415-932-2687 (office)
robert -dot- landry -at- rapt -dot- com
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+robert -dot- landry=rapt -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+robert -dot- landry=rapt -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Joe Malin
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 11:22 AM
To: Sarah Dean; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Problems with new tech communicators
Can you post a citation to the article, please? I'd like to read it.
I am not aware of problems with new technical communicators, offhand. I
can comment that anyone who is starting in the corporate/work world or
in a new career should be aware of the "lay of the land," so to speak.
The general rules apply:
* be responsible and reliable. Managers have a ton of work to do. You
can make yourself popular
with your manager by reducing her or his workload rather than adding
to it. Show up on time,
stick to your schedule, notify your manager if you have problems, come
up with solutions if
you can.
* Work well with your manager. Everyone has her or his individual style.
Try to figure out what
your manager's is, and do the things that work well with that style.
For example, if your
manager is detail-oriented, keep detailed schedules and send out your
status on a regular
basis.
* No matter how much you dislike work your manager gives you, treat it
seriously. I had a
manager who insisted that we maintain very detailed schedules and
status reports. I knew
that he didn't like doing this all that much, but he was trying to
please *his* management.
So, I made sure that maintaining this information was one of my top
priorities.
* Be aware of politics. Be polite. Find other people in your group that
you trust, and if you
need to vent, vent with them. *NEVER* vent in e-mail or a meeting, no
matter how angry you
get.
* Learn your company's business. Learn general business principles.
Always go for a company
that is doing the things that interest you; you'll be happier, and
thus more successful.
* The key to success is to have a passion for the work you're doing. I
see this in all the
successful people I know. Don't simply do work in a profession because
it has "lots of
money." You won't be successful, and you'll be unhappy.
* Listen. Ask questions. Read. Explore new things. The tech writing
field is wide-open with new
ideas, new technologies, and new ways to help people.
Joe Malin
Technical Writer
(408)625-1623
jmalin -at- tuvox -dot- com
www.tuvox.com
The views expressed in this document are those of the sender, and do not
necessarily reflect those of TuVox, Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jmalin=tuvox -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jmalin=tuvox -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf
Of Sarah Dean
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 5:30 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Problems with new tech communicators
Hello,
I have been keeping up on some of the discussion because, like others
who have posted, I'm thinking about getting into the technical
communication field.
To learn as much as possible, I recently read an article alluding to
some of the problems managers are finding with new technical
communicators who have recently graduated and are just beginning
careers. In your experience, what are some of the major problems with
new technical communicators? How can I try to avoid those same issues
when I enter the field?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Sarah
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