Re: Finding a job without experience/finding experience without a job

[Joe Malin <jmalin -at- jmalin -dot- com>]

You don't say what sort of response you have received. Have you not
received any interviews at all, or are you getting interviews but not
offers?

Many technical writing students in the Silicon Valley get started with
unpaid internships that often turn into jobs. Some companies offer
internships with a modest salary. If your circumstances permit, these
are excellent ways to learn the business and get examples for your
portfolio.

You should also go to your local STC chapter's monthly meeting. You may
be able to make personal contacts that help expand your network. I built
my technical writing network by serving on the administrative council of
my STC chapter. In my latest round of job-searching, I can say in
complete honesty that *all* my current interviews came through
networking. One STC colleague sent me a job posting she received from a
company. I met a very good recruiter through my STC chapter. I also used
my network to find out more about the companies I was looking at than I
could by simply talking to a recruiter or interviewer.

I also see that technical writers must now decide early on to specialize
in a subject domain. In the Silicon Valley, the computer business still
offers many jobs, but we also have biotech, consumer electronics, and
other fields as well. Even within the computer business, one can
specialize in software, hardware, networking, security, web development,
and so forth. Most departments now need someone with enough experience
to make contributions quite quickly. You must find *something* that
helps you do that as well as, if not better than, everyone else.

Joe

Cyndi Kessler wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm a new technical communicator; I have a B.A. in journalism and a
> post-baccalaureate degree in Technical Communications. I am finding it
> very difficult to find work as someone new to the industry due to my
> lack of on the job experience. I have tried Monster, Dice,
> craigslist.org, my university's job bank, Career Builder, Indeed,
> which aggregates these sites and others, as well as the STC national
> job bank, and the listings for the Phoenix chapter. I'm also starting
> to volunteer for my local STC chapter in the hopes that I will make
> some contacts.
>
> I assumed that I would start out by working on contract jobs in order
> to build up some experience, but that has been unsuccessful, mostly
> because I'm not sure where to find them. I haven't been able to find
> any agencies in the Phoenix or Tucson areas that specialize in
> technical communications.
>
> My question is: How does one find jobs without experience, or gain
> experience without a job? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you,
> Cyndi
>
>
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