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Alaina, it seems to me that your written expression is not the problem. It
looks like you write extremely well and I would guess that your spoken
English is quite good too. I would recommend that you 'keep on keeping on'
and also, learn as you go.
As to your experience with technology in other countries. This, too, is
excellent and all I can say is that I believe that you can find a way to
'spin' this aspect of your career to get a good listen from people.
-----Original Message-----
I need your advice to help me get out of the grueling situation that I'm in.
I'm a Technical Writer with five years of documentation experience. I moved
to United States last year and worked on an online-help project for a
fortune hundred company.
I have genuine liking for my profession and I absolutely love technology. I
keep myself up-to-date with the latest in our field. I have strong
recommendations from colleagues and employers. But somehow, all this is not
helping me find a job. I get interview calls from companies based on my
resume but once they hear that I have just six months of American experience
they disappear. My non-U.S experience isn't given any consideration. No
one's even ready to take a writing test or take a technical test and see if
I can actually do my job.
Today a recruiter even suggested that I take up some QA engineering training
(I'm guessing because of my Electronics Engineering degree and programming
experience). She went on to tell me that Technical Writing is not for a
non-American and that without experience, I'll go nowhere. My eternal
optimism has evaporated. I'm fed up of people calling me and saying I don't
have adequate experience. Where do I fit in ten years of experience in my
twenty seven years on earth?
Documenting technology is what I like. If I have a career, this is what I
want to do. I'm ready to give certifications and whatever it takes to give
me an edge. What do you all suggest? I am not good at networking. Should I
start attending Technical Communication seminars? Get any specific
certification? Get a Master's degree?
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