TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: First jobs...? From:Mitch Berg <mberg -at- IS -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 31 Mar 1997 13:49:17 -0600
----------
> From: thadjm -at- JUNO -dot- COM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: First jobs...?
> Date: Monday, March 31, 1997 12:59 PM
>
> Hello, I'm interested in finding out how people got their first
> TechWriting jobs... Is the best way to enter the field through 'help
> wanted' type posts, by word of mouth, or by job listings...?
Yes.
In other words, all of the above, plus many, many more.
1) There aren't THAT many Help Wanted posts on the electronic lists - but
any lead is better than no lead.
2) Word of mouth - IOW, "Networking" - is usually the best way to find the
best jobs. STC has been belly belly good to me in this area. Your mileage
may vary (I'm finding ways to squeeze that line into every single post,
lately)
3) Job Listings in the papers are OK. Here's a better trick - cold-call
companies that are advertising for programmers/engineers. Odds are good
that they will need a tech writer soon. In fact, your call me remind them
of that fact. It's worked for me many times.
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html