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Subject:Re: Engineer to Tech Writer From:"Wesley T. Reisz" <wtreisz -at- RAQUE -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 27 Aug 1999 09:51:35 -0400
Megan,
If you're an engineer, then you know that engineers (as a general rule) hate
writing. So, you're in a great position! I work for an engineering company
writing technical manuals, and it is always a challenge to translate PLC's,
ladder logic, MMI's, and the flow of electrons into usable documentation. I
think you'll find that most engineering companies (at least the small ones)
are afraid that a writer won't have enough to do. Nothing could be further
from the truth; however, that being said, you can always fall back on your
engineering experience in the interview. An interviewer at a small company
will be impressed that you can perform multiple functions. I think you'll
have excellent oportunties with a few good writing examples and an
engineering degree.
Best of luck,
Wesley Reisz
Technical Publishing Manager
Raque Food Systems, Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: Technical Writers List; for all Technical Communication issues
[mailto:TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU]On Behalf Of Megan Golding
Sent: Friday, August 27, 1999 9:28 AM
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Subject: Engineer to Tech Writer
Hello everyone!
Recently, the list discussed a thread on journalist-to-techwriter career
path, now I'd like to ask about a related path: engineer to tech writer.
I've been working as a applications engineer at a small company and among
the many hats I wear is tech writer. I've enjoyed the writing and am
considering moving my career in that direction.