If you find that you need to keep your software tool skills up-dated and relevant, there are many options available. Below are some online and classroom-based options for those in the Twin Cities area. Intertech https://www.intertech.com/ Agile/Scrum, XML, web development, XML, and more Lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning) https://www.lynda.com/ Software for business, design, and more New [...]
Laying the foundation of a content strategy. In assessing or evaluating the project at hand (i.e., in strategizing content), the technical writer should address the following questions: 1) What is the purpose of the content? 2) Who is the audience? Sales? Users? Employees? 3) What is the product knowledge level of the audience? Highly technical? [...]
Q: Where is a good place to start a job search upon graduation from a tech. comm. program? A: Upon graduation, tech. comm. majors might look for opportunities within mid-to-large size corporations—versus small or startup companies. Why? Because these companies offer writers the greatest landscape of products, projects, and tools. Also, their environments are conducive [...]
Step 6 of the Quotation Process: Cover Yourself --Make sure to include a disclaimer that includes a statement that alerts the client to the fact that any change of scope can impact the original quotation. A change-order mechanism may be used to alert the client. Change orders can be triggered by a change of [...]
Step 5 of Quotation Process: Create The Quotation Document 1. Use an easy-to-read format, and type font that is easy to read; use one that is repeatable as a template for future quotations. 2. Provide specific definitions of supplier, client, contractor doing the work, and inside contact connecting tech. comm. provider and client. 3. [...]
Step 4 of Quotation Process: Crunch The Numbers Determine what tasks will be needed to accomplish the project; then assign a range of hours to each task--from best case scenario (low) to worst case scenario (high)—or low Xhrs to high Yhrs. From the task list of hour ranges: Add up all the Xhrs and [...]
Step 3 Of Quotation Process: Begin Evaluation In order to be as accurate as possible, it is recommended that you use the formula approach to estimating costs. This means that the project is broken down into the lowest common denominators of tasks and hours. It must be determined how many hours are required to [...]
Step 2 Of Quotation Process: Educate Often the client has no prior experience with outsourcing a project to a technical communicator, or he or she is misinformed as to how the process works. Also, the client may think they know what they want, but may not be aware of how the project can be [...]
Step 1 Of Quotation Process: The very first step in the quotation process is to learn as much about the project as possible. Set up a meeting with the primary project owner/stakeholder and associated project team members. Review the following with the client: 1. Establish primary contact/internal who assumes the role as internal advocate. [...]
Reasons why estimating project effort is difficult. Regardless if you are a tech. comm. professional working for a large corporation serving internal clients, or you are an independent contractor/provider serving a variety of external clients, the one professional exercise that most agree is extremely difficult to perform with any accuracy is that of doing [...]