Pre-great recession was a time of tremendous job creation, and tremendous talent availability. It was not uncommon to find several candidates very quickly who would match item- by-item on the requirements list of skills and experiences. With a shrinking talent pool and growing skills gap, it may be time for hiring managers to refocus the [...]
Multiple pressures are converging to create a skills gap in may professions (for example, we are just beginning to see it in technical communications): 1) wave of retirements, 2) expansion of content delivery methods, 3) changing rate new tools and methodologies for delivering content, 4) rates of new enrollments into the tech. comm. profession tied [...]
If you are a journalist, engineer, teacher, software developer, or other working professional who may be thinking about a career move into technical writing, here are SIX steps to help you get started: 1) functionalize your resume to emphasize your communication experience--and make your career objective clear, 2) consider enrolling in a tech. writing certificate [...]
Ten words that describe the qualities of a successful technical communicator--that have nothing to do with grammar: 1) problem solver, 2) planner, 3) interviewer, 4) negotiator, 5) mediator, 6) flexible, 7) creative, 8) tenacious, 9) open-minded, 10) respectful
The objective of a portfolio: 1) The portfolio is the “certification” and “validation” of your professional credentials and career, 2) It serves as the “gallery” by which hiring managers, potential clients, and piers can get a “snap-shot” of your career and validate your skills, experiences, and strengths, 3) As the visual component of the interview [...]
Here are six tips that will help you to be successful in working with subject matter experts (SMEs): 1) Introduce yourself and get to know them on a personal level, as well as professional-level, 2) Identify your role in a project, and your objectives, 3) Gain their respect (many time SMEs are either skeptical of [...]
Here is a list of professions from which a transition into technical communication can be a relatively easy goal to achieve. Reason why? Because these professions develop and sharpen many of the primary skills necessary for a successful technical communication career: --Journalism --Marketing Communications --Engineering --Software Development --Computer Science --IT --Healthcare --Life Sciences --Teaching/Education --Scientific [...]
As a freelancer or independent consultant, be aware of these challenges so that you can avoid negative results: 1) deciding how to price yourself (your per-hour rate), 2) quoting projects without being too high or too low, 3) deadlines which may be unachievable, 4) knowing what to accept, and what to decline, 5) work schedules [...]
For the new tech. comm. graduate, internships are vitally important to getting a career off to a fast start. Hiring managers view an internship job as validation of a candidate as a proven performer. Here are some websites that post internship opportunities: Internships.com, Indeed.com, & Simplyhired.com
You can ensure that your in-person interview will be successful if you take these steps in advance: 1) Research the company thoroughly at their website, include products and customers, 2) Use your network to find out any valuable off-the-record information about the culture, the "positives & negatives, 3) Plan your route--GPS entry; if in doubt, [...]