RE: Help: Is Spanish techwr a good idea?

["Cook, Jenise" <jenise -dot- cook-crabbe -at- pacificlife -dot- com>]

Carlos:
Hola desde el sur de California. I lived in Madrid for a year, am a native
Californian, and Spanish is my second language. (Extrano a Espana, o como se
dice en Galicia, la tengo morina!)
You ask...
<snip>I am planning to relocate to Miami, FL, and get into
tech-writing.</snip>
That's a good idea, and add translator/tech.writer to your job search as
Damien recommended. There are two technical writing positions open in
Southern California that require Spanish translation skills. Arizona, New
Mexico, and Texas are other potential markets (not sure about Chicago, but
it's cold there). I have also seen translator/tech. writer openings on the
European job boards (I'm curious by nature; I'm currently employed and not
moving--in case my employer is reading my e-mails!).
<snip>I was even thinking of starting up a small tech-writing biz.</snip>
Be prepared for lots of competition. Me parece que tienes "ganas" y asi
tendras exito. But, it may be better to start either as a "wage slave" or as
a contractor to get to know the local and U.S. markets.
<snip>Yet, I have "this big doubt": Is there a market for Spanish Technical
writing in the US?</snip>
Yes, and it seems to be growing. Search the Internet with every related
keyword you can think of because I've seen jobs out in cyberspace.
<snip>How should I start in this market? Or Should I offer translation
services for tech-writers instead of becoming a Spanish tech-writer?</snip>
Best to get to know the market where you will relocate. I don't know much
about Florida, so hopefully someone on this list can give you advice. Let's
just say that in many parts of the U.S., Spanish is a second language of
some prominence, and many local hispanic business associations are tapping
into the bilingual market. They publish market research studies on a fairly
regular basis. In Phoenix, AZ and in Santa Ana, CA, there are "World Trade
Offices" where people interested in doing business in Mexico, Central
America, and South America (si, hay una diferencia!) can get the information
they need. Again, I don't have any contacts, so you'd have to do an Internet
search.

I would appreciate any suggestions, tips, info, or references that can
clarify my mind.

<snip>Undecided</snip>
Hay esperanza, Carlos, porque tienes un CV pero impresionante de verdad! The
skills you listed look pretty darn good (eh) at least in black and white
(or, in HTML). Get out there, pursue your dreams, and let us all know how
things turn out for you!

Carlos S. Gil
Spain
csg -at- telecable -dot- es
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenise Cook-Crabbe
Sr. Technical Writer
Pacific Life Insurance Co.
jenise -dot- cook-crabbe -at- pacificlife -dot- com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Opinions expressed are mine alone
and not my employer's, no, not one.



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