Re: Out-of-Work Tech Writers and Switching Careers

Subject: Re: Out-of-Work Tech Writers and Switching Careers
From: "Curtis Brautigam" <bunnies -at- cvns -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 23:49:47 -0400


I fully empathize with the feelings of those on this list who are out of
work. For three months, I was out of work, despairing of the slim pickings
in the technical writing job market throughout the United States (I don't
know what things are like outside the United States). I live in
South-Central Pennsylvania, where the pickings seemed to be especially slim.
I was considering switching careers in favor of various types of government
employment (state or federal). Then I got a call from a contracting agency
about a contract-to-hire technical writing position at Ingersoll-Rand, which
happens to have a plant in Shippensburg where I live. I jumped at the
opportunity, and there I am. I will not be losing out in salary--I will be
making the same salary as I did at my previous position.

I would like to thank those on this list who supported me during my time of
unemployment. The fact is--unemployment stinks, especially for us
professionals. All I can say is keep on plugging, keep on job hunting, beef
up your skills if you can, and don't give up. If there is a career other
than technical writing that you might enjoy, try for that too. I decided
that I was going to be flexible in the job search. The worst time of my job
hunt was a six-week period when I was putting out lots of resumes and cover
letters and not receiving any phone calls for an interview. After that six
week period, I received four calls in one week, including the one that
helped me land my present position.

Just for curiosity--how is the technical writing job market outside the
United States (e.g., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Israel, India, Australia, New
Zealand, Continental Europe)?

Curtis Brautigam
Newly Re-employed Technical Writer



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