TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
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)?
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