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Re: Internships (was: Breaking into the tech writing job market)

Subject: Re: Internships (was: Breaking into the tech writing job market)
From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 14:53:29 -0700

----- Original Message ----- From: "Vincent Marianiello" <vincent -dot- marianiello -at- gmail -dot- com>

Technical writing tends be more concise, full of concepts and
lacking muddy prepositional phrases. A skilled writer can write on any
subject (given they do the research) and in any style (given they have the
skill.)

I would not disagree with this. Your problem is that at this time in the
business cycle, for just about every potential assignment you could seek,
you are probably being compared to some experienced writer who requires
less research time in the subject at hand and has a portfolio of past work
in whatever style the hiring company or client is looking for. Every 10 years
or so there's a tech boom that results in a sufficiently short supply of writers
that companies are willing to take people with aptitude and education and
provide OTJ training and experience.. The most recent one ended some
five or six years ago.

From the majority of the
responses (which I have greatly enjoyed, by the way; I might use this for my
PhD dissertation) it seems to be either luck or good timing that lands
someone that first tech writing job. Which is interesting, in itself.

Never underestimate the power of sheer dumb luck to substantially affect
your life. And while you're at it, don't forget the good old boy/girl network.
Do any of your past academic or work contacts know anyone who hires
tech writers?

Gene Kim-Eng



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References:
RE: Internships (was: Breaking into the tech writing job market): From: Vincent Marianiello

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