Re: Status of the Technical Writer

["Pro TechWriter" <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Hi Lauren:

I think that most agencies don't use contract workers for technical writer
positions. If you go and look on USAJOBS.com, there are tech writing
positions that are rated at a GSA 12/13 level, which is considered
managerial (even if there are no direct reports) and pay ranges between
78,890 to 102,000 a year. I am not sure about the classification, but I
believe that clerical jobs generally end at the GS5 level, and professional
jobs start at GSA 7/9.

The agencies that I have worked for are very reluctant to hire contractors
for technical writing tasks because they have concerns about following US
government standards strictly, because, for them, that's required. Most tend
to use large consulting companies with many consultants. At least, the
agencies that I have worked for do.  I have worked for the Feds both as a
consultant, and as a US government employee.

I, too, was surprised by the lack of contracts for small businesses that
include technical writing, but on reflection, it makes sense. All the tech
writers that I worked with at my last agency job worked for a huge
consulting company like Perot Systems or EDS or IBM.

You may have better luck with county or state contracts. They tend to put
more out that are aimed at minority- and women-owned businesses, and they
are (IMHO) easier to work with!

Your idea is a good one; maybe refocusing it to a more local level would
work for you.

Best,
PT

On 6/7/07, Lauren <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu> wrote:
>
> I'm really starting to wonder about this whole technical writer
> thing.  I'm
> reviewing government (GSA) contracts to find a contract or two to use as a
> base so that I can form a contract with California and be a CMAS
> contractor.
> That's the CMAS process.
>
> I have found plenty of IT contracts that include job descriptions that
> apply
> to me, but these contracts usually do not include the job, Technical
> Writer.
> One IT contract that I have found does, but the other job categories that
> I'm trying to offer do not match up.
>
> I want to form a contract that includes the jobs that I have performed and
> that includes Technical Writer.  I have searched the GSA database and I
> only
> seem to find technical writer in the temporary employment (TAPS) staffing
> section.  They are listed with Admistrative Assistants and
> Paralegals.  The
> highest earning Paralegals earn more than TWs and TWs earn slightly more
> than the highest paid Secretary.  Photographers and Engineering
> Technicians
> are at the top in one contract.
>
> Has the position of TW really been reduced to a temporary agency type of
> job
> that is really not very specialized?  I thought that technical writing
> should be in contracts that are written for development and engineering
> projects.  But the development-focused contracts that I have read do not
> include them.
>
> The GSA contracts are here,
> http://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/ScheduleList.
>
> Temps list,
>
> http://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/SinDetails?scheduleNumber=736&specia
> lItemNumber=736+5&executeQuery=YES&filter=NO
>
> Companies with names that begin with "Accel" seem to have the most
> accurate
> job descriptions.
>
> Lauren
>
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-- 
PT
pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com
I'm a Technical Technical Writer!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

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