Additions to Technical Communication Skills

Subject: Additions to Technical Communication Skills
From: Tim Mantyla <TimMantyla -at- nustep -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:48:30 -0400

Technical Communication Skills
>From
http://www.techwr-l.com/articles/employment/technicalcommunicationskills
I was looking for this re: the person wondering about job requirements for
beginning tech writers...

I've added to these, feel free to keep adding & fine tuning.

Skill areas: Computer, Technical, Organization/Planning and Communication
General
· Graphics software packages
· Word processing software
· Online authoring software
Help authoring tools (HATs)
· Online editors
· Desktop publishing
· Project planning software
Specific Applications
· PC and Macintosh
· Configuring Windows 95, 2000, NT, XP, Vista
· Microsoft Word
· Help Workshop
· Adobe Acrobat
· Adobe FrameMaker
· Adobe PageMaker
· Adobe RoboHelp
· Doc-To-Help
· Help & Manual
· Madcap Flare
· Ventura
· UNIX
· Linux
· HTML, XHTML, SGML, XML and DITA
Content Management Systems (CMS)
· C++ code
· COBOL code
· Java
· Visual Basic
· 16-bit and 32-bit online help systems


Hard Skills
· Concise, audience-appropriate writing
· Minimalist writing
· Production, copy, and substantive editing
Proofreading & page markup
· Web page development
· Online help development
Soft Skills
· Creativity, imagination, visualization
Research
Listening
· Analyzing audiences
· Writing from point of view of user/reader
· Interviewing people (SMEs and others)
· Facilitating meetings
· Analyzing & managing a project/multiple projects
· Working productively as part of a team
· Working without direct supervision
· Meeting deadlines
· Understanding the product
· Analyzing, planning, prioritizing and organizing skills
· Familiarity with mediums such as user manuals, marketing
literature, technical illustrations, documentation, etc.


Tim Mantyla
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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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