Re: What sort of experience would be better?

[Ken Poshedly <poshedly -at- bellsouth -dot- net>]

Seeing that you said that you specifically look 
to enter the technical writing 
field/profession/whatever you call it, my choice 
would be for you to dive deeply into the tech writing choice.

You include in the description for the first 
option "document the organization's CRM / donor 
managing software and create training materials."

Your description of the second option includes 
"occasionally drafting training materials and 
documents for an online application."

I know money is a problem/issue, but  in the long 
run, I believe the more writing experience you 
can get now and show later, the better off you'll be.

After starting my journalism career as a 
newspaper reporter for some years, I spent four 
years in public relations with the American Red 
Cross doing news releases, publicizing the 
organization's safety classes and blood 
collection activities and even setting up and 
running special events -- all of which made me 
more marketable afterwards. Of course, nonprofit 
organization salaries in those days (mid-to-late 
1970s) was pretty low -- I was paid enough to 
either feed/clothe/shelter myself or date. Somehow I made it, however.

I think if you pick option 1 that you'll be better off for it.

-- Ken in metro Atlanta (USA)


At 06:06 PM 9/12/2010, Jimmy Breck-McKye wrote:
>I'm a recent graduate looking to enter technical writing, and I need to
>make a choice. Quickly.
>
>On the one hand, I'm being offered a dedicated, but unpaid twelve-week
>internship at a national charity. I would document the organization's
>CRM / donor managing software and create training materials. The work
>would be in the center of London, the expensive and formidable capital.
>I have just about enough savings to cover my living expenses for the
>period. Just.
>
>On the other, I'm offered a paid position with another company in
>London. I would be a "Business Support Manager", something between IT
>sales and generic tech support, occasionally drafting training materials
>and documents for an online application. This would be paid ~ £20,000
>(around $30,000 USD) annually. I'd be able to live in London, though I'd
>have to scrimp and save here and there.
>
>The question is, when taking a trainee / graduate, which experience
>would hold the greater sway with you? Or, more to the point, would the
>advantages of the dedicated internship make up for the amount it will
>cost me? Would you take much heed of a candidate who offered generic
>technical support experience (considering this will include second /
>third tier support)?
>
>If it helps, my background is a B.A. in English Literature (Cambridge).
>I've produced documentation for my own software, but don't have any
>formal training in either technical communication or software development.
>
>Advice?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Jimmy Breck-McKye
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Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try 
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