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'm a 1987 graduate of New Mexico Tech's BS program in
technical communication, about which Chuck Campbell has already
written. My required science minor is computer science, and I
work as a software documentor.
Classes that were most directly useful to my career:
Copyediting
Manual, report, and proposal writing (separate classes)
Computer programming (many classes)
Experimental psychology, tests & measurements, perception
Probability and statistics
Internship in technical writing
Classes that were indirectly useful:
Literature
Rhetoric
Sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, psychology)
Classes that I wish had been taught:
Graphic design and page layout
Desktop publishing
How to start a business
A lot of my classmates took internships locally at the
college. I wanted to get as close to the "real world" as
possible, and landed an internship at Burroughs (now Unisys) in
California. Those three months taught me a lot: the company was
more forgiving of mistakes (you're just a student, after
all...) but I was exposed to the actual, day-to-day atmosphere
of working. It helped me focus on what I wanted to accomplish
during my remaining classes.
The most important piece of information I can pass on is that
LEARNING DOESN'T STOP WHEN YOU GRADUATE. You won't come out of
even the best program knowing everything you need to know for
the rest of your career. Borrow or buy books, take seminars
and community college courses, listen in on electronic mailing
lists, join professional organizations, and talk to people.
Keep on growing!
