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Subject:FrameMaker Required From:Bob Morrisette <Robert -dot- Morrisette -at- EBAY -dot- SUN -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 22 Mar 1996 13:12:35 -0800
Robert Plamondon <robert -at- plamondon -dot- com> said:
My impression is that, in Silicon Valley, a good tech writer CAN get
a new job quickly if the horrifyingly unpleasant donkey work is attacked
with vigor. This includes calling up every single person you know in
the industry and asking if they know of any openings, taking a shotgun
approach to newspaper ads, and (this one is supposed to always work,
at least for contractors) driving up and down North First Street in San
Jose, writing down the names of all the companies there, and cold-calling
their product marketing manager and asking if they need any technical
writers.
Cold-calling is so unpleasant that few people make good use of it, but
it works extremely well if you do it right (which involves sounding
cheerful, confident, and gung-ho, no matter how hungry you are).
A hundred cheerful, confident, gung-ho phone calls later,
you'll be ready to shoot yourself rather than place another one,
but you'll also probably have found some work.
------------------------------------------------------
In case Robert was serious, I'd like to set the record straight.
In Silicon valley, almost all employers hire contractors only through
agents who pay by W-2. Anyone who made cold calls would be laughed out
the door. A really good writer does not have to look for the next
contract. Once you have a following, you receive calls from agents
inquiring about your availability. I went direct about a year ago
after contracting for many years and still get 2-3 calls a week
about contract and permanent jobs.
For a permanent job, Robert's suggestions to call everyone you know
and read the ads are good. Many agents have both contract and
permanent jobs and there is the STC and many online job sites.
Many direct writers started as contractors.
To address the subject line, there are so many good writers here
who are skilled in FrameMaker that it would not make much sense
to hire someone who does not know Frame if you need that skill.
Bob Morrisette
writer -at- sabu -dot- EBay -dot- sun -dot- com
