Re: request for info on possible tech writing career

[thadjm -at- JUNO -dot- COM]

May I ask that responses to Blaine's posting be broadcast to the entire
TechWriters List...?  I know I, for one, would find it very useful...
Thank you!
-Thespina Hadjimichael
< thadjm -at- juno -dot- com >
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Thu, 27 Feb 1997 10:10:36 -0800 "F. Blaine Dickson"
<bdickson -at- AWINC -dot- COM> writes:
>Thank you to those who already responded to my private requests. I
>would
>appreciate other opinions on a tech writing career.
>
>My name is Blaine, and I am an unemployed golf professional in Kelowna
>BC,
>Canada (sounds like something I would say at an AA meeting :-)  ). I
>contacted this list because I thought I could receive some competent
>information about becoming a technical writer.
>
>I am in the midst of changing careers. I have been a golf profesional
>for
>the past two years, but only 7 months of employment per year at slave
>wages
>has convinced me that I need something more stable in my life to
>pursue my
>financial goals as well as pay off some student loan debt. :-)  I am a
>graduate of the University of Victoria (1989) with a BA in psychology.
>I
>spent 5 years with our provincial government's Ministry of Social
>Services,
>working in their financial services dept., but I left that job because
>I
>found it unfulfilling. I became a golf professional because I desired
>an
>occupation that was fun while also providing me with an opportunity to
>be
>employed in something I enjoyed doing. Nonetheless, it has not worked
>out
>that way, so I am looking for work in another field of endeavor.
>
>I have used a few career search programs to find out what would be
>suitable
>to my interests and my individual strengths. I am a critical thinker,
>analytically oriented, and I like research and things scientific. I
>consider myself to be a good writer with excellent communication
>skills and
>an ability for being able to explain things in a manner that less
>technical
>people can understand. Lastly, I am computer literate in DOS and
>Windows,
>but computer savvy in the Macintosh world. Based on these criteria,
>almost
>every career search in which I have participated has produced
>Technical
>Writing as a potential career. I do not have a degree in English or
>Journalism, but I am a competent writer who is an excellent
>communicator,
>and technically oriented and experienced.  My technical writing
>experience
>has included research reports and some informal job description
>manuals.
>
>Well, to make a long story short, I am seeking advice from you about
>the
>technical writing industry. Who would I apply to for jobs based on my
>limited experience? Do you think I have what it takes to be a
>technical
>writer? What are the salaries like?  What could I do to help myself
>obtain
>employment? What do you look for when hiring? What do you look for on
>a
>resume when hiring?
>
>Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I look
>forward to
>hearing from any of you. TIA.
>
>
>
>
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
>F. Blaine Dickson, B.A.
>CPGA ELITE Golf Professional
>Kelowna BC  Canada
>
>"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~
>
> TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a
>message
>to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot-  Send
>commands
>   to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
>  Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/  or search and
>browse the archives at
>http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
> Send list questions or problems to the listowner at
>

 TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot-  Send commands
   to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
  Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/  or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html