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Subject:Re: Capital equip. advice From:Peter G Margaritis <chief -at- NCMS1 -dot- CB -dot- LUCENT -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 27 Jan 1998 13:08:16 -0500
Richard Farley wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> After a lengthy stint at a manufacturing company where part of my work
> consisted of writing documentation for capital equipment (
> troubleshooting guides for technicians, operation guides, automation
> systems documentation, etc.) I find myself looking for work. So far my
> research indicates that most of the TW work out there is software
> oriented. One brief assignment at a software house illuminated where my
> strengths (and weaknesses) are. Can anyone suggest resources that might
> help me locate openings needing this somewhat unusual expertise?
>
> Assistance greatly appreciated.
>
> Richard
Richard:
Been there, seen it, got the T-shirt....
Did the same type of work at Dresser Industries for five
years (coal mining capital equipment) ....
Coming off that into the real world of technical writers was
a cold wake-up call.
Suggest three things...
1) Get up to speed on the software side of the industry as FAST
as you can. That's where the best tech writing jobs are.
2) Check with the manufacturers that you might thing could use
your expertise. Capital equipment makers. Be prepared to have
to relocate.
3) That failing, try to get into an `apprentice' type position in
creating on-line documents... This is hard to do without some
education on the SW programs used (see #1 above).
Possible 4)... Don't quit your daytime job... not just yet.
Best of luck to you, Richard.
Pete Margaritis
chief -at- ncms1 -dot- cb -dot- lucent -dot- com
Technical Writer
Lucent Technologies
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(standard disclaimer)
