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 can't add much to Sue Ahrenhold's wise words, other than to remind you of the
famous John Lennon quote: "Life is what happens to you while you're busy
making other plans."
You've done the academic thing that should give you some educational
credibility.
As far as I know, a graduate degree won't help you one bit one way or the other.
Now, as Sue said, you need to jump into what business likes to call itself: real
life.
Take the best offer (which may not be the best-paying one - use YOUR values to
make a judgment call), work agreeably and hard and show that you have not only
the skillset but also the intangible factors (team player, willing to try new
things
and go the extra mile when required, etc.) that will make them ever so glad they
hired you over those other applicants.
Reality is that no one is going to give you their trust and bend a rule for an
unknown quantity. Trust, like respect, is something that must be earned. They
may have seen your work samples, but they haven't seen you work. Don't be
so insistent on telecommuting from the get-go. No one is going to hire you
based
on what YOU need from THEM. It's quite the other way around. Until you've
proven yourself in the marketplace, you'll be perceived as one more unrealistic
wannabe.
Best of luck to you in your quest to have it all! Keep us posted on how the
adventure unfolds.
