Finding a job without experience/finding experience without a job

[Rick Bishop]

Cyndi:  Something that is often overlooked when TWs prepare their resume is
that 'special' talent or skill that only you or very few peers possess.
Are you a macro freak; eat and drink vb?
Super fast at one particular thing?
Deep understanding of document design?
Super-juicy creative?
All business, nothing but business for a solid 8 hours day after day?
Very highly skilled at AI, PS, Flash, HTML, or Visio?
Know a programming language or scripting tool?
Have electronics background? Chemical? __? __?
On top of the latest cutting-edge methodologies?
 You get the idea. Every person seeking a TW job (or any other) should have
that 'one thing' that they do spectacularly well. If not, then get to work
getting your one thing going. When you can say "I am THE absolute master at
_____." even if it is just "I keep going when others play out." or "I get
along easily with everyone." recruiters and hiring managers will respond.
 When you have limited experience, find different ways to plug that one
thing over and over in your cover and resume.
   Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+rickbishop=austin.rr.com at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+rickbishop=austin.rr.com at lists.techwr-l.com] On
Behalf Of Cyndi Kessler
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 5:06 PM
To: techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: Finding a job without experience/finding experience without a job

Hello,

I'm a new technical communicator; I have a B.A. in journalism and a
post-baccalaureate degree in Technical Communications. I am finding it very
difficult to find work as someone new to the industry due to my lack of on
the job experience. I have tried Monster, Dice, craigslist.org, my
university's job bank, Career Builder, Indeed, which aggregates these sites
and others, as well as the STC national job bank, and the listings for the
Phoenix chapter. I'm also starting to volunteer for my local STC chapter in
the hopes that I will make some contacts.

I assumed that I would start out by working on contract jobs in order to
build up some experience, but that has been unsuccessful, mostly because I'm
not sure where to find them. I haven't been able to find any agencies in the
Phoenix or Tucson areas that specialize in technical communications.

My question is: How does one find jobs without experience, or gain
experience without a job? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Cyndi