Breaking In

[Al Geist]

Harry Husted wrote:

> I have worked as a writer for years. I only worked as a technical 
> writer for a very brief time (about one year out of nearly 20). I see 
> ads for technical writers all the time but each job I see listed 
> states you must have experience with the program or application they 
> are using.
>
> How can i break into the technical writing field if every job lead 
> specifies you must have experience with the program or system they are 
> using?
>
Do you have experience with Word or any Desktop Publishing Program other 
than MS Publisher?  Do you know any HTML? Have you ever done a web page, 
even a simple one. Ever teach a seminar on writing to junior high 
students?  Are there any volunteer/non-profit newsletters in your 
background?  Know your way around Excel or some other spreadsheet?  Any 
database experience...FoxPro, Access, FileMaker?  Ever use Quicken or MS 
Money?  I say this because I spent part of my career as a business 
journalist, freelance writer, videographer/editor, operations manager, 
marketing manager and managing editor.  I learned a lot of tools and 
discovered that a lot of what I learned in one profession was useful in 
other professions.  If you see where an opening requires someone with 
RoboHelp or Doc-to-Help experience, download their demo,  create a fake 
project and use it as part of your portfolio.  It's better than nothing 
and shows initiative.  You may have to work as an entry level writer for 
a short while, but that's the price you have to pay when changing 
fields.  If you're good and learn fast, you won't stay entry level for long.

BTW...what type of writing have you done?  It may give you an idea of 
which technical writing "field" you may want to 
enter....microelectronics, manufacturing operations, pharmaceutical, 
agriculture, food, hardware, software.....there's a lot to choose from.

Al

-- 

Al Geist
Technical Writing, Online Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design, Award 
Winning Videos, Professional Photography
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Cell: 802-578-3964
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