atw: Re: Suggestions for getting a start as a Technical writer
- From: "Terry Dowling" <Terrence.Dowling@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:42:47 +0800
My experience with my boss's hiring habits is ...if you apply for a tech
writer job and are happy to start with the low end rates, you should be
able to get a job.
This year, we've hired a couple of folk who turned out to be fairly
reasonable writers. One had done a creative writing course and the other
was a graduate engineer (who finished last week to get a "real job" as
an engineer in the same industry. Don't tell anybody, but he's now our
mole with one of our clients!). We've recently hired a more experienced
writer on a much higher rate than the other two.
If you can get a job with someone else with a bit of experience, you'll
find the learning is much faster.
Another alternative that I have reservations about is to apply to do
voluntary work. One of the safety officers here told me he worked for
free a few hours a week to get "the foot in the door". He soon got a
paid job with us. I have reservations 'cos I think it leaves you open to
exploitation, but if you have a company you'd like to work for, it means
they have nothing to lose and you can certainly learn lots in the right
position.
Cheers,
Terry
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shumona
Roy-McKean
Sent: Friday, 22 October 2010 7:53 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Suggestions for getting a start as a Technical writer
Hi Tech writers
Looking for some advice/tips on becoming a technical writer. I have a
graduate certificate in journalism from UTS and have written short
articles for 'The Australian'. I currently work in the area of
research/knowledge management and in the course of my roles have written
business stategy documents/proposals that have been mainly finance and
technology related.
I am interested in broadening my skills to becoming a full time
technical writer and would like your thoughts/suggestions on how to best
go about doing this and getting that first job as a technical writer!
Thanks
Shumona
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