The April Tech Comm Café met virtually via Zoom. Instead of eating in a restaurant, attendees were welcomed to have dinner while chatting online about a variety of issues.
Concerns were raised about reports of undesirable incidents on Zoom, such as strangers crashing the meeting and posting offensive comments. Updating to the latest version and checking security settings can help to prevent security breaches.
The STC Technical Communication Summit is a prominent international conference that features talks, workshops, and an expo for technical communicators both new and experienced. The upcoming 2020 STC Summit has been reorganized to take place online from May 17 to 20 and will cover a variety of cutting-edge topics. Student members get a special rate and it’s a great opportunity to learn about the diverse aspects of technical communication and network with others in the industry.
On the topic of job opportunities, the senior technical writers offered useful insight on the best strategies to start getting job leads. Suggestions include looking at job postings online, connecting with recruitment agencies that specialize in technical industries, and using LinkedIn.
An article written by Wendy Hollingshead on the STC Canada West Coast website was recommended as a useful resource for anyone seeking work. Wendy talks about how to investigate whether an opportunity is a good fit by asking relevant questions to the employer. More career advice is also offered on the website.
We also talked about coping during this time of COVID-19. Someone mentioned that being dressed in work clothes and working at the same time every workday helped in keeping a routine while working from home. In contrast, for a contractor, working from home was the norm and one of the perks was that you can choose your own hours and work when feeling most productive. A big adjustment to working from home, though, was the lack of in-person interaction with colleagues and the rapport in an office environment.
We ended the chat by confirming the date of the next meeting, scheduled for May 27. It’s uplifting to know that despite the current uncertainties and the lockdown measures, members of STC Canada West Coast are still able to meet virtually to exchange ideas and share experiences in a meaningful way. Non-members are welcome too!
Next Meeting: ONLINE on Wednesday, May 27, 2020
- Subscribe to receive email announcements of future meetings.
- If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, to receive login instructions.
Date: Wednesday, May 27
Time: 7:30–8:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Online via Zoom
Agenda
- Introductions. Take 60 seconds to introduce yourself, your background, current activities. A good chance to try out that new elevator speech.
- Announcements and job leads. If you know of an interesting event or a job opening, or you’re looking for work, share it with the group.
- Brainstorming Q&A. Ask about a work-related problem and discuss potential solutions.
- Networking. Chat with other technical writers and discuss your professional backgrounds, goals, questions, advice.
Elva Abdul Hadi recently completed the Technical Writing program at BCIT. She has a Humanities degrees from the UK with a background in graphic design, 3D animation, and video editing.