The February meeting focused on proactive steps that technical communicators can take to secure work. This was timely, as it took place the day after the chapter’s Building a Portfolio webinar.
The webinar was so well-received that chapter president Joel Basart had been fielding questions all day; students were spurred on to use the shared tips to immediately start developing strong portfolios.
People can still register to receive a link to the recording of the webinar, which is free for students and STC members and $25 for non-members. As if any more motivation were needed, some teasers from the content were shared: There is still merit in hard-copy portfolios, and there are many things you can include “even if you have no experience at all.”
Other suggestions:
- Share your portfolio with a senior technical writer before job interviews — they can provide guidance and suggestions to strengthen it.
- Present potential employers with before-and-after samples of documentation, showcasing the improvements you have made. This can really impress them.
- To flesh out a sparse portfolio, prepare simple instructional guides for common tasks. This can be as simple as a beginners’ guide to Zoom meetings.
Someone asked about new directions in technical communication. The responses highlighted the great diversity of our field. In some industries, manuals are still the bread and butter of the work. Others focus on online content and video instruction. Government contracts are available in any sector at federal, provincial, and city levels. To start your search, try Public Services and Procurement Canada and BC Bid: e-Procurement in B.C. Be sure to look carefully into contract work before committing to it; some clients require contractors to be incorporated, which affects taxes and benefits.
Finally, the group discussed the issue of outdated or offensive terminology and shared excellent resources relating to conscious language choices:
Conscious and inclusive language resources
Google: Writing Inclusive Documentation
Modbus press release on replacing master-slave with client-server
Changing existing terminology to become more inclusive can be a challenge. It takes time to create consensus and lasting change. A thought-provoking comment ended the meeting:
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
The Tech Comm Café provides networking opportunities, job leads, answers to work-related dilemmas, and a burst of professional energy to keep you motivated. We discuss technical writing tools and techniques, career planning, portfolios, and anything else related to working as a technical communicator.
We welcome anyone who’s interested in technical communication — contractor, in-house, student, long-time tech writer, STC member, non-member, career-changer, or recruiter. We hope to see you at the next meeting!
Next Meeting: ONLINE on Wednesday, March 16, 2022
• Subscribe to receive email announcements of future meetings.
• If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, to receive login instructions.
Date: Wednesday, March 16
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Online via Zoom
Agenda
1. Introductions. Take 60 seconds to introduce yourself, your background, current activities. A good chance to try out that new elevator speech.
2. 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.
3. Brainstorming Q&A. Ask about a work-related problem and discuss potential solutions.
4. Speed networking. Make new contacts and discuss your professional backgrounds and goals.
Hannah Lind is a post degree diploma student in professional communication at Douglas College. With over 15 years of experience in education and non-profit management, she is exploring her passion for making information accessible and clear. She is particularly interested in applied ethics and empathy in communication.