We had a record turnout for the September Tech Comm Café, with people calling in from as far away as California and Ottawa, and a diverse group that included a technical writing instructor, several students, some long-time tech writers, and some contemplating a career change into technical writing. After a round of introductions, we discussed the overlap between a career in science and one in technical communication, how to make the transition, and whether one needs a science degree to become a technical writer.
Several members noted that they “fell into” tech comm careers without planning, and that the digital age has brought new opportunities. Many technical communicators have different backgrounds and skill sets. These often include programming, marketing, or other specialized skills, but the ability to organize information well and to communicate it in plain English is more important than a scientific background. Technical communicators don’t need to know everything, as long as they can interview subject-matter experts to find the information they need and can present it clearly to the intended audience. In fact, not knowing a lot about a subject can help you imagine yourself in the situation of the end user, to more easily identify what they need to know and how much or how little information to provide.
We discussed the value of volunteering as a way to build a network and add to your skill set, and different ways to find volunteer opportunities. The STC Website Review Task Force is looking for student volunteers to help upgrade the Society’s websites, including www.stc.org and the Technical Communication Body of Knowledge (TCBOK). One of the task force members was at the Tech Comm Café and commented: “It’s a big job and we can use all the help we can get!” Check the Task Force’s web page for more information and to sign up as a volunteer. STC Canada West Coast (CWC) also welcomes new volunteers; contact the Volunteer Coordinator to find out more.
In addition to the STC, open source projects are excellent places to get started with tech comm volunteering, gain valuable knowledge and experience, and add to your portfolio of writing samples.
STC CWC is planning an upcoming webinar that will discuss developing portfolios and provide opportunities for portfolio review.
We ended the meeting with a lighthearted look at our favourite writing bloopers.
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, October 21, 2020
- Subscribe to receive email announcements of future meetings.
- If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 4 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, to receive login instructions.
Date: Wednesday, October 21
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 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.
Alison is a biologist and grant writer, and runs Edwards Technical Writing. She prepares complex documents for businesses, non-profit organisations, and scientific organisations. She is the Student Outreach Coordinator for the STC Canada West Coast chapter.