July’s Tech Comm Café was enjoyed by a mix of veteran technical communicators, recent graduates, and one student currently plugging away to finish a certificate program so he can leave behind the shift work and midnight distress calls of the IT world. (We did warn him that technical writers sometimes work late into the night to meet deadlines, too.) Conversations covered ongoing discussions such as workshop ideas, job-hunting hints, and companies currently hiring.
Recent graduates and students were interested in understanding employer expectations, needed qualifications, and how long it took people to find a job in the field. Individuals who lack formal technical writing experience often pick up substantial skills from life experiences rather than on the job, and being able to communicate this to potential employers is key to finding employment in the field. Although you might not feel you have the necessary experience to apply for a specific job, these transferable skills will prove beneficial to job-hunting.
For example, one participant had a background working in libraries. Librarians and technical communicators share many skills: the ability to do research, to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing, and to conduct interviews to find out what a client or technical expert really means. Therefore, even if you might not have all the direct skills listed in a job posting, try to evaluate how your unique skills will help you succeed in the role you want to apply for.
We also discussed how employers might not always know the skill set of a technical communicator and might add qualifications to the job description that are not necessarily required for that job. It’s important to continue to update and refresh your qualifications and to be able to discuss how your skills are transferable to other areas of focus. If you can provide at least half of the skills posted on a job description, you are likely to compensate for the missing requirements through your transferable skills. Technical communicators can also emphasize their ability to learn new tools quickly, because most have worked with many different tools throughout their career.
Indeed, it is difficult to stay current with all the tools available. Volunteering to write, meeting people in the field, and taking workshops and courses that STC offers definitely help to keep you current and also give you the confidence you need to succeed. And don’t forget to ask questions! The next Tech Comm Café meeting will be a great place to do that.
Next Meetings
- Vancouver-area Tech Comm Café: August 21. Details below.
- Victoria Tech Comm Café: TBD.
- Subscribe to receive email announcements of future meetings.
Next Vancouver-area Tech Comm Café: Wednesday, August 21
Topic: We’re going to talk about anthropomorphism and personification in technical writing. Is it OK to ascribe human qualities to software and hardware? Can we say that the software tells, asks, sees, assumes, decides, or should these words be reserved for human actions only? If the latter, what words can you use instead? How can a style guide deal with this concept? Or should it? Bring your ideas and questions and we’ll see what we discover.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 4 p.m. Tuesday, August 20.
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Time: 6:30–8:00 pm Pacific Time
Location: Ebisu on Broadway Japanese restaurant, #12 – 601 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC. Check their website for menu and pricing.
Ebisu on Broadway is one block west of Cambie Street, on the northwest corner of Ash Street and West Broadway. Enter from the plaza on Broadway. Broadway-City Hall SkyTrain station; parking under the building or on nearby streets.
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.
- Speed networking. Spend a few minutes with a new contact, exchange business cards, and discuss your professional backgrounds and goals.
