The monthly Tech Comm Café met on November 12, with a small group that grew as the evening progressed. The technical writing experience present ranged from current students to 20+-year veterans, and attendees’ backgrounds ranged from geosciences to business to academe. The meeting had an informal feel, although it followed a definite topic structure: introductions, job leads, brainstorming, and networking.
During the job leads section, several members mentioned leads for contract work. One topic covered in the brainstorming session was related to a non-competition clause in an employment contract: what is it, how to negotiate it, and what’s standard in the industry. A question on how a new writer can build a portfolio while looking for that first contract or job led into a discussion of documenting procedures for small family businesses — transferring the tacit knowledge from a small-business owner’s head into documented procedures can be a viable niche market.
Using an employment agency during a job search, how to change one’s SEO rankings, and using LinkedIn in a job search were also discussed. The evening ended with a lively and productive speed-networking session and a reminder of upcoming events: the STC Canada West Coast chapter holiday dinner on December 3, an STC webinar on “How to write a résumé that gets past the robots” on November 19, and the next chapter board meeting December 6.
Many thanks to Pam Drucker and Heather Sommerville for organizing the meeting and keeping it on track.
Next STC Tech Comm Café: January 14, 2015
The TCC 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!
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Time: 6:30–8:00 pm Pacific Time
Location: Tim Horton’s coffee shop, Waterfront Centre (200 Burrard Street, Vancouver), tucked in behind the food court at the west end of the lower level
Agenda
- Take 60 seconds to introduce yourself, your background, current activities. A good chance to try out that new elevator speech.
- Job leads. If you know of 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 2 minutes with a new contact, exchange business cards, and discuss your professional backgrounds and goals. When the timer chimes, move on to a new contact and keep expanding your network.
