The first Vancouver Island Tech Comm Café was held in a restaurant in downtown Victoria on November 30. The attendees enjoyed perogies with custom fillings such as chicken and kale while introducing themselves and their work histories.
After introductions, we discussed how we could help one of the attendees decide whether she wants to enter the field of technical writing and what skills and education she would need. One suggestion was to job-shadow a technical writer. Another was to write instructions for family members who need assistance using a device such as a smart phone.
This led to a discussion about writing tests for job interviews. The attendees had written about everything from how to boil an egg to how to operate a ship from Star Trek. Someone also suggested volunteering to write for a non-profit organization to build a portfolio of writing samples. (Editor’s note / shameless plug: STC Canada West Coast is always happy to receive articles for their website.)
We also discussed how we began or transitioned our careers into technical writing. One attendee changed from being a doula and childbirth educator to technical writer. Her colleague said being a doula was similar to technical writing: as a doula, you coach a woman and her partner through childbirth so they can feel they accomplished this task on their own. As a technical writer, you write procedures to help someone learn how to complete a task on their own. Another attendee added that like doulas, technical writers aim to provide the right information at the right time, so that in a stressful or urgent situation, users have exactly what they need to know but aren’t overwhelmed with too much information.
Next, we brainstormed strategies for increasing our Tech Comm Café attendance and reaching out to other technical writers in the Vancouver Island community. Some suggestions included contacting schools with technical writing programs and companies that are likely to have technical writers.
The next get-together on Vancouver Island will be in February 2016. The Lower Mainland TCC will meet on January 13, 2016. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list to receive future invitations and updates, or if you have any suggestions to help expand the Island group, contact admin (at) stcwestcoast (dot) ca.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the first Vancouver Island Tech Comm Café a success!
About the Tech Comm Café
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. Admission is free, but you provide your own refreshments. We hope to see you at the next meeting!
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.
Serena Beck has been a technical writer for 13 years and currently writes about blood and plasma hardware and software. She is the past president of the STC Canada West Coast chapter.