how to grow in the technical communication profession
DESCRIPTION
How to Grow in the Technical Communication Profession: Slides from Larry Kunz’s webinar on January 10, 2013 for technical communication professionals in China. Topics covered: The Technical Communication profession Growing in the profession How to grow: Build a network Keep up with the profession Handle problems at work Gain experience How to get startedTRANSCRIPT
About SDI
Hungary: • Established February 2008
Europe Branch Offices
Finland:• Established September 2009
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Maryland
Indiana
Arkansas
SDI Corporate HeadquartersSDI Government Solutions
South Plainfield, New Jersey
US Branch Offices
• Est: 1978
• US-based
• Staff ca. 400
•Technology clients
• Information Desgin, Training, Consulting services
India:• Established May
2009• Offices in
Hyderabad and Bangalore
Asia Branch Offices
China:• Established in 2011• Offices in Beijing
and Shanghai
About SDI China
• Established in 2011• Offices in Beijing and Shanghai• Business focus: Telco and manufacturing • Full range of services for China-based clients• Strong focus on DITA / XML based authoring • Training and growth opportunities for staff• No compromise in quality
My Background
• More than 30 years in Tech Comm– Software documentation– Marketing– Project management– Consulting
• Fellow, Society for Technical Communication (STC)
What We’ll Cover Today
• The Tech Comm profession• Growing in the profession• Ways to grow• Getting started• Questions & answers
stock.xchng / manjides
The Tech Comm Profession
• Exciting• Changing fast• Many opportunities• Attracts people who are:
– Beginning their careers– Changing careers
Why Grow?
• Gain skills you need• Develop a reputation• Understand opportunities available to you
What Opportunities Exist?
• Writing• Editing• Information architecture• Managing projects• Others
How to Grow
• Build a network• Keep up with the profession• Handle problems at work• Gain experience
How to Grow
Build a network• Join a professional society• Become active in it• Attend events• Go online; use social media
stock.xchng / fakhar
How to Grow
Keep up with the profession• Read articles and blogs • Subscribe to email lists• Participate in webinars
(most are no-cost)
How to Grow
Join LinkedIn groups (at www.linkedin.com)• DITA Awareness Group• Information Design • Society for Technical Communication• Technical Communicator Shanghai • Technical Writer• Technical Writing Professionals • The Content Wrangler Community
How to Grow
Handle problems at work• Learning a new tool,
process, or domain• People who are unhappy
or disruptive• Working without a designer
or editor• Ethical issues
How to Grow
Tips for handling problems at work• Use your professional society
– People are happy to answer questions– Magazines, journals, social media (MySTC)
• SDI China is part of a worldwide company:– People– Expertise
How to Grow
Gain experience• If you get a good offer, take it
– Don't wait for the perfect job– Improve your qualifications
• Look for opportunities outside the business world– Help write open-source documentation
Examples: dita.xml.org and www.gnu.org
– Assisting with research projects– Volunteering in your professional society
How Do I Start?
• Start with one or two easy things• Then make a plan:
– In what areas do I need to grow most?– What steps can I take in those areas?– Do I need help?– Do I know where to go when I have problems
at work?• Make sure that your plan is yours –
tailored to your needs and interests
Resources
Contact me:• [email protected]
http://www.sdicorp.com
Other resources:• STC: http://www.stc.org• Good blogs:
http://www.sdicorp.com/Resources/TechnicalCommunicationBlogs.aspx
• bbs.giltworld.com: Technical Writing section• LinkedIn groups:
http://www.linkedin.com/search-fe/group_search(Requires LinkedIn membership, which is free)
Next SDI Webinar
Working withSubject-Matter Experts
Wednesday 20 February
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. CST
Register at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/300048526