Thursday

Attend a Career Fair

Because high-tech industries are growing at a rapid pace, companies must aggressively recruit new technical writers to meet their needs for documentation production. High-tech companies often send experienced technical writers to recruit at college campuses. On-campus career fairs, presentations to classes and professional organizations, and interviews are just a few events that technical writers participate in. Recruiting is a rewarding experience because it enables me to share what I love about being a technical writer and working at my company.

This morning, I attend a local career fair for college students with Carrie, and I share with her the most frequently asked questions I hear when I visit college campuses. Refer to the list below to learn more about questions we get at career fairs.

• What does your company do?
  
  My company develops computer software and hardware for scientists and engineers to measure and automate the world around them. For example, medical scientists have used our hardware and software to automate the monitoring of human eye motion, which aids physicians who research dizziness and internal ear diseases.
  
  Many different disciplines use technical writers – computer, medical, biomedical, pharmaceutical, environmental, and many more. If you're not interested in computer technology, you can easily find a discipline you do enjoy.
  
  
• I know a technical writer writes and edits, but what else do you do?
  
  In addition to writing and editing, I spend time learning about the products, the audience, and their needs. I interview the engineers that develop the products. I experiment with the products. I deliver documents in different formats, such as print, PDFs, HTML help files, and multimedia presentations. I also spend time researching current technical communication topics, mentoring, and recruiting.
  
  
• How many hours a week do you work?
  
  I work about 40 to 45 hours a week. The great thing about my company is that I can start working anytime in the morning before 9:30 A.M. This flexibility helps me balance my personal life with work.
  
  
• Do you need to know about the products before you can get a job?
  
  Our company – and I'm sure most others as well – does not expect you to graduate from college with specialized knowledge about our industry. We are happy to teach you about the technology and products on the job. We also work closely with the software and hardware engineers that develop our products, so we learn about the products through them. However, general computing knowledge or experience and an interest in learning are important.
  
  
• How is the salary?
  
  Ask the Society for Technical Communication (STC). STC is a national organization with over 20,000 members: writers, editors, illustrators, printers, publishers, educators, students, engineers, and scientists. Every year STC conducts a national salary survey. The STC chapter in Austin, Texas publishes a local salary survey every year.
  
  
• What's the demand for technical writers?
  
  The demand for technical writers continues to grow rapidly. As long as there is a need to accurately communicate information, there is a demand for technical writers.
  
  
• Where can I learn more about or study technical communication formally?
  
  STC is a great resource for learning more about the technical communication field. If you're interested in more formal training, see the STC Academic Programs Database for colleges and universities that offer courses or degree programs in technical communication.