A presentation about career paths in technical communication, along with salary data previously reported by both the Society for Technical Communication (www.stc.org) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Changing Face of TechComm and the Society for Technical CommunicationScott Abel
The technical communication landscape is changing rapidly. New tools,
techniques, expectations and opportunities are making it necessary to
expand the definition of what a technical communicator does and the
Society for Technical Communication is at the forefront of
communicating these changes to government and industry. Susan Burton,
Executive Director of the Society of Technical Communication (STC)
will discuss efforts to broaden the definition used by the U.S.
government Bureau of Labor Statistics to describe technical
communicators and the work they do. She
gotoClassroom is a education platform complete with the fundamental tools for educators to manage their classroom. Quickly and at no cost, teachers can create an online presence for each of
their classrooms. Our platform also stands as a hub for organizing and launching useful third party education apps and tools seamlessly integrating them into each classroom.
Making a Market for Competency-based Credentials: An Overviewmmabbitt
What is competency based credentialing and why is it important?
What is the current state of play in competency based credentialing?
How do we define "quality" credentials?
What can educators, employers, and public policy makers do to make a market for competency based credentials?
The Changing Face of TechComm and the Society for Technical CommunicationScott Abel
The technical communication landscape is changing rapidly. New tools,
techniques, expectations and opportunities are making it necessary to
expand the definition of what a technical communicator does and the
Society for Technical Communication is at the forefront of
communicating these changes to government and industry. Susan Burton,
Executive Director of the Society of Technical Communication (STC)
will discuss efforts to broaden the definition used by the U.S.
government Bureau of Labor Statistics to describe technical
communicators and the work they do. She
gotoClassroom is a education platform complete with the fundamental tools for educators to manage their classroom. Quickly and at no cost, teachers can create an online presence for each of
their classrooms. Our platform also stands as a hub for organizing and launching useful third party education apps and tools seamlessly integrating them into each classroom.
Making a Market for Competency-based Credentials: An Overviewmmabbitt
What is competency based credentialing and why is it important?
What is the current state of play in competency based credentialing?
How do we define "quality" credentials?
What can educators, employers, and public policy makers do to make a market for competency based credentials?
Simformer - Powerful business simulation platform for creating, hosting and selling practice-oriented learning courses, business games & training. We are looking for investments for scaling.
The Industry-University Interface:An Academic Administrator’s ViewJAX Chamber IT Council
Improving the Academic-Industry Interface. A presentation by Dean Mark A. Tumeo, PhD, JD, PE of UNF's College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, August 2013 to the JAX Chamber IT Council.
Blockchain and Cloud Forum 2018 - Application of Distributed Ledger Technolog...Hristian Daskalov
Presentation from Hristian Daskalov, Project Lead at OS.UNIVERSITY - World's First Academic ICO. The World's Learning and Development Ledger on the Ethereum Blockchain.
Universities and economic development organizations (EDO’s) are frequently working toward common goals—to foster and support regional innovation and economic prosperity. Challenges persist, however, at the university/EDO interface, and it is sometimes difficult to get beyond the challenges to achieve the common goals. The panel will present both the promise and potential pitfalls of EDO and university partnerships, and also paint a vision for the future of these collaborations so vital to economic development.
What Next ? - The future of higher EducationMahavir Pati
This presentation explores the future trends in Education, The skills that will be important in Future and some revolutionary and cutting edge developments in the Domain of Higher Education
The presentation makes the case that it is better to create a separate Confluence wiki page for each topic than to create copies of that topic in multiple guides. It presents a sample structure for a user's guide created in Confluence that makes use of local content but also macros that pull in content from elsewhere, allowing you to use the same wiki topic in multiple guides.
Simformer - Powerful business simulation platform for creating, hosting and selling practice-oriented learning courses, business games & training. We are looking for investments for scaling.
The Industry-University Interface:An Academic Administrator’s ViewJAX Chamber IT Council
Improving the Academic-Industry Interface. A presentation by Dean Mark A. Tumeo, PhD, JD, PE of UNF's College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, August 2013 to the JAX Chamber IT Council.
Blockchain and Cloud Forum 2018 - Application of Distributed Ledger Technolog...Hristian Daskalov
Presentation from Hristian Daskalov, Project Lead at OS.UNIVERSITY - World's First Academic ICO. The World's Learning and Development Ledger on the Ethereum Blockchain.
Universities and economic development organizations (EDO’s) are frequently working toward common goals—to foster and support regional innovation and economic prosperity. Challenges persist, however, at the university/EDO interface, and it is sometimes difficult to get beyond the challenges to achieve the common goals. The panel will present both the promise and potential pitfalls of EDO and university partnerships, and also paint a vision for the future of these collaborations so vital to economic development.
What Next ? - The future of higher EducationMahavir Pati
This presentation explores the future trends in Education, The skills that will be important in Future and some revolutionary and cutting edge developments in the Domain of Higher Education
The presentation makes the case that it is better to create a separate Confluence wiki page for each topic than to create copies of that topic in multiple guides. It presents a sample structure for a user's guide created in Confluence that makes use of local content but also macros that pull in content from elsewhere, allowing you to use the same wiki topic in multiple guides.
Strategies for Friendly English and Successful Localization (InfoDevWorld 2014)John Collins
More and more companies are striving for a friendly tone with their content. Many of those same companies are taking their content to other cultures with localized content. Those two content goals seem to be at odds.
This slideshow, presented at Information Development World in October of 2014, looks at how to accomplish both goals.
Strategies for Friendly English and Successful LocalizationJohn Collins
This slideshow was designed for a 20-minute progression session at the 2014 Society for Technical Communication Summit, presented on Tuesday, May 20, 2014. It's a significantly shortened version of a 45-minute session I'll be giving at Information Development World.
Companies are starting to distinguish themselves with a unique, natural English voice and tone, and many companies also realize there’s a growth potential in localizing their product to reach international markets. That leaves a tension for writers of the English content that will be translated for the international markets. Do the writers focus on tone or on writing easily translated content? Those two goals may seem mutually exclusive, but actually, they’re a healthy combination. We’ll look at what localization is and how to create content that’s good for your English-speaking users and well-suited for translation.
Here we talk about designing across, and for, multiple touchscreen platforms (Nokia, iPhone, iPad and Windows Phone 7) using Ribot’s recent suite of Tesco apps as a case study.
How do different form factors, operating systems, and interaction paradigms inform the design of real I-want-to-use-it-every-day apps?
How do you take the constraints (and opportunities) of differing mobile devices and design interfaces that, for the user, feel like they belong on the device and as part of their life?
(Download the presentation for full transcript)
Putting Out Fires with Content Strategy (STC Academic SIG)John Collins
You’ve probably heard – or said – something like “All I did today at work was put out fires.” We’ve all been there. We don’t want fires, but they happen. So, let’s see how content strategy helps put out fires in software development, and what you can do to prepare for a content strategy career.
Presented to the Society for Technical Communication Special Interest Group as part of the pre-conference activities for the CPTSC (Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication) Conference in September 2014.
Building Quality Experiences for Users in Any LanguageJohn Collins
Companies are striving for a friendly tone with their content and also taking it to other cultures. Those two content goals seem to be at odds, but they don’t have to be. How do you reconcile more casual writing for content that will be translated into other languages? We’ll look at how to craft quality content for all users, regardless of their language. We’ll cover pitfalls to avoid and tactics to use for creating friendly English that yields pleasing translations.
Open Software Platforms for Mobile Digital BroadcastingFrancois Lefebvre
Overview of CRC projects in digital radio software projects. Discussion of potential future projects. Presented in Gatineau to students and professors of Computer Science and Engineering Department of UQO
Putting Out Fires with Content Strategy (InfoDevDC meetup)John Collins
You’ve probably heard – or said – something like “All I did today at work was put out fires.” We’ve all been there. We don’t want fires, but they happen. So, let’s see how content strategy helps put out fires in software development, and what you can do to transition from a technical writing role to a content strategy role.
Presented at the InfoDevDC meetup on Dec. 9, 2014 (http://www.meetup.com/InfoDevDC/events/212733712/)
Importance of Skills Identification in ResumesCapitolTechU
Slides from a webinar presented by Connie Harrington for an April 14, 2022 webinar on Skills Identification in Writing a Resume. Presented by Capitol Technology University.
NAC-Tech has been conceived as an industry standard assessment and certification program to ensure the transformation of a "trainable" workforce into an "employable" workforce, hence creating a robust and continuous pipeline of talent for the IT/Engineering Industry. It is targeted at final year and pre-final year students, who will be seeking employment opportunities in the IT / Engineering sector.
The intent behind assessing these students is to identify the level of talent which is available across India, especially in Tier II and Tier III cities and provide feedback to them on areas they need to work on to improve their employ-ability.
Conceptualization of NAC-Tech
In-depth meetings with the large recruiters in the industry were conducted to understand their recruitment practices, cause of attrition desired skills in a candidate, etc. Based on this, a job-skill matrix was developed which formed the basis for the design of this assessment program. Core and Working Committees from the industry were formed and constant interactions were made to make sure that the program was in line with the industry requirements. An evaluation committee was set up to finalize the vendors and decide on the approach to the pilot. Multi-tier evaluation of the vendors happened after the initial interaction. The identified vendors provided the content and technology to run the test. The companies that have helped develop the assessment program are - TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Accenture, Cognizant and HCL.
TechTalentBC is a suite of innovative BCTIA programs and services designed to address the talent gap in BC’s tech industry and support the growth and development of tech companies in our province.
Part of our Career Reality webinar series, this presentation is for parents. Archived recordings and materials can be found at careerreality.wikispaces.com
Top 4 Marketing Must-Haves for IT and Engineering Staffing Firms in 2014ClearEdge Marketing
What’s in your marketing toolkit for this year? Not sure where to spend your marketing dollars to drive your business forward and realize the best return on your marketing investment? Have no fear – this deck will help! We discuss the four marketing must-haves for IT and engineering staffing firms this year:
1 - Messaging that resonates with your target audience
2 - Creating two-way conversations via social media to enhance the candidate experience
3 - Creating an engaging online user experience regardless of the platform/device used
4 - Creating content that converts.
GetBoarded is a Predictive Talent Analytics start-up that helps organizations; academics or Business, to manage the career progressions of their talent. It is a SAAS based integration as a career lab for managing candidate profiles and opportunities for Universities and Medium to Large scale enterprises. For advance implementations, it works as a talent management system that can be modelled into various systems from talent acquisition/fitment to training need identification and succession planning.
We are accredited under the startup Visa program in Portugal by the IAPMEI – Portuguese Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation.
Presented at the British Columbia Collaboration Event for Educators - an annual conference that discusses the future of IT and education in Canada.
Presented by Tracy Biernacki-Dusza, National Project manager of the Focus on Information Technology program (FIT); a youth inititiative developed by the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC)
What things should you think about for the future of continuing education units in higher education institutions - both colleges and universities? Through the lens of product, platform, and services, check out some considerations and ways to move forward.
Skills Canada National Competition 2021 - Partnership OpportunitiesPatrickLeClair7
SCNC is the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country. Each year, more than 550 competitors from across Canada come to SCNC to participate in over 40 skilled trade and technology competitions. By providing a forum where Canadians can compete at the national level, SCNC provides hands-on work experience related to skilled trade and technology careers.
Unlocking Productivity: Leveraging the Potential of Copilot in Microsoft 365, a presentation by Christoforos Vlachos, Senior Solutions Manager – Modern Workplace, Uni Systems
Removing Uninteresting Bytes in Software FuzzingAftab Hussain
Imagine a world where software fuzzing, the process of mutating bytes in test seeds to uncover hidden and erroneous program behaviors, becomes faster and more effective. A lot depends on the initial seeds, which can significantly dictate the trajectory of a fuzzing campaign, particularly in terms of how long it takes to uncover interesting behaviour in your code. We introduce DIAR, a technique designed to speedup fuzzing campaigns by pinpointing and eliminating those uninteresting bytes in the seeds. Picture this: instead of wasting valuable resources on meaningless mutations in large, bloated seeds, DIAR removes the unnecessary bytes, streamlining the entire process.
In this work, we equipped AFL, a popular fuzzer, with DIAR and examined two critical Linux libraries -- Libxml's xmllint, a tool for parsing xml documents, and Binutil's readelf, an essential debugging and security analysis command-line tool used to display detailed information about ELF (Executable and Linkable Format). Our preliminary results show that AFL+DIAR does not only discover new paths more quickly but also achieves higher coverage overall. This work thus showcases how starting with lean and optimized seeds can lead to faster, more comprehensive fuzzing campaigns -- and DIAR helps you find such seeds.
- These are slides of the talk given at IEEE International Conference on Software Testing Verification and Validation Workshop, ICSTW 2022.
Encryption in Microsoft 365 - ExpertsLive Netherlands 2024Albert Hoitingh
In this session I delve into the encryption technology used in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Purview. Including the concepts of Customer Key and Double Key Encryption.
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Pushing the limits of ePRTC: 100ns holdover for 100 daysAdtran
At WSTS 2024, Alon Stern explored the topic of parametric holdover and explained how recent research findings can be implemented in real-world PNT networks to achieve 100 nanoseconds of accuracy for up to 100 days.
Elevating Tactical DDD Patterns Through Object CalisthenicsDorra BARTAGUIZ
After immersing yourself in the blue book and its red counterpart, attending DDD-focused conferences, and applying tactical patterns, you're left with a crucial question: How do I ensure my design is effective? Tactical patterns within Domain-Driven Design (DDD) serve as guiding principles for creating clear and manageable domain models. However, achieving success with these patterns requires additional guidance. Interestingly, we've observed that a set of constraints initially designed for training purposes remarkably aligns with effective pattern implementation, offering a more ‘mechanical’ approach. Let's explore together how Object Calisthenics can elevate the design of your tactical DDD patterns, offering concrete help for those venturing into DDD for the first time!
Why You Should Replace Windows 11 with Nitrux Linux 3.5.0 for enhanced perfor...SOFTTECHHUB
The choice of an operating system plays a pivotal role in shaping our computing experience. For decades, Microsoft's Windows has dominated the market, offering a familiar and widely adopted platform for personal and professional use. However, as technological advancements continue to push the boundaries of innovation, alternative operating systems have emerged, challenging the status quo and offering users a fresh perspective on computing.
One such alternative that has garnered significant attention and acclaim is Nitrux Linux 3.5.0, a sleek, powerful, and user-friendly Linux distribution that promises to redefine the way we interact with our devices. With its focus on performance, security, and customization, Nitrux Linux presents a compelling case for those seeking to break free from the constraints of proprietary software and embrace the freedom and flexibility of open-source computing.
Sudheer Mechineni, Head of Application Frameworks, Standard Chartered Bank
Discover how Standard Chartered Bank harnessed the power of Neo4j to transform complex data access challenges into a dynamic, scalable graph database solution. This keynote will cover their journey from initial adoption to deploying a fully automated, enterprise-grade causal cluster, highlighting key strategies for modelling organisational changes and ensuring robust disaster recovery. Learn how these innovations have not only enhanced Standard Chartered Bank’s data infrastructure but also positioned them as pioneers in the banking sector’s adoption of graph technology.
DevOps and Testing slides at DASA ConnectKari Kakkonen
My and Rik Marselis slides at 30.5.2024 DASA Connect conference. We discuss about what is testing, then what is agile testing and finally what is Testing in DevOps. Finally we had lovely workshop with the participants trying to find out different ways to think about quality and testing in different parts of the DevOps infinity loop.
Alt. GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using ...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
Dr. Sean Tan, Head of Data Science, Changi Airport Group
Discover how Changi Airport Group (CAG) leverages graph technologies and generative AI to revolutionize their search capabilities. This session delves into the unique search needs of CAG’s diverse passengers and customers, showcasing how graph data structures enhance the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated search results, mitigating the risk of “hallucinations” and improving the overall customer journey.
State of ICS and IoT Cyber Threat Landscape Report 2024 previewPrayukth K V
The IoT and OT threat landscape report has been prepared by the Threat Research Team at Sectrio using data from Sectrio, cyber threat intelligence farming facilities spread across over 85 cities around the world. In addition, Sectrio also runs AI-based advanced threat and payload engagement facilities that serve as sinks to attract and engage sophisticated threat actors, and newer malware including new variants and latent threats that are at an earlier stage of development.
The latest edition of the OT/ICS and IoT security Threat Landscape Report 2024 also covers:
State of global ICS asset and network exposure
Sectoral targets and attacks as well as the cost of ransom
Global APT activity, AI usage, actor and tactic profiles, and implications
Rise in volumes of AI-powered cyberattacks
Major cyber events in 2024
Malware and malicious payload trends
Cyberattack types and targets
Vulnerability exploit attempts on CVEs
Attacks on counties – USA
Expansion of bot farms – how, where, and why
In-depth analysis of the cyber threat landscape across North America, South America, Europe, APAC, and the Middle East
Why are attacks on smart factories rising?
Cyber risk predictions
Axis of attacks – Europe
Systemic attacks in the Middle East
Download the full report from here:
https://sectrio.com/resources/ot-threat-landscape-reports/sectrio-releases-ot-ics-and-iot-security-threat-landscape-report-2024/
Free Complete Python - A step towards Data Science
Techcomm Careers in 2014
1. PRESENTED BY CAROLYN KLINGER
SLIDES BY CAROLYN KLINGER, RACHEL
HOUGHTON, BETHANY AGUAD, DAN VOSS,
LISA MILEUSNICH, AND
LORI MEYER
Careers in Technical
Communication
Presentation for Allen Brizee’s
Rhetoric of Professional Writing Class
Loyola University Maryland
February 20, 2014
2. Agenda
Technical communication
What it is
Body of Knowledge
Disciplines
Show me the money
Comparative salaries
Local industries and jobs
Paths to careers in techcomm
Society for Technical Communication
Membership levels
Washington, DC – Baltimore Chapter
3. Technical Communication is…
• Communicating about technical or
specialized topics by using technology,
including emerging new media
• Contributing to business goals by designing
and enhancing internal communications and
by reusing content in cost-effective ways.
4. Body of Knowledge
• The definitive online resource for information
about the profession of technical communication
• Experienced technical communicators, educators
and instructors, and students are invited to
contribute to the TCBOK!
• Go to the STC collaboration site at
http://stcbok.editme.com to learn, contribute,
and add to your online portfolio
8. Technical Writing & Editing
Hardware and software
documentation
Policies and procedures
White papers
Textbooks
Proposals
Marketing materials
Video scripts
Magazine articles
Copy editing for
publishers
9. Medical Writing
Editing or ghost-writing
articles by physicians for
medical journals
Patient-oriented websites
Flyers describing illnesses and
treatments, for doctors’
offices
Medical transcription
Instructions for prescription
medication
Marketing materials and web
sites
Instructions for using medical
devices such as X-ray
machines
Biotech
10. Work for Nonprofit Organizations
Grant proposals
Fund-raising collaterals
Literature for clients of
the nonprofit groups
Web site design, content,
and maintenance
11. Advertising & Marketing Communications
Advertising
Print
Radio
TV
Billboards
Web sites
Social media
Marketing collateral
Brochures
Flyers
Fact sheets
Trade show graphics
Narrated video
Web sites
12. Show Me the Money
• Technical communication spans many
disciplines, so the job market is huge
• Unless technology stands still, it will always be
a growth market
• Smart companies realize that poor writing and
poor communication hurt their bottom line
13. Tech Writing is One of the Best Jobs in America
.
http://money.cnn.com/pf/best-
jobs/2013/snapshots/86.html
14. BLS Tracks Salary and Outlook
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm
16. Growing Job Market
There are 46,100+ technical writers in the U.S.!
Geographical Distribution of Jobs in Technical Communication
17. Where the Jobs Are
This table, showing BLS data that STC compiled, compares the salaries for the
top 10 states with the largest numbers of jobs in technical writing.
Maryland is #4!
18. Where the Jobs Are Going
This table, showing BLS data that STC compiled, we see that some metro
areas are gaining more technical writing jobs than others. Maryland is
doing well and is gaining jobs.
19. Tech Writing Salaries Around the U.S.
2012 Tech Writing Median Annual Wage in Selected Metropolitan Areas
The higher the concentration of technology and industry, the higher the salaries.
23. Tap Core Skills
• Writing accurately
• Writing clearly
• Writing concisely
• Writing coherently
• Writing creatively
• Tapping diverse media
• Crossing boundaries and cultures
24. Job Search Tips for Students
Start your portfolio now (print, web, or CD)
Class papers/projects
Any writing/editing you may have done at a job
Find your own writing opportunities! Can you document something at
your job (or improve something that was documented badly)?
An internship is a plus but not necessarily required. How to get an
internship:
Does the college have a career center?
For underclassmen, internships not related to writing are still resume builders.
Juniors and seniors should probably focus on writing internships.
Where do your parents work? Do they have technical writers, corporate
communication departments? Do they offer internships?
Download 30-day software trials to learn on your own and show
initiative.
Shadow a professional for a day (or partial day).
25. On-the-Job Training
Before tech writing programs appeared in
universities, “OJT” was the only path to a
career in technical communication
26. Degree Programs
B.A. in techcomm
M.A. in techcomm
Ph.D. in techcomm
Undergraduate minor in
techcomm
A certificate based on a
given number of courses
in techcomm
29. Benefits of Membership
• Affiliation (geographic or virtual) with an STC
student chapter
• Affiliation (geographic or virtual) with an STC
geographic chapter
• Affiliation with one STC special interest group (SIG)
in a technical communication discipline of particular
interest to you
• Access to salary scales, job listings, and other valuable
intellectual property on the international STC web
site
• Opportunities to expand your network and build
skills through volunteering
30. Benefits of Membership (Cont.)
Eligibility for STC
student mentoring
programs
Professional networking
Online access to
industry-leading
professional publications
Reduced rates for STC
conferences, webinars
(plus free webinars), and
certification in technical
communication
33. FAQs on Local Chapter Site
• "I have a degree in English—what can I do with it?"
http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#ENGLISHDEGREE
and the related links
• "What is Technical Communication?"
http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/prof-dev/competition/what-is-technical-communication/
• "What does a technical writer do?"
http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#WHAT
• How do I become a technical communicator?
http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#HOWTO
• How do I get into this field without any experience?
http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#EXPERIENCE
• How can I find a job in technical communication?
http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#JOBS
• Communication Careers Books
http://www.stcwdc.org/refbooks-2_answer.shtml
34. Thank you for
Coming!
Feel free to contact me!
Carolyn Kelley Klinger
carolyn.klinger@verizon.net
@cklinger
Editor's Notes
Helps to have a tech/science degree in related field (e.g., biology, chemistry, animal science, physiology, etc.)Practical experience is also good (lab tech, EMT, vet tech, regulatory affairs, etc.)Ability to read and interpret research dataBasic statistics
There are many opportunities for good writers in the non-profit sector, and, in most cases, the writing isn’t that technical. In general, the salaries are lower than they are in the commercial sector, but it can be a great place to start and gain some experience. There’s also satisfaction in helping a worthy cause, as opposed to building the corporate “bottom line.”
Technical marketing writing demands a special kind of creativity. Corporations are moving into a new paradigm on advertising. Instead of relying purely on “push” advertising where they blitz you with their brand until it finally sticks, they are exploring interactive communication with customers and potential customers in online forums such as blogs, wikis, Facebook, and Twitter.
So, how good is the job market for technical communicators? We’ll look at some of the numbers on the next few charts, but as you can see, it’s a huge market, and it’s a growing market. Technical communicators bring business value to the companies they work for, which is directly reflected in their median salaries.
Technical communication may not be as well-known a profession as many, but as you can see in this chart, there are a lot of technical communicators in the United States. Not surprisingly, the highest concentration of technical communicators is in the states that have the greatest concentration of high technology and industry. Like every profession, technical communication took a dive during the Recession, but as the economy starts to crank back up, so will technology and industry.
Writing accurately— It’s important get it rightWriting clearly— It’s vital to keep it clearWriting concisely— It’s wise to keep it shortWriting coherently— It had better make sense (outline!)Writing creatively— It needs to come across to a lay audienceTapping diverse media— It’s a multi-media world. Text must be reinforced with, visuals, multi-media, web design, and social mediaCrossing boundaries and cultures— Here’s where “Global English” becomes so critical. And you can do that!
Up until the 1980’s, before technical writing programs appeared in college curricula, on-the-job-training was the only career path into the profession, and it is still a common path.However, for entry-level positions specific to technical communication, some formal education, training, mentoring, or certification would make you more competitive with graduates of technical communication degree programs. An alternative would be to seek a different entry-level position in a company that has a requirement for technical communication, then train on the job and transfer into the technical communication (or publications) department (possibly along with pursuing certification in technical communication)
Bethany: There are a number of formal educational paths into the profession. At this point, more than 200 colleges offer degree programs in technical communication. Here are 4 potential paths you could take as an English major to move into the field of technical communication:A graduate with a BA in English could take an MA in technical communicationA graduate with an MA in English could pursue a Ph.D. in technical communicationA current undergraduate student majoring in English could minor in technical communicationA student at any level could complete a certificate program based on a specified number of course credits in technical communication, typically 12, though the number could vary based on your school’s schedule (semesters vs. quarters).
Rachel: STC recently sponsored the establishment of a professional certification in technical communication. A professional certification is different from a university certificate in that it does not involve college classes. It took STC many years to finally establish a certification program, because, as we’ve described, the profession includes so many disciplines and spans such a broad spectrum of skill sets. We tried to develop a comprehensive test instrument, but that proved to be impossible. The key to our ultimate success was to develop a portfolio-based system in which candidates send in samples of their work to demonstrate proficiency in key skill sets.Rachel: Thus, an English major working toward a BA or MA in English could take the new STC-developed professional certification program in technical communication by adapting course assignments to demonstrate the required skill sets wherever possible. Realistically, you’d probably also have to get some work experience as an intern or perhaps a volunteer for a non-profit to complete your portfolio, but it’s definitely achievable, and it’s much faster and far less expensive than pursuing another degree or even a 12-credit certificate.
Student STC members build a strong foundation for their careers by networking within their affiliated STC communities. Obviously, if there’s already an STC student chapter at your university, that becomes your base community. If there isn’t, you can either form one (it only takes 5 student members and a faculty advisor) or you can have a virtual membership in an existing STC student chapter at another university.Your student membership also buys you an affiliation with an STC geographic community. That affiliation can be face-to-face or virtualdepending upon whether there is an STC geographic community near your university. And your membership also gives you an affiliation with one STC special interest group (SIG) in a technical communication discipline of particular interest to you (for example, web site content and design, technical marketing communication, academics), including possible virtual mentoring from a subject matter expert within the SIG. You can join additional SIGs for just $10 apiece.Building on those three STC community affiliations, being an STC member serves you well all the way along your career path, from initial job placement, to career advancement, and to continuous professional development.
Many benefits are free and the member discounts you get on the others will very quickly exceed your student membership fee.