Posts Tagged ‘Career’
Write for Free Rather Than for Just a Few Bucks
Introduction I’d rather write for free than for a few bucks and I will explain why. Race to the Bottom There are too many freelance job sites out there, offering one embarrassingly low-rate “assignment” after another and sure enough, a number of writers are jumping on them! The result is a never-ending race to the…
Read MoreHow to Get That Very First Technical Writing Job…
That very first technical writing job is the hardest for most writers and non-writers who are new to the field. Once that threshold is crossed, there’s usually no going back. The rest is usually a series of promotions or lateral and vertical moves from one company or assignment to another. For the freelancing “lone writers,”…
Read MoreWhat Does a Technical Writer Working for the U.S. Government Look Like?
Let’s start by asking the question — what does a “typical” technical writer who is employed by Uncle Sam really look like? Technical writers are sometimes called “technical communicators” because in reality that’s what they do – they communicate. Writing is just one of the several tools that they use to do that. Those writers…
Read MoreTechnical Writing: Corporate Payroll or Freelancing?
Should you choose freelancing or go on a corporate payroll to work as a technical communicator? I get this question from my readers on a more or less regular basis: “Should I quit my company and set up shop as an independent entrepreneur offering technical writing services? Should I just launch a web site and…
Read MoreHunting for a Technical Writing Job: Forget the Titles; Focus on Your Content
© Ugur Akinci I’m frequently asked this question: “”What kind of job titles I should search for to get a job as a junior (or senior) technical writer?” To such inquiries, my honest and simple response is always the same: “Forget about the titles; focus instead on what you know and what you can…
Read More"Manual Writer," "Technical Writer" or "Technical Communicator" — What’s in a title?
A reader asked the other day if it’s okay for his customer to address him as a “manual writer.” “Is this really a big deal?” he asked. My short answer is — yes, it is a big deal and of course it matters, for more reasons than one. First off, “manual writer” is not correct…
Read MoreHow to Slide Sideways into Technical Writing
© Ugur Akinci “Ugur, I know technical writing is a good niche, it pays well, and I want to do it. But how and where do I begin? I have not done it before and any time I apply for a technical writing position they ask me to show what I did earlier…” is a…
Read MoreLooking for a Job? Try CNN's "30 Second Pitch"
© 2011 Ugur Akinci If you’re looking for a job you might consider trying out CNN’s “30 Second Pitch.” Who’d make a short pitch better than a technical COMMUNICATOR, correct? This is how it works: You first send an email to 30secondpitch@cnn.com and express your desire to be on the program. If you’re accepted, you…
Read More6 Future Career Paths for Technical Communicators
There are not one but multiple future career paths for technical communicators. Technical communication is changing rapidly like any other thing in our world. Report by The Writers Block A new report by The Writers Block, “Technical Communication Landscape Survey Report (Bangalore, Karnataka, India)”, lists the following future specializations for technical communicators: Technical writing Instructional…
Read MoreTECHNICAL BOOK REVIEW: “Survey of Technical Communication Landscape in India” by TWB
“Survey of Technical Communication Landscape in India, 1st Biennial Report (2011-12)” by The Writers Block (TWB), one of India’s outstanding technical communication training and outsourcing companies, is an authoritative reference volume that all technical communicators should read. Despite its cover price ($499 or 22,797 Rupee), this 158-page report succeeds in giving a detailed snapshot of…
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