🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Oct29.221042.5511@octel.com>, shaun@octel.com (Attacking Deep Structure) writes:
|> The following is posted anonymously for a friend.  I'll try to catch all
|> the followups, but please email me a copy of all the posts as well so I can
|> forward them on.  I sometimes miss a few articles, due to work.  :)
|>
|> --- >8 --- snippage --- >8 ---
|>
|> I'd like some input on what the job market is like for technical
|> writers or documentation specialists right now.  I'm contemplating
|> a career change in that direction because while I'm gainfully employed
|> as a programmer, I hate it.  Unfortunately, I don't get many opportunities
|> to do writing officially on my job.  I have tried to snag writing projects
|> when I can, and I've been writing mock documents on my own.
|>
|> My background (without writing a whole resume):  I graduated a little over
|> a year ago with a CS degree and I've been working since then as a
|> programmer.  On my spare time, I'm working on a degree in psychology.  In
|> college I was the 'president' of a student media for almost two years, and
|> edited and published a small tabloid newspaper.
|>
|> Anyway, my inquiry here is a little amorphous, but if anyone can offer
|> advice, criticism, or pointers to information on how I can improve my
|> chances in this career change, please post it or e-mail to the address of
|> the poster.  He will forward any e-mail to me, and I will send any
|> subsequent articles through him.  Thanks.
|>
|> --- 8< --- snippage --- 8< ---
|> --
|> shaun@octel.com  ||  TANSTAAFTLD: There Ain't No Such Thing As An FTL Drive
|>
|> "Your cooperation will insure that peace and democracy are restored in the
|> near future."

   It's a good field to go into. Someone with a programming background
would be in REALLY good shape to get a job in a software house. I got
my job 9 1/2 years ago with a B.A. in Religion (comparative religion
and religion and modern culture). Getting a technical writing job
with just a liberal arts education is NOT the rule any more. Most
people getting these jobs now either majored in tech writing, have a
tech writing certificate, have previous tech writing experience,
or have previous programming experience with some eduational
indication that he/she has good language skills--at least
where I live and work. I'd advise your friend to get some tech
writing courses under his/her belt. That proves his/her seriousness
about the new career, and having some writing courses would make an
employer a little less nervous about hiring someone with little or
no writing experience. Also, go to local STC meeting.

I wish your friend well.

Cheers, CAL