Re: Telecommuting Job Search

Subject: Re: Telecommuting Job Search
From: John Garison <john -at- garisons -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 09:14:25 -0400

As the alluded to grizzled one, I have to echo what everyone else is saying here. Getting a pure telecommuting job is tough. You have a lot of objections to overcome. Many people don't think that it's possible to do a good job if you're not right in the middle of things, and in some situations, they are absolutely correct. There are occasionally, however, joyful convergences when everything comes together propitiously to allow such a thing to happen and to succeed.

Here's what it takes, IMHO:

A grizzled writer. A neophyte would not be able to pick up and run and do well. It takes experience. As I explain it to potential hiring managers, I've done this a large number of times. I can approach and learn a new application quickly and figure out what in my bag of doc tricks I need to throw at it to get it to stick to the wall (if you'll allow me to mangle a few metaphors).

An assertive writer. It's also part of being grizzled, but that paragraph was getting too long. You need to be able to handle people. You can't be the shy retiring type. You can't be unsure of yourself. You have to ooze confidence. I have to be able to convince a hiring manager that I can do everything from home that I could if I were in the office except go down the hall and peer over the cubicle wall at someone. But I tell them I can get someone to do that for me if it becomes necessary.

The right project. There are lots of projects that wouldn't be appropriate to do remotely, but a few that would be. Very small or very large projects would lend themselves to this - a one-person level of effort or some component that is a single person task. Working on a multi-author document is more challenging (but not impossible as I have done it), but it takes multiple grizzled veterans and lots of planning. A responsive development staff is imperative. If your developers won't talk to you in the office, they sure as heck won't when you're not there.

There are more reasons and requirements, but if I tell them all to you, I might lose out on some work!

My 2¢,

John Garison



Al Geist wrote:

Dick Margulis wrote:

Jessica Desautels wrote:

Hello,
I am new to the technical writing field and am interested in
finding a job as a telecommuter. I have been told by my peers that
this list was a great way to ask questions about the field. I
would appreciate any feedback from those of you who have experience
as a telecommuter. Where do I begin?


Jessica,
There have been many posts on this list about getting that great
telecommuting job, and as far as I know nobody has ever figured out
a way to start at a company as a telecommuter. Excuse me, I think
maybe grizzled veteran John Garison actually did begin his last
position that way (or maybe I'm misremembering), but then they let
him go and now he's freelancing from home just as I am. In any
event, nobody has ever been able to do it as a new practitioner
seeking their first job.

I just started a telecommute job. I work out of my home office on a
short term for a company that is 36 miles away. Although I have had
other permanent jobs that allowed me to work at home after 90 days
probation, this is the first where I was allowed to telecommute as
part of the contract. It's only a short term contract to see it
everything works out, but that's okay, because it could lead into a
long term relationship. It can be done, but I also brought over 30
years writing experience to the negotiating table. If this was early
in my career, I would have been laughed out of the building.
Al
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References:
Telecommuting Job Search: From: Jessica Desautels
Re: Telecommuting Job Search: From: Dick Margulis
Re: Telecommuting Job Search: From: Al Geist

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