TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: beginner seeks info From:Ian Baker <ianba -at- MICROSOFT -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 26 May 1994 13:04:07 PDT
I am just now about to finish the one-year certificate program in
technical writing
and editing the the University of Washington in Seattle. It sucks. I would not
recommend it, and would have serious reservations about the coorespondence
course too.
I recommend taking a class in English grammar; try getting placed through
a temp agency as a copy editor, proofreader, or entry level writer.
I wouldn't bother with classes or seminars unless they come highly recommended
from a source that you respect.
Seems to me that much technical writing is about knowing a product or
service well,
and documenting it; knowing a product and being able to explain it is
more important
than using proper grammar and spelling.
ian
----------
From: "Andrew J. English" <aenglish -at- CRL -dot- COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list TECHWR-L <TECHWR-L -at- OSUVM1 -dot- BITNET>
Subject: beginner seeks info
Date: Thursday, May 26, 1994 11:13AM
Subject: advice needed for beginner
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.techwr-l
Organization: CRL Dialup Internet Access (415) 705-6060 [login: guest]
Summary:
Keywords:
I am looking for advice on how to strengthen my
qualifications in applying for a first-time
technical writing job. I am a member of the STC
chapter in Phoenix. I have a bachelor's degree
in physics, plus 30 hours graduate work in physics
and math, 1 semester of journalism-newswriting,
1 semester of journalism-producing the small pub-
lication, 1 semester of desktop publishing, about
6 years experience using Pagemaker and Microsoft
Word on the Mac, have put together newsletters
for several nonprofit groups, and recently was
published in the local business weekly with a
freelance story on women entrepreneurs in high-
tech industries.
My question is, what else should I do to get
considered for a entry-level job?
The university here does not offer any courses
in technical writing, but I did some research
and found out that the University of Illinois at
Urbana, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and
University of Washington in Seattle all offer
correspondence courses in technical writing.
Does anyone have any experience with college
courses in technical writing? Are they worthwhile?
What should I look for in comparing different
programs?
Please reply to this mailing list or email me
at aenglish -at- crl -dot- com
Thanks.
