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Why not volunteer to help document a system or process for your college. My
experience with development, alumnae, and career services is that the
programs and processes they use are frequently written up by each new
employee or student during the training process. I suspect that offering to
help them document their processes to make the training of new
employees/student workers easier would be appreciated.
In addition, I've found that on every job I've ever had, I've had to write
up my own notes during the training session, so an option for a new tech
writer, might be to take a short-term summer job (doesn't matter where or
what you are doing) and create manuals based on the training sessions.
As a writing manager, I've accepted samples including a procedure for making
a peanut and butter sandwich (much more complicated than most realize) and
documents (grants/procedures) done as part of a technical writing program.
What I'm looking for is a consistent style, few/no grammar/spelling errors,
attention to detail, ability to explain concepts in a concise manner, and a
willingness to learn. If the applicant does not have any current samples, I
suggest that they write about something they know, including an
explanation/intro and a procedure and get it to me within a couple of days.
If you are making a switch to technical writing you should write up what you
do, this helps in the transition of your replacement as well as giving you
sample docs. If you can't find an organization that wants your volunteer
services and you are right out of school, go to work with a parent, sibling,
friend, and document what they do. You'd be doing them a favor (they have
docs to make it easier to train others or transition their job) while you
get to document a real process.
Don't know if this helps any but thought I'd add my 2 cents. -tasha
Tasha Benson
Technical Publications Manager
UNIFI Communications, Inc.
900 Chelmsford Street
Lowell, MA 01450
<mailto:tbenson -at- unifi -dot- com>
<mailto:tboireau -at- ma -dot- ultranet -dot- com>
