Helping the world explore and understand content management and technical communication
Who here wants a less than optimal team? Not me. I owe it to myself, the other team members, and the company to manage my team for optimal performance, so we can recognize the benefits of having motivated, knowledgeable, and forward-thinking employees. Continue reading ...
Vetting candidates, conducting phone and in-person interviews, and reviewing writing samples is a time-consuming task. I want to get top-quality people on our team the quickest I can. Continue reading ...
A job search tracker helps you manage the process of creating and/or modifying your career information, applying for jobs and sending information to potential recruiters and hiring managers, and following up on open positions. Continue reading ...
Summer replay: At some point in your technical communications career (and probably at most of them), you will be asked to sign a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before beginning work for an employer or client. Like most professionals, you plan on doing great work, and want to be able to show future employers and clients exactly what kind of technical communications masterpieces you can produce. But you’ve got to sign that NDA, and it’s gnawing at you how you’ll be able to show your capabilities without divulging information that could impact the company that hired you. Continue reading ...
Back when I was taking my technical writing certificate at Seneca College in Toronto, one of my professors spent three hours chatting with us about what it’s like being a freelance technical writer. She laughed a lot about the highs and lows, but a few things she said jolted me out of my assumptions and made me sit up and pay attention. One of them was that she would take literally any job that had anything remotely to do with editing, writing, or teaching. Or websites. Or technology. Or people. Or extreme ironing. Let me share what else I’ve learned as I’ve transitioned from student to full-time employee to part-time consultant to full-time consultant over the last eight years, while balancing three houses, two cities, one wedding, and two kids. Continue reading ...
Tom Murrell outlines how someone can create a t-letter and use it during their job search. Continue reading ...
Writers, designers, artists and photographers face the constant dilemma of showing potential employers or clients exactly what kind of genius they’re capable of. The portfolio is an integral part of your effort to market yourself to those who can benefit from your services. Over the years, my portfolio has morphed as often as my job titles, and I clearly recall the angst of having to show what I could do despite having practically no working experience. Continue reading ...
Question: I just got back from a job interview. I’m interested in the position, and they seemed pretty enthusiastic about my experience and qualifications. Now what? Should I send a follow up thank you letter? If so, should I send a business letter, email message, or hand-written card? And, what should I say? Good thinking! […] Continue reading ...