June/July 2007

Volume 47, Number 6

From the Insider:  Advice to an Emerging Professional

Dear Insider:

I am thinking of making the leap to technical communications and have already been doing a lot of technical writing in my current job. Someone suggested I join the Society of Technical Communicators (STC). Can you tell me how this organization can help me make the transition and what benefits it can offer me?

—Undecided

Dear Undecided:

Regardless of the type of job or profession you choose to pursue in technical communications, technical writing, Web site development, usability testing, or marketing writing, just to name a few, the Society of Technical Communicators (STC) can provide you with great benefits (http://www.stc.org/). Essentially, it enables you to become part of the largest community of technical communicators in the world. It provides you with employment opportunities, professional development, mentoring possibilities, and continuing education options. The Rocky Mountain Chapter has over 400 members with satellite groups in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs. Here are some important benefits that you will want to check out.

Employment Opportunities

To begin, the STC Rocky Mountain Chapter’s Web site has the most comprehensive and up-to-date job postings (http://stcrmc.org/jobs_freelance/jobline.htm) for the Front Range area for both permanent and contract work in technical communications. As you plan your career move, I would recommend reviewing the requirements employers are listing for the different types of jobs. This should give you a good idea as to the skill set you will need to compete for jobs. You don’t need to be a member to access the local chapter Web site. But if you join STC, you will also have access to the national STC Web site. This site allows you to search for jobs across the country and around the world!

Additionally, each year the local chapter and national organization compiles and produces a survey report on salaries for technical communicators across the USA and Canada. Once every two years the Rocky Mountain Chapter compiles a similar survey for the Rocky Mountain region. These documents are by far the best source of salary information in the profession and can tell you what salary range to expect depending on the type of work you plan to pursue.

Professional Development

The monthly meetings of the Rocky Mountain Chapter provide an opportunity to hear some of the experts in the field present information about current topics of interest (http://stcrmc.org/news_events/meetings.htm). These presentations allow you an opportunity to become exposed to new directions in the field as well as gain a fresh perspective on skills you may already have. You do not need to be a member to attend these meetings. So, if you are undecided, you may want to attend a few meetings. Introduce yourself at the door as being a perspective member who is new to the organization and see for yourself.

An STC membership includes subscriptions to the online and award-winning Technicalities newsletter, Intercom magazine, and quarterly subscription to the Journal of Technical Communication. It provides you with discounts to the regional and national conferences for technical communicators, which bring together some of the best and brightest in the profession. Your membership can include participation in Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that enable interaction among members who share a particular specialization, for example, Contractors and Independent Consultants, Usability Testing, Marketing Writing, Technical Illustrators, Technical Writers, and Web Designers. For a full list of SIGs, go to http://www.stc.org/membership/sigLinks01.asp.

Mentoring

Each monthly meeting in Denver begins with a networking hour. This event provides a great opportunity for meeting other members and sharing experiences and issues informally with other practioners in the field. You can discuss some of the issues you face or simply network for job opportunities. I landed my first job as a technical communicator at one of these meetings.

And if you don’t have time in your schedule to attend the meetings, you can still join the online discussion TechComm and connect with other members electronically (http://stcrmc.org/chapter/mailing_list_rules.htm).

Education

If you are planning to pursue coursework in technical communications at the undergraduate or graduate level, STC offers a number of scholarships to assist you with the cost of your education. Currently, the Rocky Mountain Chapter sponsors the George E. Hoerter scholarship award (http://stcrmc.org/chapter/scholarships/scholar.htm). As a full-time student, you also have the additional benefit of enjoying a greatly discounted STC student membership.

Or if you already have a degree and would like to sign up for some continuing education courses, the STC provides occasional telephone seminars on numerous and diverse subjects in the field at a very nominal cost. Currently, topics have included the following: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Content Management, But Were Afraid to Ask; Creating Interactive CBTs with Captivate-in Half the Time; and Choosing the Right Usability Technique.

I encourage you to visit our local STC Web site (http://stcrmc.org/). And while you are there, take a look at our New Member Guide. It explains the types and costs of membership and provides additional details about becoming a member.

If you are new to the profession, transitioning from another profession, or finishing up coursework in the field of technical communications, feel free to submit your questions to The Insider at news@stcrmc.org. We'll do our best to give you will insights and information that will help you get a start.