Going Beyond Technical Writing: Practical Advice for Diversifying Your Skillset — Podcast Interview with Mark Hanigan
January 29th, 2008 | Posted in Podcasts 11 Comments »
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Duration: 35 min.
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In this podcast, I talk with Mark Hanigan, former international STC president, about ways to go beyond technical writing. I knew Mark at the STC-Suncoast chapter in Florida and often, during “post-meeting-meetings,” listened to him talk about ways to transition from technical writing into tasks that companies perceive as having higher value, such as business analysis and project management.
Mark strongly believes that technical writers often sell themselves short. Given our skill set, our attention to detail, and our comprehensive understanding of the applications we document, we become de facto SMEs who can deliver more than just a software manual. We can create business requirements, contribute UML diagrams representing workflows and processes, create computer-based training, influence business methodologies, implement content management strategies, present training and e-learning courses to users, help meet regulatory standards, and more.
In many companies, writers who stick with writing-only tasks quickly become outdated, as IT departments begin to perceive documentation as a commodity that can be outsourced. Mark talks about ways to diversify your skillset, wear many hats, and bring more value to the company.
He also talks about the essential quality that technical writers must have today: an ability to embrace change, to adapt and learn new technologies. This is, he explains, one reason for his abiding involvement in the STC: instantaneous access to colleagues who share information about the latest tools and technologies they’re using.
About Mark
Mark, an STC fellow and former international STC president, is a frequent presenter at conferences, including the STC Conference. He is currently a member of the Suncoast and Orlando chapters in Florida. To contact Mark, send him an e-mail at OnWriteTrk@aol.com.
Special Announcement from STC-Atlanta
The Society for Technical Communication (STC), Atlanta Chapter is pleased to announce the Currents 2008 conference on March 14-15, 2008 at Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, Georgia campus.
Currents provides a great opportunity for technical communicators to expand their professional skills and to network with peers. The conference is open to any technical communication professional regardless of skill level or position. We also invite other professionals who are interested in the technical communication field. Join us to expand your skills, network with other professionals, and have fun with friends.
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Tags: business analysis, diversification, Mark Hanigan, project management, Technical Writing
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Going Beyond Technical Writing. Mark Hanigan, a former international STC president, talks of how diversifying your skill sets beyond technical writing. That podcast echoes my thoughts – a technical writer can contribute more to an organization by diversifying their skill set.
[...] Gianpaolo’s blog wrote an interesting post today on Going Beyond Technical Writing: Practical Advice for Diversifying…Here’s a quick excerptLunar Pages offers basic web hosting starting at $6.95. When you sign up for a basic hosting account, you get 350 GB of storage, 3500 GB of… [...]
[...] In the time since this post was written, Tom Johnson has published an excellent interview on going beyond technical writing. It’s definitely worth a listen. Sphere: Related [...]
Hi Tom, thanks for the great podcasts. I’m going to be looking for work as a tech writer soon – How about a post on the top five ways to impress an employer in an interview for a tech writing job, or maybe a post on “If only I knew then what I know now…” I’m sure you and your readers would have some great advice. Keep up the great site -
Antoine
Antoine,
That would be a great topic for a post. If you caught the last part of this podcast, Mark really stressed the importance of embracing change. So many technical writers get comfortable with the tools they know and feel threatened or hostile when they’re asked to use something else.
Just for fun, why don’t you tell me what you think are the top 5 ways to impress an employer in an interview for a tech writing job, and then I’ll respond with my comments as well as my own list (and invite others to do the same).
Tom
Sure, I’ll have a crack at that list. Here are my top five tips for acing that tech writing job interview:
1. Tell your potential employer that even though you don’t know everything about their widgets right now, you love learning new things. In fact, it’s struggling through the learning process that enables you to communicate with their users.
2. Showcase professional pieces in your portfolio that not only show you’re a wiz in robohelp/framemaker, etc, but also show that you solved a problem and achieved a positive outcome for a real world client. If you don’t have these, volunteer to create them on spec for a non-profit organization.
3. Don’t sell yourself short when convincing your employer that writing matters. Make sure your employer knows that strong writing and editing is not just about juggling commas. It’s about organization, understanding your audience, usability, and ultimately creating a satisfying user experience.
4. Don’t be afraid to bring in some fresh ideas. Tell your potential employer about audio/visual/interactive elements that you think would enhance their traditional documentation. Show initiative.
5. Relax and be yourself. If you’re a geek who is passionate about technology, grammar, and the latest trends in communication, then it’ll come through in the interview. Remember that you’re trying to find the perfect fit for you.
Thanks Antoine for the list. I pretty much agree with you, but just for the fun of it, I’ll create a list antithetical to conventional wisdom. Give me a day or two to brainstorm.
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