Last week I attended an STC chapter event that consisted of educators and practitioners discussing educational programs and workplace realities. Most of the discussion focused on tools, which is a constant topic in these discussions. What tools should educators teach? How do they gain access to tools? Can you learn a tool enough during the trial period? Can you substitute open source tools for industry … more »

[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download MP3 Length: 40 min. Last week I gave a presentation to BYU Idaho students entitled 7 Steps to Getting a Job in Technical Writing. This is a recording of my presentation. You may remember a lengthy post I wrote on this same subject, 7 steps to getting a job in technical writing, as well. Although getting a … more »

The Interview Question You Should Always Ask – Conversation Starter – HarvardBusiness.org.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download MP3 (to download, right-click and select Save Target As) Length: 30 min. In this podcast, I talk with Mike Hughes, second vice president of the STC, about his latest UXMatters article, “Straight Talk: Surviving Tough Times as a User Assistance Writer.” We talk about how to make help more valuable, more worthwhile and user-focused, so you don’t … more »