techcomm careers october 2014 update
DESCRIPTION
Presentation delivered by a professional technical communicator to students in a technical writing classTRANSCRIPT
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Careers in Technical Communication
Presentation for Dr. Liz Angeli’s Classes
Towson University, October 2014
Presented by Carolyn Klinger
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Agenda
Techcomm definition Career security Paths to careers in
techcomm Society for Technical
Communication
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Technical Communication is…
Contributing to business goals by designing and enhancing internal communications and by reusing content in cost-effective ways.
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Technical Communication also is…
Communicating about technical or specialized topics by using technology, including emerging new media
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STC Body of KnowledgeGo to the STC collaboration site
at http://stcbok.editme.com to learn, contribute, and add to your online portfolio.
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Techcomm is Interdisciplinary
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Disciplines• Technical writing & editing
• Content strategy
• Information architecture
• Advertising & marketing communication
• Science writing (and “ghost writing”)
• Medical writing
• Work for nonprofit organizations (grant proposals, etc.)
• Usability and accessibility
• Instructional design
• Indexing
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Technical Writing & Editing• Hardware and software
documentation• Policies and procedures• White papers• Textbooks• Proposals• Marketing materials• Video scripts• Magazine articles• Copy editing for
publishers
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Medical Writing• Editing or ghost-writing articles for medical journals
• Patient-oriented websites• Flyers describing illnesses
and treatments, for doctors’ offices
• Medical transcription• Instructions for
prescription medication• Marketing materials and
web sites• Instructions for using
medical devices such as X-ray machines
• Biotech
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Work for Nonprofit Organizations
• Grant proposals
• Fund-raising collaterals
• Literature for clients of
the nonprofit groups
• Web site design,
content, and
maintenance
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Advertising & Marketing Communications • Advertising
– Print– Radio– TV– Billboards– Web sites– Social media
• Marketing collateral– Brochures– Flyers– Fact sheets– Trade show graphics– Narrated video– Web sites
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• Job market for techcomm is huge
• Technology is always a growth market
• Smart companies know that their communication with their customers can make or break them
Career Security
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Tech Writing is One of the Best Jobs in America
http://money.cnn.com/pf/best-jobs/2013/snapshots/86.html
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BLS Tracks Salary and Outlook
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm
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Tech Writing Employment is Growing
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Growing Job Market
There are 46,100+ technical writers in the U.S.!(according to the 2012-2013 STC Salary Database)
States with the most high tech and industry jobs have the most techcomm jobs
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Annual STC Salary Database
Data are from the 2012-2013 STC Salary Database
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Data are from the 2012-2013 STC Salary Database, which is drawn from data reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Local Industries• Biotech/Medical/Science• Computer hardware• Computer software• Computer networking and security• Consumer products• Telecommunications• Finance• Academia• Government/Defense/Aerospace• Nonprofit organizations
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Local Jobs from jobs.stcwdc.org
.
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Paths to Careers in Techcomm
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Develop Core Skills
• Writing accurately
• Writing clearly
• Writing concisely
• Writing coherently
• Writing creatively
• Tapping diverse media
• Crossing boundaries and cultures
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On-the-Job Training
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Degree Programs
• B.A. in techcomm
• M.A. in techcomm
• Ph.D. in techcomm
• Undergraduate minor in techcomm
• A certificate based on a given number of courses in techcomm
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Joining STC
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Benefits of Membership• Affiliation (geographic or virtual) with an STC student chapter
• Affiliation (geographic or virtual) with an STC geographic
chapter
• Affiliation with one STC special interest group (SIG)
• Access to salary scales, job listings, and other valuable
intellectual property on the international STC web site
• Opportunities to expand your network and build skills
through volunteering
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Benefits of Membership (Cont.)• Eligibility for STC student
mentoring programs
• Professional networking
• Online access to industry-leading professional publications
• Reduced rates for STC conferences, webinars (plus free webinars), and certification in technical communication
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Membership Levels
Student$75/year
New Technical
Communicator
$160/year
Classic$225/year
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Your Local Chapter is wdcb.stcwdc.org