1.PRESENTED BY CAROLYN KLINGER SLIDES BY CAROLYN KLINGER, RACHEL HOUGHTON, BETHANY AGUAD, DAN VOSS, LISA MILEUSNICH, AND LORI MEYER Careers in Technical Communication Presentation for Allen Brizees Rhetoric of Professional Writing Class Loyola University Maryland February 20, 2014

2. Agenda Technical communication What it is Body of Knowledge Disciplines Show me the money Comparative salaries Local industries and jobs Paths to careers in techcomm Society for Technical Communication Membership levels Washington, DC Baltimore Chapter 3. Technical Communication is Communicating about technical or specialized topics by using technology, including emerging new media Contributing to business goals by designing and enhancing internal communications and by reusing content in cost-effective ways. 4. Body of Knowledge The definitive online resource for information about the profession of technical communication Experienced technical communicators, educators and instructors, and students are invited to contribute to the TCBOK! Go to the STC collaboration site at http://stcbok.editme.com to learn, contribute, and add to your online portfolio 5. You Can Contribute! 6. 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 7. Interdisciplinary Approach An interdisciplinary approach is essential to successful technical communication, because the profession spans so many disciplines. 8. Technical Writing & Editing Hardware and software documentation Policies and procedures White papers Textbooks Proposals Marketing materials Video scripts Magazine articles Copy editing for publishers 9. Medical Writing Editing or ghost-writing articles by physicians 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 10. Work for Nonprofit Organizations Grant proposals Fund-raising collaterals Literature for clients of the nonprofit groups Web site design, content, and maintenance 11. 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 12. Show Me the Money Technical communication spans many disciplines, so the job market is huge Unless technology stands still, it will always be a growth market Smart companies realize that poor writing and poor communication hurt their bottom line 13. Tech Writing is One of the Best Jobs in America . http://money.cnn.com/pf/best- jobs/2013/snapshots/86.html 14. BLS Tracks Salary and Outlook http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm 15. Tech Writing Employment is Growing 16. Growing Job Market There are 46,100+ technical writers in the U.S.! Geographical Distribution of Jobs in Technical Communication 17. Where the Jobs Are This table, showing BLS data that STC compiled, compares the salaries for the top 10 states with the largest numbers of jobs in technical writing. Maryland is #4! 18. Where the Jobs Are Going This table, showing BLS data that STC compiled, we see that some metro areas are gaining more technical writing jobs than others. Maryland is doing well and is gaining jobs. 19. Tech Writing Salaries Around the U.S. 2012 Tech Writing Median Annual Wage in Selected Metropolitan Areas The higher the concentration of technology and industry, the higher the salaries. 20. Local Industries . Biotech/Medical/Science Computer hardware Computer software Computer networking and security Consumer products Telecommunications Finance Academia Government/Defense/Aerospace Nonprofit organizations 21. Local Jobs from jobs.stcwdc.org . 22. Paths to Careers in Techcomm 23. Tap Core Skills Writing accurately Writing clearly Writing concisely Writing coherently Writing creatively Tapping diverse media Crossing boundaries and cultures 24. Job Search Tips for Students Start your portfolio now (print, web, or CD) Class papers/projects Any writing/editing you may have done at a job Find your own writing opportunities! Can you document something at your job (or improve something that was documented badly)? An internship is a plus but not necessarily required. How to get an internship: Does the college have a career center? For underclassmen, internships not related to writing are still resume builders. Juniors and seniors should probably focus on writing internships. Where do your parents work? Do they have technical writers, corporate communication departments? Do they offer internships? Download 30-day software trials to learn on your own and show initiative. Shadow a professional for a day (or partial day). 25. On-the-Job Training Before tech writing programs appeared in universities, OJT was the only path to a career in technical communication 26. 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 27. Career Growth Networking within your STC Communities Job Search and Placement Career Advancement Professional Development 28. Joining STC 29. 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) in a technical communication discipline of particular interest to you 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 30. 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 31. Membership Levels Student $75/year New Technical Communicator $160/year Classic $225/year 32. Your Local Chapter is at wdcb.stcwdc.org 33. FAQs on Local Chapter Site "I have a degree in Englishwhat can I do with it?" http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#ENGLISHDEGREE and the related links "What is Technical Communication?" http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/prof-dev/competition/what-is-technical-communication/ "What does a technical writer do?" http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#WHAT How do I become a technical communicator? http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#HOWTO How do I get into this field without any experience? http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#EXPERIENCE How can I find a job in technical communication? http://wdcb.stcwdc.org/faq/faqs/what-is-a-technical-writer-communicator/#JOBS Communication Careers Books http://www.stcwdc.org/refbooks-2_answer.shtml 34. Thank you for Coming! Feel free to contact me! Carolyn Kelley Klinger carolyn.klinger@verizon.net @cklinger