Completing the
Technical/Professional Writing program has prepared me for jobs/careers in the
related field; although, in many courses, I found that some of the skills I've
acquired are desirable or needed in multiple fields. For example, in Advanced
Technical Writing I learned the art and rhetoric of Global English. Global
English is a genre of writing that condenses the English language to commonly
used words. Global English is important for many international corporations. I
found a job application for the Department of Homeland Security that specified
for the employee to be knowledgeable in Global English. Although the title of
the position was International Communications Specialist, students from
the program can apply to this position with adequate qualifications. Working
for the Department of Homeland Security provides multiple benefits and job security.
Aside from international and immigrant focused communication, students in the
program will learn other marketable skills such as project management.
Johndan Johnson-Eilola’s
statement in “Relocating the Value of Work: Technical Communication in a
Post-Industrial Age” claims that technical communicators aren’t always
seen as the managers of entire projects, but specific parts that are added on
to the primary product or goal; however, from the job descriptions I’ve research,
this statement is not entirely accurate. In a recent job listing for Pitsco
Education in Pittsburg, KS, being the lead of a project is exactly what the company
is looking for. The job application (link here: https://www.myinterfase.com/gorillas/Job/Detail/V2xmdkliQzFIV0VVbThJUEFlN0JoUDlaUjZGc2lHYWY3NVB4Y21OQWdQST01)
describes the job as a lead position. The company is looking for a lead
manager/role in order to help the company with big editing projects and
software packets. Basically, technical editors do a lot more than just check
for grammar and punctuation mistakes. Skills that students acquire from editing
encapsulate what it means to create a clear and concise document. Knowing how
to effectively work well with others is also a big part of editing. Editors
must be able to communicate directly and firmly their terms and agreements. If
they over-edit or under-edit a document, tensions could spark and harmony among
employees could alter. Therefore, students don’t need to prepare for just
practical knowledge and abilities, but they should prepare for social and
business professional relationships.
Another job offer I
found was for Leading Educators of America based in Kansas City. Their position
required someone who could lead the department of communication in certain campaigns,
brochures, pamphlets, and educational packets. Again, the job posting did not specifically
mention “technical writing,” however, many of the same skills and abilities a
tech writer obtains, a communication specialists contains as well. If there’s
one thing I took away from my Internship and experience at with the program, it
would be that many skills often merge together from business to communication
to English to tech writing. Ultimately, students
going into the workforce should prepare for three main factors: adaptation, social harmony, and a
comprehensive knowledge. In any job, adaptation is necessary, especially if
things go wrong or policies change. Social harmony is important for all tech
writing positions, especially in the editing sector. Without a harmonious work environment,
companies have a hard time building long lasting trust with their employees
that ultimately factor into production rates. Comprehensive knowledge is
important for professional writers because so many other skills sets can merge
with ours. From my internship and time at Pittsburg State University, I have
studied these three training units that have prepared me for the workforce
after graduation.
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