Training for the Future

Training for the Future

While my time at Krimson Kultuur (KK) definitely contributed to my qualifications as a technical/professional writer, I wouldn’t say I did technical writing. My time at KK taught me more about running a business and working in a group setting. The group part of this is what I found to be the most beneficial. It taught me the need for communication amongst people in order to be more successful. This is an asset that is needed in every job. Chaos theory doctrine states that “simple systems give rise to complex behavior, and complex systems give rise to simple behavior (Soplinksy 112). Usually the most complex problems can be solved with better communication (a complex system giving rise to simple behavior). It’s a great thing to keep in mind.

Looking for a job after graduation can be a daunting task. Most places will want some kind of “experience” (usually 3-5 years) or skills in some specific software. While the experience hurdle is a problem the software specific knowledge can usually be solved with some in-depth internet research.

Job One

Charlotte

Posted Date:	7/25/2014
Job Category:	Financial Services
Position Title:	Technical Writer
Salary Range:	Contract
Location:	Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina, USA
Desired Skills:
Description:	COMPANY PROFILE: •Fortune 100 Financial Services Company •100-year history of success •Tremendous growth and new business strategy has led to the need for high potential talent •Recent significant investments in cutting-edge technology WHAT THIS COMPANY OFFERS YOU: •Culture: Excellent work environment that fosters collaboration •Growth: Ability to make an impact in the direction of the organization •Opportunity: Gain hands-on experience working with cutting-edge products •Stability: Financial Performance of the company has reported record profits LOCATION: •Charlotte THE ROLE YOU WILL PLAY: •Organize material and complete writing assignments and research according information design, information architecture, training material development, illustration and graphic design, user interfaces, and business analysis •Maintain records and files of work and revisions •Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment •Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding •Document procedures for both simple and complex functional areas DESIRED PROFILE: •5+ years experience as a Technical Writer •Strong attention to detail •Any exposure to the AppScan or similar security vulnerabilities tools is a plus •Very familiar with procedure level documentation for IT systems •Proficient with procedure level documentation for IT systems *Accrue Partners is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and serves this client relationship across the country. We offer a comprehensive benefits package for our consultants including medical, dental, life, and short term disability.*

The two major things for this application are AppScan and IT systems. AppScan is a web security software tool that tests web applications for security vulnerabilites. Tutorials, like the one here, can be found for this software all over the web. Exposing yourself to this would be good.

The proficiency with documentation of IT systems is a little bit tougher. IT refers to information technology systems. Basically it refers to the storage of information on computer networks for a company. The most common data representation for this kind of work is extensible markup langauge (XML). A solid beginner’s guide for XML can be found here.

On a sidenote, I cannot find this company. The job application is http://webconnect.sendouts.com/CN_Frame.aspx?ID=Accrue&SiteID=WebConnect&Group=WebConnect&Key=CN&CNTrackID=10&CnId=&PostId=c6cc07b0-1ab7-4398-8415-8eb9d9c83fe9&ApplyNewCan=0 but it doesn’t actually show any website for the company. This would make me wary of applying for them.

Job two

SugarCRM

Technical Writer

Technical Support | Cupertino, CA or Raleigh, NC or Remote, United States 

About SugarCRM, Inc.

SugarCRM enables businesses to create extraordinary customer relationships with the most innovative and affordable CRM solution in the market.  Recognized by leading market analysts as a “visionary” company, Sugar is deployed by over 1.4 M individuals in 120 countries and 26 languages.

Sugar is positioned to fully unleash the promise of CRM with our innovative CRM system designed for every individual who engages with customers: sellers, marketers, customer support agents, receptionists, and executives.  The company is delivering a completely transformed, individualized CRM user experience that is immersive, engaging, and intuitive. Sugar fuses the straightforward simplicity, mobility, and social aspects of a consumer app with the business process optimization of conventional CRM.

Description

Our technical support team is looking to continue improving their commitment to exemplary service with the addition of a Technical Writer.  The ideal candidate will work within a team that specializes in documenting the SugarCRM application through user guides and knowledge base articles. In turn, that specialization will propagate to our customers and partners to empower their use of the SugarCRM application. 

Responsibilities 

• Prepare, edit, and publish user guides, knowledge base articles, and release notes while adhering to all aspects of our style guide
• Collaborate with other departments to identify and document new features and functionality in upcoming releases and to help prioritize content creation
• Create knowledge base articles for our public support site to help drive frequent customer issues to self-taught resolutions
• Produce 'Support Short' videos with team members that aid customers in configuring and using the application
• Maintain existing content as features evolve in the product to ensure information is always up-to-date and categorized appropriately
• Collaborate with the technical support team to identify high-impact areas of the product that could benefit from additional self-help resources

Qualifications

• Enthusiasm and proven ability to write user-centric content required
• Ability to speak to all levels of application users (end users through developers) in a clear and concise manner required
• Very strong attention to detail with proficiency in grammar and written communication required
• Knowledge in structuring content to maximize Search Engine Optimation (SEO) a plus
• In-depth knowledge of SugarCRM, or related applications, a plus
• Portfolio of prior writing experience a plus

Location:  Cupertino, CA preferred.  Other locations will be considered.

Note to Recruiters and Placement Agencies:  SugarCRM does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our website or to any SugarCRM employee. SugarCRM will not pay fees to any third party agency or firm and will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of SugarCRM and will be processed accordingly. 

Who we are...

SugarCRM was founded in 2004.  The company is headquartered in Cupertino, California with European headquarters in Munich, Germany and Asia Pacific headquarters in Sydney, Australia.  We are pre-IPO, growing fast and always looking for the top talent.  If you're looking for the excitement and feel of a start-up, but the stability and experience of a market leader, then you're going to love working at SugarCRM.

What is it REALLY like to work here

• Open is at the heart of our business and our culture.  You won't find cubicles here
• Management asks for everyone's ideas and problem-solving solutions
• Engineers drive many of the product's features
• Employees are closer to the customer's needs
• Entrepreneurial-spirited employees
• Collaborative work environment
• Ownership is the greatest self-identity at SugarCRM - you are making an impact now
• We are a merit-based company - many opportunities to learn, excel and grow your career
• Wednesday Lunch Demos
• Onsite Family Movie Night at our U.S. Headquarters
• Free onsite fitness classes at our U.S. Headquarters
• Onsite Meetups - making connections with our community

SugarCRM is a company responsible for the web application Sugar, a customer relationship management system. Basically it is a system for managing a company’s interactions with current and future customers. It uses technology to organize, automate, and synchronize sales, marketing, customer service, and technical support.

On the software side, one of their big pluses is knowledge of their Sugar system, which can be found here for free registration. Another important skill they want is SEO knowledge. This can be found here.

Job listing: http://hire.jobvite.com/CompanyJobs/Careers.aspx?k=Job&c=qda9Vfwb&j=oXXiZfwV&s=Indeed

Job Three

Blizzard Entertainment

Technical Writer

CUSTOMER SERVICE - GLOBAL PLANNING AND SUPPORT

Office: Irvine, California, United States

Global customer service (CS) operations relies on a small team of technical writers to own a variety of critical documents and public-facing content. Technical writers interact routinely with project managers and development teams to understand requirements and plan and deliver content. This work requires a high level of professionalism and consistency. The ideal candidate will stay abreast of support procedures, policies, and major contact drivers. As a key member of the operations team, technical writers are expected to maintain Blizzard Entertainment’s culture of excellence and commitment to quality in every aspect of their work.

Responsibilities

·        Create and maintain articles for Blizzard’s internal and external knowledge bases.

·        Develop and maintain technical documentation covering Blizzard’s internal support tools.

·        Initiate and implement localization for all support site content.

·        Use analytics and reporting to understand user behavior and verify that content is meeting their needs.

·        Coordinate with project managers to gather documentation scope and requirements and deliver essential content on time.

·        Analyze customer service-related training, policy, procedure requirements, and provide revisions for upcoming content changes.

·        Assist with internal and external communications for high-impact product updates and service changes.

·        Create and maintain a consistent library of customer-facing templates and preformatted responses and maintain product policy and workflow knowledge for all customer support departments.

Requirements

·        Exceptional proficiency in technical, business, and persuasive writing with the ability to self-edit

·        Strong verbal communications skills

·        History of excellence in quality and professionalism

·        Strong, independent work ethic and ability to adapt to change

·        Excellent multitasking and prioritization skills

·        Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite products, Microsoft SharePoint, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome

·        Flexible to work rotating shifts as needed

·        Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, or other programming languages

·        Related Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in technical writing

Pluses

·        Experience in a customer service / call center environment

·        Familiarity with MS Project, Visio, and Google Analytics

·        Fluent in Korean, Chinese, Spanish, or Portuguese

·        Drive for self-improvement

·        Passion for supporting gamers

·        Knowledge of Blizzard Entertainment games

Required Application Materials

·        Resume

·        Cover Letter which should include:

·        Why you are interested in working at Blizzard

·        What games you are currently playing

**Only submittals with Cover Letters will be considered

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. and its affiliated companies is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

This last company is something of a dream job company for me. Blizzard Entertainment is a video game juggernaut. They have produced some of the best known video games of all time such as StarCraft, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. To work there would be insane.

The four main software programs that I would need to learn about would be Microsoft SharePoint, MS Project, Visio, and Google Analytics.

SharePoint is a web application framework that carries many similarities to the Microsoft Office programs, but it has more of a focus on content management and file management. Microsoft has tutorials for such things here.

MS Project is a project manager software program designed to assist a project manager in develop a plan, assigning resources to tasks, tracking progress, managing a budget, and analyzing workloads. It also shares similarities to the Office programs. Microsoft again has tutorials for such things here.

Visio is diagramming and vector graphics program. It is also a part of Office. Tutorials can be found here.

Google analytics is a Google service that generates detailed information about a website’s traffic, traffic sources, measure conversions, and sales. It is invaluable for understanding the success of websites. Tutorials can be found here.

Job listing: http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/careers/posting.html?id=14000FP

Skills like good communication, quick learning, strong work ethic, and so on are skills that are gained over time and are essential for all jobs. These software skills that I have talked about are specific to these jobs. It seems to me that if you have interest in a job and see some kind of software requirement, the best thing to do is search for tutorials to learn as much as possible before you apply. It’s the best way to train and get your foot in the door.

From Schoolroom to Workroom

Job:

My internship has been at the Krimson Kultuur store in Pittsburg, KS. We don’t really have a formal job title for any of the interns, but we all have our own qualifications for being there. Most of the work I have done has been graphic oriented with a little bit of writing and a major focus on being able to use technology. There’s also been the expectation to work in the store and demonstrate knowledge of the store items to customers.

Qualifications:

•  Quick learner – the store uses register software called Square through an iPad. On my first day, I was given a brief rundown of the system, and then I was expected to be able to work the store by myself shortly afterwards.
•  Independent worker – the store is run almost exclusively by interns, so interns end up making most of the major decisions and deciding how branding occurs. There is an expectation for you to bring ideas to the meetings and work on these plans in your free time.
•  Team player – meetings happen each week with interns and the intern supervisor. This is where the plans for each week are created. To have these meetings and goals run smoothly, you need to be able to work well within a group.
•  Concise writer – I have had to revise some store procedures and write info cards for some of our national/international vendors. In each of these cases, I needed to convey information in a limited amount of space, so the ability for clear and concise writing is a must.
•  Graphically inclined – I have created the design for the store’s business cards and info cards. With each of these I created the layouts, manipulated the KK logo to fit my design, and provided the info within the card. Knowing the principles of design and being able to apply them to your work is mandatory for the internship work I have done.
•  Technologically savvy – I have used a wide array of software during my time at the store. Programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Word, and Excel are all things a person should be able to use.
•  Researcher – for each of the vendors in the store, an intern should be able to look them up and find information about their products. This is essential to knowing why we are selling the items in the store. People are more inclined to buy something if they understand the significance of the item.
•  Internet capable – I have also had to edit the store’s Weebly website. This means I needed to be able to quickly learn a new technology, as previously stated, and have a basic knowledge of HTML and CSS.

In Chris Anson and Lee Forsberg’s “Moving Beyond the Academic Community,” they talk about the four stages an intern goes through known as expectation, disorientation, transition, and resolution. I would say I went through all of these in a very short manner of time. My expectations going into the internship were that I would be more heavily focused on technical writing with many little writing tasks assigned to me, but instead I was given more graphical tasks to complete. The freedom given with these tasks was somewhat disorienting because I was the sole architect. Very little input or suggestion was given as to how the documents should look. They were very trusting. It felt largely different from receiving a school assignment. With school assignments, you are at least given the specifications of the task and usually explained how to achieve them, but in this instance, I just had to make it up as I went along. It didn’t take long for me to realize my place in the store. When we needed something designed or written, it was simply my job to figure out the specifications and execute them properly.

The organizational hierarchy in the store can be confusing at first. There isn’t just one person with power. All of us were on equal footing. A definition of power by R. M. Kanter defines power as “the capacity to mobilize people and resources to get things done.” This is something that all of us interns shared. We each created goals and plans and assigned tasks to get these carried out. While our intern supervisor would technically be called our boss, she was present with a very hands-off approach. She would give suggestions for things that needed to be done, and we figured out the execution of the tasks or found our own tasks that needed to be done.

Genres in Technical/Professional Writing

For my internship at Krimson Kultuur, I have been designing business cards and info cards for the store. Design is an element found in all forms of technical writing. Each document a company or person creates must have some kind of design that holds them all together. For example, a handbook will usually contain the same color scheme and layout throughout in order to create a uniform look. This is design at work. In this sense, you can think of design as an element present throughout all forms of the document. It will dictate layout, style, visuals, and even the printed product.

In terms of the specific documents I have been designing for Krimson Kultuur, I have been making sure that each of the documents has similar visuals and style. The documents share a crimson and gold color scheme (pantone 186 and 116, respectively) and the same typography. This is gives the different documents used for advertising an attractive and uniform look. There’s no confusing one of business cards or info cards with that of another store when a person can see the similarities in design.

Carolyn Miller’s “Genre as Social Action” says that genre represents action and the action must involve situation and motive. Each of these designs that I am creating is supposed to give the audience a subtle cue to respond to. It is not a stretch so say that the purpose of a design is to create a response in the intended audience. By that standard, the motive of the designs I am creating is supposed to generate some kind of business to Krimson Kultuur.

In Anis Bawarshi and Mary Jo Reiff’s “Rhetorical Genre Studies,” they say, “Within disciplinary contexts, for instance, genres normalize activities and practices, enabling community members to participate in these activities and practices in fairly predictable, familiar ways in order to get things done. At the same time, though, genres are dynamic because as their conditions of use change… genres must change along with them or risk becoming obsolete.” Design is possibly one of the most persistent and dynamic genres. It gives people the needed feeling of familiarity and is able to adapt into many different forms. Like I mentioned earlier, a handbook will show all the different elements of design throughout. The visuals, style, and layout of any employee handbook should be easily recognizable with the branding of the company. An instruction manual for a video game console will hold style, visuals, and layouts that apply to the company that created that console.

Defining Technical/Professional Writing

In David Dobrin’s “What’s Technical about Technical Writing,” he quotes a definition by Patrick Kelley and Roger Masse that says, “Technical writing is writing about a subject in the pure sciences or applied sciences in which the writer informs the reader through an objective presentation of facts.” This definition doesn’t sit well with Dobrin because it defines a concept in terms that are equally difficult to understand. He later goes on to state his definition of technical writing as “writing that accommodates technology to the user.” While I find Dobrin’s definition to be better than Kelley and Masse’s, I strongly disagree with both of them because I dislike the idea of a clear cut definition for technical writing.

There seems to be an excessive amount of emphasis on defining technical writing. Like Jo Allen in his “The Case Against Defining Technical Writing,” I do not think a definition for technical writing works because it creates a strict split for what is and what is not technical writing. While I understand the need to be able to define our profession and explain it to others, I found that the gamut of skills I have acquired while learning technical writing makes that task seemingly impossible. In the courses that I have taken for technical writing I have learned how to create documents adhering to a strict style guide; I have learned how to edit documents with multiple style books; I have learned how to write HTML and CSS code for websites; I have learned how to create graphics for advertising; and I have learned how to use a plethora of different software to accomplish all of these tasks and many more. All of these things are tasks that a technical writer can do.

Maybe my unorthodox view of technical writing can be contributed to the English department. Our technical writing major originates from a humanities department that emphasizes discussion, imagination, and originality. Learning from the humanities helps you understand different messages and the ambiguity of those messages an author is trying to deliver. Sometimes you have to be able to think differently in order to convey a message, and learning from a humanities department helps that happen. A heavy summary for one of the main points of Carolyn Miller’s “A Humanistic Rationale for Technical Writing” would be that the humanities allow technical writing a communal rationality rather than contextless logic.

In my internship at Krimson Kultuur, I have mostly worked on the design aspect of technical writing. I have created business cards and info cards so customers can better understand our products and our mission. I know that I will also be editing our website and some instructional documents. These are all aspects of technical writing.

In the end, technical writing falls under numerous categories, and a technical writer can accomplish many different tasks, but one thing will always be true about technical writers: they are indispensable assets.

Training for the Future

Looking at life after college can be a dauntless and frustrating task. I have encountered many job advertisements that want 3-5 years experience, but I am not going to let that stop me.  I believe that if I have the required and preferred skills I can make myself marketable to those companies.    Emily Soplinsky, in her article Survival Skills for Communicators with Organizations states, “Technical communicators frequently find themselves in situations that require more organizational skills than simply knowing what makes a good document.” With additional training, I can gain additional organization skills and increase my marketability for the jobs listed below.

Job One - Technical Editor

Company

Information Builders

Description

• The Technical Editor provides editorial services and support to all Technical Content Management staff, in addition to release publishing support. The Technical Editor cultivates cooperative relationships with the technical writing staff and serves as a resource on writing, editorial, and production issues. Specific responsibilities include:
• Copy editing and indexing online and print documentation. Assuming the role of objective reader/user, evaluating organization and clarity of information presented, and identifying topics for reuse.
• Developing, maintaining, and interpreting style standards and procedures.
• Supporting the implementation of a content management system, particularly by defining guidelines and best practices for single-sourcing, minimalistic writing, and utilizing DITA/XML document processing.
• Participating in the creation and maintenance of project plans as they pertain to copy edit and writing tasks.
• Support production processes for online and print deliverables.
• Collaborating with Technical Writers and Product Managers to collect information necessary to improve documentation (for example, obtaining answers to questions about content; helping to determine how new features or changes to documentation are most effectively presented).
• Supporting department-level projects and communications, such as the Technical Documentation Library, the department web site, and STC activities.
• Troubleshooting possible problems related to the electronic publishing tools in the Windows environment (Astoria, WorldServer, XMetal, Acrobat, etc.).
• Participating in Quality Assurance reviews of documentation in print, PDF, and HTML formats.
• Training other staff in style standards, editing procedures, indexing procedures, and electronic publishing tools.
• Building technical product knowledge in order to make informed decisions and add value during the editorial process.

 Requirements

• Approximately 5-7 years of experience in a documentation environment, technical or non-technical.
• Four-year college degree in English, Writing, Journalism or other related topic.
• PC experience with Windows and desktop publishing software.
• Strong grammar, copyediting, and proofreading skills, with good attention to detail.
• Internet research skills.
• Ability to multi-task, maintain schedules, and meet scheduled deadlines.
• Ability to collaborate with individuals and groups to complete projects. 
• The following skills are desired but not required:
•  Familiarity with content management systems.
• Experience with XML or HTML and publishing on the Internet.

           

Job Posting:  http://www.candidatemanager.net/cm/Micro/JobDetails.aspx?&mid=YFDB&sid=BBWF&jid=UWEVUAZU&site=Information

Training Guide

Additional training I would need for this position is knowledge of DITA/XML, WorldServer, and XMetal. 

DITA: Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) is an open toolkit used in publishing.  A DITA user guide can be found at http://dita-ot.sourceforge.net/doc/ot-userguide/xhtml/.  A YouTube DITA quick start guide, posted by Suite Solutions, is an additional training resource.

XML: EXtensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language like HTML.  XML tutorials can be found at http://www.w3schools.com/xml/default.asp. Portnovschool has also posted a XML tutorial for beginners on YouTube.

WorldServer: SDL WorldServer simplifies and accelerates localization processes for any content - from websites to documents to software. (http://www.sdl.com/products/sdl-worldserver/).  SDL has a PDF user guide for WorldServer available.

XMetaL: XmetaL is an XML editor. XMetaL offers several PDF user guides and publishingsmarter has a XMetaL basics video available on YouTube.

Job Two - Jr Technical Editor / Writer

Company

Department of Homeland Security

Description

• Researches, writes, edits, and proofreads more complex technical data for use in documents or sections of documents such as manuals, procedures and specifications to provide clients with information regarding technical areas in a less technical way. 
• Assists in establishing style guidelines and standards for texts and illustrations to meet business needs. 
• Interviews programmers, engineers, developers, and other technical personnel;. Reads previous documentation and design notes, and uses computer based training or company technical products to gather and research technical information for use in more complex documentation. 
• Writes, organizes, enters and compiles more complex online help files to support end users. 
• Creates, compiles, and delivers more complex system/software developmental documentation packages including, but not limited to narratives, logic diagrams, input and output samples, input preparation instructions, job setup information, etc., from technical project team inputs, system requirements analysis, system design specifications, technical system design, technical procedure development, configuration control requirements, test and training specifications, and programming notes. 
• Assists in creating project plan, etc. for completing documentation. 
• Provides leadership and work guidance to less experienced personnel. 
• Follow a standardized process to edit and deliver software documentation
• Review and edit release and program-level documents for grammar, spelling, and internal consistency
• Verify document references, check that the document contains all sections mandated by the customer's templates, and ensure completeness of the list of acronyms
• Make formatting corrections to ensure compliance with the program's standards
• Regularly assist other team members
• Ensure timely delivery of documentation
• Record the status of editorial tasks in progress
• Retrieve documents from the customer's online documentation library
• Serve as the principal documentation team point of contact for a number of software maintenance projects while also supporting those projects monitored by other team members
• Follow up with document authors when assigned work isn't received by the scheduled date
• Collaborate with Section 508 Team to resolve 508 accessibility issues 
• Create document shells from customer mandated templates using the program's standard formatting and CSC branding
• Coach the business analysts, software developers, and testers who write the documents on the documentation process
• Work closely with Technical Writers and Subject Matter Experts (SME) to improve editorial and visual standards for documents and recommend new designs, layouts, and procedures as needed
• Assist agile project teams in developing technical documentation
• Collaborate with documentation team and lead to streamline the documentation workflow and/or the overall program process 
• Other work as assigned by the team lead or manager in support of the projects or program

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience 
• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, technical writing or related field preferred 
• Two or more years of technical writing experience 
• Experience working with desktop publishing, word processing, and on-line documentation software 
• Experience working with industry writing style such as grammar, sentence form, and structure 
• Experience working with company software products 

Other Qualifications

• Minimum 2 (two) yrs MS Word experience - required
• Minimum 2 (two) yrs experience editing and formatting documents and drafting presentations required
• Minimum 2 (two) yrs experience with all MS Office products (2007 required, 2010 experience preferred)
• Minimum 2 (two) yrs experience working with PowerPoint presentations required
• Minimum 2 (two) yrs experience supporting IT project deliverables
• Strong familiarity with MS SharePoint desired
• Proficiency with MS Word Styles and automated features within MS Word
• Strong editorial skills and attention to detail
• Familiar with agile principles and practices is a plus
• Familiar with Section 508 standards
• Ability to juggle multiple assignments
• Developed organizational skills
• Ability to learn from constructive criticism in a quality focused environment
• Commitment to process adherence
• Professional manner and strong work ethic
• Ability to manage work/track deadlines
• Must be US Citizen
• Must obtain and maintain DHS 6C Public Trust Clearance
• All work must be conducted at authorized work location, no remote work permitted

Job Posting:

https://csc.taleo.net/careersection/cscexternalcareersite/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=1400AIX&src=JB-10320

Training Guide

Additional training I would need for this position is knowledge of Section 508 standards and Microsoft Sharepoint. 

Section 508 standards PDF guide is available from Opening Doors to IT.

Microsoft Sharepoint: Microsoft offers training courses for Sharepoint. Meetdoro also has a Microsoft Sharepoint Tutorial available on Youtube.

Job Three – DTP Tech Writer

Company

Chicago Dryer Company

Description

• Manage the preparation, production, and distribution of machine operating instructions for both print and interactive PDFs
• Write, update and validate service documentation for field personnel
• Ensure that documentation complies with corporate guidelines, displays a consistent voice, and is easily understood by the end-user
• Generate/edit digital photography and simple vector illustrations
• Work on multiple products simultaneously in a fast paced environment
• Develop documentation plans, schedules, and providing status of projects and deliverables

Requirements

• Strong background in procedure development is important
• Ability to multi-task several projects in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment
• Excellent communication skills: oral, written, and editorial
• Proficient in the following Adobe software:
• InDesign (or equivalent) / Acrobat for book creation, page layout, and interactive features
• Photoshop / Illustrator for generating/editing digital photography and simple vector illustrations
• Experience working in a variety of engineering systems, including mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, gas, steam, and thermal fluid
• An ability to read schematics and pneumatic diagrams would be a strong plus
• Familiarity with AutoCAD Mechanical and/or Inventor a plus
• A strong desire to learn and grow professionally
• A fundamental understanding of graphic design/visual communication
• Ability to work with minimal supervision

Job Posting:

http://jobs.stc.org/jobseeker/job/15666520/Job%20Name:%20DTP%20Tech%20Writer/Chicago%20Dryer%20Company/?vnet=0

Training Guide

Additional training I would need for this position is knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. 

Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator: Adobe offers a set of tutorials for PhotoShop that ranges from beginner to expert levels. Adobe TV offers video tutorials for Illustrator.

Adobe Illustrator: Microsoft offers training courses for Sharepoint. Meetdoro also has a Microsoft Sharepoint Tutorial available on Youtube.

The skills that I have highlighted in each of the training guides are what I believe I need to improve or learn. These training guides will help to increase my problem solving skills, however, like Spolinsky says in her article “Problem-solving skills evolve more from using common sense and learning from past experience than from following a cookbook. There are no style guides for organizational behavior and individual behavior within organizations.” Having worked in the medical field for fourteen years I know this statement to be true, but you learn to problem-solve an issue when it arises. This is the most important skill to have in the corporate world; without it you will not be able to do your job effectively.

Source:

Soplinsky, Emily Survival Skills for Communicators with Organizations

Wait, More Education?

I find myself in a bit of a different predicament than the others within the Technical and Professional Writing program at Pittsburg State. Since I aspire to become an attorney, I will not be entering the work force upon graduation. I will be, yet again, beginning a new career in education, this time at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Although Technical and Professional Writing is not always correlated with legal writing and the practice of law, writing is an integral part of it. I have spoken with many attorneys over the course of my undergraduate career. The most important question I asked them dealt with the most underrated or underplayed aspect of being a lawyer. All of them stated, without hesitation, that the ability to write concisely and efficiently was the aspect that they found to be of the utmost importance, as well as the one that was not stressed enough in their undergraduate careers. Each of these attorneys majored in Political Science and/or History. This made my decision to major in Technical and Professional Writing an easy one. Granted, I have taken courses in Political Science and Law to ensure that I do not enter law school blind, but I feel that my enhanced writing skills on behalf of Pittsburg State will put me a step ahead of those who had no practice in the field of Professional Writing. Having spoken with professors on the topic of skills normally pressed onto first year law students at Marquette and cross-referenced these with the skills that I have already learned at Pittsburg State, I have no doubt that my first year will undoubtedly be one filled with stress, but more importantly, one filled with success. I had my doubts, at first, as to whether or not I made the right decision in majoring in Technical and Professional Writing. As my career at PSU comes to a close, however, I feel like I could not have made a better decision concerning my academic career. The skills I have acquired, along with the connections I have made and the relationships I have built, have put me in the best situation imaginable for both me and my family. I cannot thank the faculty and staff enough for their guidance and support.

Caution: Pressure Added

My job title is kind of interesting and ambiguous, to a certain extent. I consider myself to be a kind of freelance writer and editor for SEK-CAP. I have had minimal contact with my supervisor and the task was left open-ended.

Since legal writing is a serious matter, the document I revise will likely need to be revised once again by a licensed attorney. I only made the changes that I felt comfortable making. Without any background in legal writing, I felt cautious to make any executive decisions, but felt that I was sufficient in my work and completing my task, which was to update the Agency's by-laws to abide by the soon-to-be federal mandate for block grants made available to non-profit organizations.

To successfully and completely finish the job, one would have to be, in my opinion, a licensed attorney, which I am not. As an intern, however, I understand that my work will be gone over again and this was merely for experience. I feel like after law school I will have the appropriate qualifications to complete a task such as this with ease.

I have practiced both document design and technical editing, for the most part, during my internship. Before I really began, I edited the entire document and made the necessary changes to verb tense, clause agreement, etc. After making the changes and insertions that I felt comfortable with, I changed the layout of the document and inserted a Table of Contents at the beginning of the document, making it useful both as a hard copy and an online document by using hyperlinks on the headings.

In a sense, I thought I would have more supervision during my internship, but I understand the difficulty in finding an attorney willing to have a shadow. I had many questions about things like wording and whether or not to make a subheading for a new statute or to create a new heading altogether. It would have been nice to have someone in the same building to answer these questions, but again, I understand the difficulty that comes with that.

It was a great experience for me to work with a legal document that carries weight. One can edit and revise assignments all day and never feel pressure. When editing something that makes a difference and is used as a guideline, pressure is added in exponents. In many aspects, I didn't feel comfortable making some changes, but I can say that I did my best as of now. In three years, I feel my best work in this field will be much, much better.