Comments on: What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career? http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/ Technical Communication Blog / Technical Writing Blog Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:54:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jay http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-136327 Jay Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:57:22 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-136327 The best thing I have done to grow my career is not working at The Home Depot. The best thing I have done to grow my career is not working at The Home Depot.

]]> By: A Few Questions from Saudi Arabia about Technical Writing | I'd Rather Be Writing - Tom Johnson http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-129630 A Few Questions from Saudi Arabia about Technical Writing | I'd Rather Be Writing - Tom Johnson Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:28:52 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-129630 [...] I don’t know. I learned much of what I know about technical writing from my first job. I learned most of the tools on my own, and picked up style and other techniques by looking at manuals, trying different techniques, and in general reading from various sources. A course could be highly beneficial. Read this comment by Mike, which he left on a post I wrote called “What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career?”: [...] [...] I don’t know. I learned much of what I know about technical writing from my first job. I learned most of the tools on my own, and picked up style and other techniques by looking at manuals, trying different techniques, and in general reading from various sources. A course could be highly beneficial. Read this comment by Mike, which he left on a post I wrote called “What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career?”: [...]

]]> By: 47 Sunday Link Love Articles | Writer's Resource Center http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-129370 47 Sunday Link Love Articles | Writer's Resource Center Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:34:50 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-129370 [...] What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career? [...] [...] What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career? [...]

]]> By: Emily Cotlier http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-129355 Emily Cotlier Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:05:22 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-129355 I'm with Mike on the graduate degree; for me, having a graduate school degree in technical writing has opened a lot of doors. Beyond that, what has helped me is: Thinking. - In a long-term tech writing position, it's too easy to settle into a groove and keep doing things the same way because "that's the way we do it." Stepping back and evaluating if your work is effective is vital. Listening. - Essential to working with your subject matter experts, and finding out what users really want in their solutions. I've worked on cultivating my listening and interviewing skills. Asking. - Ask if you can help out with that translation, that usability review, evaluating new online help systems. Pipe up and say, "I also do freelance work..." This is also my solution to avoiding the "stagnation" issue. I’m with Mike on the graduate degree; for me, having a graduate school degree in technical writing has opened a lot of doors. Beyond that, what has helped me is:

Thinking. – In a long-term tech writing position, it’s too easy to settle into a groove and keep doing things the same way because “that’s the way we do it.” Stepping back and evaluating if your work is effective is vital.
Listening. – Essential to working with your subject matter experts, and finding out what users really want in their solutions. I’ve worked on cultivating my listening and interviewing skills.
Asking. – Ask if you can help out with that translation, that usability review, evaluating new online help systems. Pipe up and say, “I also do freelance work…” This is also my solution to avoiding the “stagnation” issue.

]]> By: Tom Johnson http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-129233 Tom Johnson Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:24:52 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-129233 I want to thank you all for your responses to this question/topic. I've really enjoyed reading them. I really agree with those who said the cure to overcoming stagnation is to move into something that you might find more interesting, such as XML or usability or information architecture or instrucional design. Life is too short to be bored. There is so much out there one can do. <em>Tom Johnson's last blog post..<a href='http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/31/the-best-and-worst-of-times-with-a-hard-headed-woman/'>The Best and Worst of Times with a Hard Headed Woman</a></em> I want to thank you all for your responses to this question/topic. I’ve really enjoyed reading them. I really agree with those who said the cure to overcoming stagnation is to move into something that you might find more interesting, such as XML or usability or information architecture or instrucional design. Life is too short to be bored. There is so much out there one can do.

Tom Johnson’s last blog post..The Best and Worst of Times with a Hard Headed Woman

]]> By: Karol http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-129225 Karol Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:22:43 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-129225 Professional social networking - particularly LinkedIn is quite interesting alternative to leverage one's interest in the domain. I've found broadening my knowledge about the telecommunication systems I describe greatly practical as I can improve the existing, sometimes confusing deliverables. Professional social networking – particularly LinkedIn is quite interesting alternative to leverage one’s interest in the domain. I’ve found broadening my knowledge about the telecommunication systems I describe greatly practical as I can improve the existing, sometimes confusing deliverables.

]]> By: Susan http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-129221 Susan Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:47:08 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-129221 I just started my technical writing job last year. Like you mentioned in another post, keeping a technical writing / work-related blog can help with job marketability. The other day, I saw a technical writing job post from Google. The post requests a resume along with some writing samples. I'm not looking for a job right now, but if I were to apply for this position, I'd just point them to my blog with links to a few posts that demonstrate my interest in technology and keeping up with the latest trend. <em>Susan's last blog post..<a href='http://www.blindmansfaith.com/NISH/2008/04/01/how-fast-can-you-type/'>How Fast Can You Type?</a></em> I just started my technical writing job last year. Like you mentioned in another post, keeping a technical writing / work-related blog can help with job marketability. The other day, I saw a technical writing job post from Google. The post requests a resume along with some writing samples. I’m not looking for a job right now, but if I were to apply for this position, I’d just point them to my blog with links to a few posts that demonstrate my interest in technology and keeping up with the latest trend.

Susan’s last blog post..How Fast Can You Type?

]]> By: 03/31/2008 Freelance Bulletin — ¤ The Freelance Hub ¤ http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-129193 03/31/2008 Freelance Bulletin — ¤ The Freelance Hub ¤ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:12:06 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-129193 [...] What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career? [...] [...] What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career? [...]

]]> By: 31 Articles Worth Reading: A Special Monday Edition of Link Love | Writer's Resource Center http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-129184 31 Articles Worth Reading: A Special Monday Edition of Link Love | Writer's Resource Center Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:33:10 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-129184 [...] What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career? [...] [...] What’s the Best Thing You’ve Done to Grow Your Career? [...]

]]> By:   Weekly link roundup by Communications from DMN http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-128975   Weekly link roundup by Communications from DMN Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:02:40 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/27/whats-the-best-thing-youve-done-to-grow-your-career/#comment-128975 [...] Johnson is asking “what’s the best thing you’ve done to grow your [...] [...] Johnson is asking “what’s the best thing you’ve done to grow your [...]

]]>