Back to the Basics

1. Back to the Basics

2. Overview • Finding That First Job or a New Job/Interview Tips (Emily) • Meeting Expectations in the Changing Face of Technical Communication (Amy) • Communication Principles to Live by and Other Rules to Break (Judith and Laura)

3. Finding That First Job • Résumé • Contacts and networking • Don’t settle

4. Finding That First Job Good sources for job hunting: • Employment page on Middle Tennessee STC Chapter website • Chapter’s available jobs distribution list • Acquaintances

5. Finding a New Job • Training opportunities • Market Research • Update résumé

6. Finding A New Job • Always network • Portfolio samples • Practice being interviewed

7. Interview Tips • Boost your ego for interview (for those nervous interviewers) • Remember that you will be an asset to the company you are interviewing with and not just vice versa • You are picking out a company YOU want to work for as well as a company looking for a good candidate

8. Interview Tips • Get to know your interviewer(s) • Research company website before interviewing

9. Meeting Expectations in the Changing Face of Technical Communication

10. Technical Communicator • An encompassing term:STC’s members include technical writers and editors, content developers, documentation specialists, technical illustrators, instructional designers, academics, information architects, usability and human factors professionals, visual designers, Web designers and developers, and translators - anyone whose work makes technical information available to those who need it. • Technical Communication expectations tied to corporate titles and positions

11. Manager Expectations • Different “phases” of expectations: • The interview phase • The training phase • The seasoned veteran phase • Timeless expectations

12. The Interview Phase • Before • Prepare an appropriate résumé • Research the company • Create portfolio • During • Demonstrate preparedness • Ask questions • After • Follow up

13. Interview Expectations • Professional attire • Résumé contents substantiated • Tailored to position • Professionally relevant • Bi-directional exchange • Interest Level

14. The Training Phase • Transitioning from interviewee to employee • Applying résumé claims in practical settings • Adapting to a new corporate culture • “Learning the ropes”

15. Training Phase Expectations • Adaptability, comprehension of role • Application of tenets • Ability to assimilate • Knowledge acquisition • Interest level • Inquisitiveness • Quality of work • Productivity

16. Becoming a Seasoned Veteran • Applying basic tenets • Innovating • Taking initiative • Adding responsibilities • Increasing autonomy • Mentoring • Getting involved outside • Acquiring new knowledge

17. Tenet Application • Stick to basic tenets throughout • Audience advocate • Information gathering and processing (research, interview, assemble, review, revisit) • Informational design • Problem solving

18. Knowledge Acquisition • Actively seek new knowledge: • Read, read, read • Talk, talk, talk • Take notes before • Take notes after • Identify what you don’t know • Set goals/plan how to learn • Extend existing knowledge base

19. It’s a Two-Way Street • Managers are key to expectations being met • Availability • Leadership • Role and goal definition • Periodic performance evaluations • Product reviews • Tool/resource availability

20. Three, 10, and Change Communication Principles to Live by and Other Rules to Break

21. Three Laws of Communication • Adapt to your audience • Eliminate noise • Use effective redundancy

22. Three Laws of Communication • Adapt to your audience • Consider how your audience uses your information. Example: print vs. online • Be prepared for mixed audiences. Example: Various roles, knowledge levels

23. Three Laws of Communication • Adapt to your audience • Eliminate noise • Wordiness, grammar mistakes, graphics, flashy design can detract from your message • Boring content + flashy layout = audience attention?

24. Three Laws of Communication • Adapt to your audience • Eliminate noise • Use effective redundancy • Present information in different forms. Example: steps and visual; concept and example • Use consistent terminology in each form. • Consider multiple channels of communication. Example: integrated documentation and training

25. Three Laws of Communication • Adapt to your audience • Eliminate noise • Use effective redundancy • Goal: “We must strive to maximize, not what we write, say, or draw, but how much our audience gets out of our documents . . .”

26. Golden Rules of Effective Technical Communication • Cut the fluff – fluff kills • Use active, concise language • Avoid mushy verbs Examples: might, can, choose to • Avoid vague language Examples: more, some, a lot

27. Fluff If you want to get access to XYZ application, you can complete this form. It is recommended that you save your document often. You can perform this task more quickly using the Tools option. Concise Complete this form to get access to XYZ application. Remember to save your document often. Use the Tools option to perform this task. More Golden Rules

28. Needed? Better choice? Click . Click Reply. Click . Click the User Objects icon . More Golden Rules • Contemplate before you illustrate • Do you really need it? You don’t need pictures of text. • Do you need all of the picture? • Does the graphic enhance the text? • Is the graphic placed properly? Never place a graphic before you mention it.

29. Be consistent. Pick a term and stick with it. Example: headset vs. receiver Describe interface actions consistently and don’t worry about being boring. Example: press, push, select, choose, click Tips Choose initiates an action such as opening a window or carrying out a command. Example: From the File menu, choose Save. Select does not initiate an action such as highlighting a menu item. Example: Select the file format. Click instead of “click on” or “click the OK button”. Example: Click OK. Press instead of hit or push. Example: Press Enter. More Golden Rules

30. More Golden Rules • Remember paper is permanent • Errors can destroy credibility. • Users may not know all rules but pick up on mistakes at some level. • You won’t be there to clarify weak or unclear information.

31. You can Split an infinitive. End a sentence with a preposition. Use contractions. Use direct address depending on what you’re writing. Start a sentence with a conjunction. Examples Split Infinitive Select this option to automatically save your document. Preposition Select which application you need access to. Conjunction Or, call Client Support Services for assistance. The Changing English Language

32. You can Use first person. Leave out the serial comma, unless it will be confusing. You should Use one space after the punctuation at the end of a sentence. Use active voice. Examples Commas Include your title, phone number and email address. Use Active Voice Complete the form to get access. You can find documents on Atlas. Avoid Passive Voice The form must be completed to get access. Documents can be found on Atlas. The Changing English Language

33. Resources • Woe is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English • Chicago Manual of Style • STC web site – www.stc.org

34. In Closing Questions?