Two of our family friends are single moms with kids. They asked me to give them some ideas of how they can get started and develop income by working over the web. One has a degree in software development, while the other is a real go-getter and can learn things very quickly. Here are some of the ways you can make money using your PC and working from home.

7 Web Careers For Single Moms

In no order of priority, here are the different ways you can get started and make money from home:

1. Product Reviews – setup a blog reviewing expensive technical products, such as digital cameras. Write reviews that are over 700 words and possibly over 1000 words. These will be picked up very quickly by the search engines. If you do this right, you’ll be asked to write (and get paid) by others sites.
2. Screen-casting – with the explosion of video technology, you can help software and educational companies with their training materials by developing screens casts. You can also branch out and develop services that help others to do this. You’ll need Camtasia or other Screencasting software to do this.
3. Software Testing – not every company has dedicated software testers but need people who can test software at all stages of the development process. If you have skills with computers, the ability to write reports, and analyze software, then this can work very well. You can promote your services with a niche site that talks about software testing and the benefits of outsourcing this task.
4. Virtual Assistant – I use oDesk all the time for project work that my Virtual Assistants can do faster than me. I’ve found two that are very reliable and use them most every week. So far, I’ve spent over $2,000 dollars this year on Virtual Assistants. If you can provide a high-quality reliable service, then register with oDesk and develop your profile. Link it to your blog and get as many endorsements as you can. Focus on one area, such as bookkeeping, design, finance, coding, typing and nail this.
5. Market Researcher – if you have good writing skills and like to gather information, then Market Research is for you. Who do you target? Any company that develops products, especially mid-size ones that may not have dedicated Market Researchers. You can work with the Sales team and use Social Media, Google and other tools to gather data on trends, brands and customer expectations.
6. iPhone app developer – this is a very lucrative area if you have software skills or know how to develop new products. For example, you can learn how the process of developing iPhone apps works and then offer to do this for other companies. Most businesses want to be on the iPhone but don’t know how to start. If you can solve that problem, and have the development team lined up, then you’re in business. Your development team is out there on oDesk
7. Translator – one of the big surprises when I lived in China was the number of US and European students coming there to learn Chinese. Some of these were charging 50 USD per hour to do translation and interpreting work, which isn’t bad for a 20 year old. I got to know two of these and they made very good incomes teaching other English over Skype and doing translation work. If you have language skills, then target the business sector and you’re setup.

Conclusion

One of our friends is half Spanish and now works with clients translating documents over Skype. There are almost no setup costs. She gets paid very well as these are business documents, such as Request For Proposals.

The other helps small companies setup Facebook pages. She’s used Facebook for years now and has it inside out. Why not monetize what she knows? She charges $299 to setup a new Facebook account with pages and links it into their Twitter account. She works when the kids are off in bed and restarts before they begin their work day.

What other careers can you do online?

If you decide to start contracting, one of the hardest things to work out is what daily rate to charge. Many of the readers on this site are looking at ways to escape the 9-5 and moving into contracting is one way to start this process.

How much should I really charge?

I’ve heard people use different approaches to determine what to charge. Some make sense, others are a bit flaky.

For example:

Divide your annual salary by 52 weeks and then add on 20 percent. If you’re on 52k, and divide by 52 weeks, you’d get 1k per week.

Add 20 percent and you’re up to 1200 per week.

Divide this by 5 days and you get 240 per day.

I’m not so sure about this. It doesn’t take into consideration the real world, so to speak, or at least why your peers are charging for their work.

How to Work Out Daily Rates

Here’s an approach that I’d take:

1. Look at the recruitment websites and find the type of job you want. Make a list of the daily rates across several sites. The ideal is to get an average daily rate and not rely just on one site. If you’re a total beginner to the field, say just out of college, your rates will be more towards the lower end.
2. Contact the local Recruitment companies, explain the type of positions that you’re after. Ask them what daily rates you can expect to get based on your experience. Let’s say they believe you can get 200 per day. Now, as a rule of thumb, Recruiters add 20 percent to the rates they charge clients. In other words, if they offer you 200 per day, they’ll probably charge the client 240 per day. The extra 40 per day (i.e. 20 percent) is their fee.
3. Once you know the average daily rates, you can go directly to a company and offer your services from 200 – 240 per day. If you charge 220 per day, then they stand to save 20 per day, 100 per week, and 400 per month. Try to highlight this when talking to them. Otherwise, they may assume that you’re rates are the same as the recruiters.
4. Contact the HR Dept of the IT companies. Ask if they hire ‘direct’ rather than through recruitment companies. Some companies, especially large multi-nationals, have a policy of using recruitment firms only. It’s mostly for legal reasons and no reflection on your abilities. Smaller companies tend to be more flexible.

Tip: if you’re new to contracting, target local companies with less than 50 employees. These are usually more receptive to independent contractors and, even if they don’t have large 3+ month contracts, may have many smaller pieces of work. This can be a good way to build your portfolio while paying the bills.

Succeeding as a Freelance Contractor

Your success as a freelance contractor depends not only on your ability to do the job but to sell your services to prospective clients.

I can’t emphasize this enough.

Companies won’t come to you offering you work. You have to go to them. Before you do this, prepare everything in advance, from your sales pitch, writing samples, business cards, and of course the answer to their last question: how much do you charge?

Conclusion

If you have done your homework, you’ll feel confident when discussing the rates. If the person refuses you, at least you know its not because of your prices but something else.

Try to find out what that is before you hang up!

Let me know how you increase your daily rates.

Did you ever wish you could speak French and read all those great novels? Or maybe Spanish, so you could travel to South America and have more than Buenos Dias? Or Arabic, Chinese, or Japanese.  Most of us never start. It’s too hard. But, if I told you that all you need is 100 words and then you can get by – would you give it at try.

100 Words You Need To Speak Any Language

Here are the 100 words. Try to learn 5 a day. By the end of the month, you’ll have 150.

Give yourself every opportunity to practice. For example, go to an Italian restaurants and practice with the waiter. Tell him you’re learning – most everyone will help.

1. A/an  2. After 3. Again 4. All 5. Almost

6. Also  7. Always  8. And  9. Because  10. Before

11. Big  12. But  13. (I) can  14. (I) come  15. Either/or

16. (I) find  17. First  18. For  19. Friend  20. From

21. (I) go  22. Good  23. Good-bye  24. Happy  25. (I) have

26. He  27. Hello  28. Here  29. How  30. I

31. (I) am  32. If  33. In  34. (I) know  35. Last

36. (I) like  37. Little  38. (I) love  39. (I) make  40. Many

41. One  42. More  43. Most  44. Much  45. My

46. New  47. No  48. Not  49. Now  50. Of

51. Often  52. On  53. One  54. Only  55. Or

56. Other  57. Our  58. Out  59. Over  60. People

61. Place  62. Please  63. Same  64. (I) see  65. She

66. So  67. Some  68. Sometimes  69. Still  70. Such

71. (I) tell  72. Thank you  73. That  74. The  75. Their

76. Them  77. Then  78. There is  79. They  80. Thing

81. (I) think  82. This  83. Time  84. To  85. Under

86. Up  87. Us  88. (I) use  89. Very  90. We

91. What  92. When  93. Where  94. Which  95. Who

96. Why  97. With  98. Yes  99. You  100. Your

There are many reasons to start learning aside from the business opportunities and personal gratification. I’ve started Chinese here in Beijing and am now… about 75% of the way there.

I can order a beer (critical), find a toilet (helpful) and get a taxi. All the small little things. Give it a try. See how far you get. You’d be surprised how easy it is once you start.

What language do you most want to learn?

And after that?

One of my best friends, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is worried about his career prospects. He’s turned 40, had a decent job as an IT developer but this has been sent to India. He was furious but now he’s just depressed. Where to start? Many are worried that their jobs will be off-shored to India and China. You can look at tis two ways. As an opportunity or a setback. Here’s some ways you can take advantage of this right now.

5 Careers Opportunities for IT Professionals in China

Before I start, I’m in China so I see things from the other side of the fence, so to speak. I’ve worked in the US, UK and most of Europe. I see where he’s coming from and the future is indeed bleak if you’re in the US IT industry, at least in the QA, technical writing & coding.
It’s not if it will happen, it’s when.

For those who are looking at China, especially Shanghai and Shenzen, the skills most in demand are:

1. Project Management – Asians are terrific workers but lack leadership skills. PM is a (relatively) new discipline here and as companies develop they need people who can put shape on the deliverables.
2. HR – likewise, there is a shortage of skilled HR execs who can develop a strategy and show Management the career paths they need to develop to attract, nurture and retain talent.
3. Legal – as China goes global, it needs people in the legal field to help with contracts, litigation, procurements and other such issues. Mandarin skills are a plus, but not always mandatory.
4. Finance – Shanghai aims to be the Asian hub for Finance. They’ve recently opened a new Nasdaq-type stock exchange. So much money is getting plowed into its Finance Centre. You have to see it! The financial world involves interacting with bankers all over the world – and the default language of all business communications is English, which brings us to…
5. Communications – Chinese CEOs want to improve their English. Can you help?  Chinese Marketers want to refine their campaigns. Can you help? Chinese HR Depts want to hire the right people. Can you help with the interviews? Chinese exporters want to arrange meetings in London, New York & Amsterdam. Can you be there to help?

Remember, there are more BMWs per head in Beijing than any other city on the planet! Lot’s on business to be done here.

Opportunities for Entrepreneur

Saying that, I see many opportunities here. Let’s take a step back for a second. Many Indians, Chinese, and Europeans made the move to the US to better their careers. I’m sure you know some.

• They’re hard-working, right?
• They studied English (a foreign language), right?
• They made the move to a new country and survived, right?

Well, it’s the same for you.

It’s do-able.

Unless you’re held back by domestic commitments, which are understandable, then moving to Asia is worth considering. Maybe now it’s (possibly) the turn for US folks to move to these countries to find work. I know this is hard to swallow for many people, but well… why not?

There are so many opportunities for people in India, Singapore, China, and now Vietnam (the new low cost dev centre). And no, you don’t always need to speak the language but if you do, just learn it.

One of the most successful web marketers in the US is John Chow, a guy who moved from China as young man. Today, he’s minting it.

How to get started

• Read the China Daily http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ to get an insight into China today
• Read China Tech News http://www.chinatechnews.com/
• Connect with me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ivanwalsh where I share links, photos and videos
• Signup to LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/ and connect with me http://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanwalsh there.

LinkedIn is an excellent gateway with some really super groups where you can ask questions and get real feedback. It’s for business professionals and has been the most productive social network for me.. I really recommend it.

If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section so we can share with others.

Likewise, if you think you’re friends might like this article, please send it to them.

Most people think it’s difficult start a career as a business consultant. I used to think the same in my early 20s when I started in IT.

In retrospect, I should have made more efforts to establish myself as a consultant earlier; the benefits certainly outweigh the downsides. As luck would have it, I was forced into a consultancy role when I lost my 9-5 job. Time to learn to hustling and bring in business. Harvard Business Review refers to it as The Hustle Strategy. More on that later.

3 Types of Business Consultant

Before we start, there are 3 types of consultants:

1. Academic — those with academic achievements, e.g. PhDs, who are brought in to solve/explore/test problems. Their skills match the problem at hand. So you have it or you don’t.
2. Management — those with senior management skills, such as in M&A, legal, international business development and
3. Solutions — this includes the broad spectrum of 9-workers who’ve ‘repositioned’ their skills, want to work for themselves and/or have others working for them. This, I assume, it where you fit in. It’s where most consultants start out.

How to get started as a Business Consultant

The next question is: how do I get started? Here’s one way of approaching it.

1. Focus — identify your top 3 skills (not technologies). Be honest. If someone put a gun to your head and said “what are the three things you do best?”, then you’d say ”what I do best is…”
2. How do you see yourself — write a pen portrait (100 words max) of how you see yourself. So, if you were introducing yourself person to someone at a conference, you’d say “Hi, this is Amanda she,….” Remember, focus on the benefits you offer, not the tools. Tip – Start to visualize the person/consultant you want to become.
3. Role Models — identify 3 business leaders and use them as role models. For me, Richard Branson is a good example, for you it might be someone else. Read everything about these people, soak up how they made it. It’s not in the words of their bio – but the energy, the drive they had. Having a role model gives you a frame of reference, something to use as a compass/anchor.
4. Meet and Greet — Contact 10 people who are in a similar position as yourself. Meet up, for example, on a Saturday afternoon and see how you can help each other. Remember, you’re looking to link up with people for the long haul. Ignore the tire-kickers. Find 1 or 2 decent people that you trust and keep connecting with them.
5. Be the Glue — Define one common goal with these folks and make it happen. For example, aim to run an event, workshop, training course (whatever) by a specific date. You have to have targets, otherwise nothing will happen. It will just be talking shop.
6. Action Plan — doesn’t need to be fancy. List what needs to be done, assign names, and dates.
7. Examine your USP – I know this sounds lame but you have to differentiate yourself from the competition. This is the key. If you become ‘that guy’ who does, for example, Facebook training, Social Media business communications, Proposal development for biotechnology or whatever, then laser focus on this. Your aim is to dominate this one area. You have to become ‘that guy’.
8. Promotion — once you’ve all your ducks lined up, start getting the message out. Write guest articles in blogs, contribute to events, share information on LinkedIn, send free White Papers to people in your target market – do whatever it takes to promote yourself (and your colleagues) so that you become you become ‘that girl’. Girls, when I say ‘that guy’ I mean both guys and girls. You know that, right?
9. Personal branding – get your site, business cards, sharp suit etc in place. People still judge on appearances. If you look successful…
10. Network — Look for places to get out and meet people. People do business with people they meet. Again, it doesn’t have to be fancy. Find fast ways to meet up and find out where it’s happening. Tip – if you’re a single mom, link up with other parents who want to run their own business and take turns minding each other’s kids:  that way you both get one night a week to get out there and network.
11. Stick to the plan — If you keep this up for 3 months, you’ll change your perception of who you are and also by meeting people, you’ll learn new things. While the web is great, the human touch is what counts.
12. Follow the leader — Tom Peters, Chris Brogan, Richard Branson, ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ have all helped me in different ways.

Chris Brogan made a very interesting observation recently when he said that he tries to be there ‘before the fire starts’. What he meant was that everyone wants to help (i.e. sell you something) when things go wrong but it’s the people you know before it happened that count. I bet there you’ve been in that similar situation yourself. It’s the people you already know that you trust.

One last thing – the harder you try, the luckier you get. Take it one step at a time. Remember the turtle and the hare. Use everyday opportunities as ways to close the gap between where you are and where you want to go.

PS: Started to read this. Impressed so far. Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust

What’s your first step?

What advice would you give to those who want to start as a Business Consultant? What’s the one mistake they must avoid? What’s the best tip you ever got on starting your own business?

Sarah O’Keefe (Scriptorium) discusses STC’s new dues structure: Dues are going up; Printed publications are no longer included in basic dues; No chapter or SIG membership are included in the basic dues.

She adds that while reaction is largely negative, she finds value from her STC membership and gives some examples and reasons to join/stay with the STC. I have to confess that I disagree her on most all points.

STC gives Sarah a channel to attract new customers; many prospective customers find her at STC organized conferences. For example:

“During an STC conference a few years ago, I was approached by representatives of a government agency to discuss a major project. (I found out later they had attended my session to see if they wanted to talk to me. I apparently passed that test.) That meeting resulted in a new customer and over $250,000 in revenue for Scriptorium.”

Why join the STC?

Sarah gives several reasons why you should join/stay with the STC.

Here’s my thoughts:

1. If STC succeeds, you are more likely to find jobs that pay well because your work is respected.

I honestly don’t see how the success or failure of the STC has any material impact on my career. I’ve never joined the STC and managed to work for Intel, IBM and others for almost 20 years.

If the STC closed, would technical writers across the planet get their marching orders or see a cut in salary? Don’t think so, tbh.

Re: your work is respected.

I think this depends on the company and people you work for.

STC membership doesn’t automatically earn you any respect, certainly not with the negative perception surrounding the STC, i.e. out of touch and broken.

Most HR and IT Managers are not aware of the STC and rarely if ever mention it in interviews.

2. You are less likely to be the first person laid off in a downturn.

Why?

Most HR Managers make their decisions on budgets, cutback and other factors.

It would be great if this membership gave an extra layer of protection but the reality is that if you’re going to get laid off, all the certs, degrees etc in the world don’t make one iota of difference.

3. You are less likely to find job postings that include general office work among technical communication tasks.

Not sure what this is about. Most job postings I see for technical writers don’t include ‘general office work’, which I assume means admin tasks.

You are less likely to be replaced by another, less skilled, less expensive writer.

Read this s l o w l y.

• We made cut-backs to the technical writing dept in my last company; most of the technical writing tasks were shipped out to Poland and India.
• These guys and girls were less skilled and less expensive.
• Actually, the last 3 months at the place was spent up-skilling the offshore team.
• The company needed to reduce costs, full stop.
• The quality of the tech docs is not great but the share price is up. Analysts are positive regarding the company’s stance on ‘fiscal controls’.

4. If technical communication is valued, your work is less likely to be viewed like a commodity.

Now this is an interesting point. Is it valued?

Most of us who write for a living value the written word —that’s why we’re here, right? —but not everyone shares the same enthusiasm.

You could also replace ‘technical communication’ with any other job title and make the same argument.

• If software development is valued, your work is less likely to be viewed like a commodity.
• If quality control is valued, your work is less likely to be viewed like a commodity.
• If network admin is valued, your work is less likely to be viewed like a commodity.

Links:

A mercenary view of STC: http://www.scriptorium.com

Broken STC Model http://www.idratherbewriting.com

Bill Swallow http://techcommdood.com/?p=309

Final Thoughts

Going back to Sarah’s point about drumming up work at events.

My take on the STC and other groups, for example, LinkedIn, is that their value is in proportion to what you put in.

The more effort you make, the greater the returns.

Those that make an effort to ‘use’ the STC (in the best possible way) are likely to see their careers blossom.

If you sit on your hands, then nothing is likely to come your way.

What do you think?

Is the STC value for money?

Ariana Green on HarvardBusiness.org asks Is Freelancing Right For You?

“The perks are tempting: mid-morning jogs, hours billed from a café in Paris or from your back porch, not needing permission to skip a day to take care of a sick child. But does it make sense for you to take the plunge into freelance life?”

Read more at: http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/

Technical writers often have a degree in English, technical writing, the technical field for which they are writing, or a combination of these.

It is most important that they have enough expertise to understand their audience’s background and needs.

For example, writers who develop documentation for software APIs, microcontroller operation, and other technical subjects are often paid more than those who write guides for a nontechnical audience (for example, how to use email), because it is difficult to find good writers with advanced technical knowledge.

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After the documentation is written, it is normally reviewed for accuracy by one or more “subject matter experts” (SMEs).

Technical Writers Software

The most popular technical writing software includes:

• Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Adobe FrameMaker
• Adobe RoboHelp
• AuthorIT
• Chm2web
• Corel Paint Shop Pro
• DocBook
• Interleaf
• MadCap Software
• Microsoft Visio
• Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• SnagIt
• Microsoft Word
• XML editor

What is Technical Communication?

Technical communication is the process of conveying information about technology to an intended audience. A technical communicator is a person whose job involves technical communication.

Roles in the Technical communication industry include the following job titles:

• Technical writer
• Technical editor
• Information architect
• Usability expert
• User interface designer
• Technical artist
• Technical trainer

The technology can be of any kind, including the sciences, high technology including computers and software, consumer electronics, and so on.

Role of Technical Writing

Technical communications are created and distributed by most employees in service organizations today, especially by professional staff and management.

Effective communications require quality content, language, format, and more. The entire point of communications is to disseminate information; this is where written content comes in. To present the appropriate content, it is imperative to understand one s audience and writing purpose.

If a document does not communicate the information that the writer intends and what he or she wants the reader to understand, then the communication is meaningless.

The writer has an interest in making the extra effort: Looking credible is as important as being credible and getting results in business.

Respect and credibility of the writer/speaker are integral to effective communications. Readers will not trust the information from an author if they do not believe that author is a valuable source of information or the purveyor of worthwhile ideas.

Cold calls! No! I can’t do it. Yes, you can. They’re only human and won’t bite.

Here’s how I make cold calls and it works

When I started out I hated this. I’d do anything to avoid it. In the end I cut a deal with myself. I would call between 10-11 every morning for 1 hour and 1 hour only. Somehow this worked. I’d make the calls and get it over with. In time it got easier and making cold calls became more enjoyable. Yes, imagine that. Cold calls that you enjoy!

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Before you make your first cold call

Before you make the call, look at their site, download their brochures and see what type of documents they might need. For example, software development companies may need user guides, release notes, and installation manuals.

Web companies will need online text, technical support material and help pages. After a while you’ll get a feel for what these companies want and you can tailor your cold calls accordingly.

Don’t be shy about calling. Expect to get turned down 9 out of 10 times at first. It’s nothing personal. And don’t be hard on yourself. Starting up is the hardest part. Once you land your first contract, the next will be much easier.

1. Start with small companies that don’t have dedicated in-house tech writers.

2. Don’t contact the HR Manager. Their job is to screen you out. They won’t be interested.

3. Contact the IT Manager or the Training Manager. These people may actually need your skills. Drop them an email and ask if you can send over a brochure. No hard selling. Gently does it

4. Offer your services on a contract basis

5. If asked, give them estimates of your daily rates – but keep it general.

6. Avoid getting locked into low rates before you have met the client.

Tip: This is a numbers game. The more you call, the more interviews you’ll get. It’s not rocket science. Just persevere.

Remember the words of Churchill: “Never, Never, Never give up.”

Here are some tips for interviewing technical writers, for example, if your company needs to hire a contractor to write some documentation for your next release.

I’ve worked on both sides on the fence, (i.e. went to lots of interviews and also interviewed applicants for roles our Publications Dept) and picked up a few things in the process.

Hopefully, these will be of some help.

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A Technical Writer is someone how writes technical documentation for a piece of software, for example, a User Guide or a System Administration Manual.

They are responsible for writing text that is accurate, readable, accessible, and helpful to its intended audience.

Most companies use assessment tests to determine the skill level of potential employees.

Download Technical Writer Assessment Tests here:

http://www.klariti.com/Technical-Writing-Tests/index.shtml

How much time should be allotted to complete an assessment test?

I’d suggest 1 hour at most. 45 min should be enough.

More experienced writers will race through it, while others might deliberate over those tricky questions until absolutely sure.

Nonetheless, 1 hour should be sufficient time for most to complete the test.

Also, by allocating this amount of time to the test, you are also emphasizing its relative importance. If it were a simple 10-minute quiz, it wouldn’t carry the same weight.

Here’s a suggested approach for administering the test:

When advertising the vacancy, highlight that an evaluation test is part of the assessment process. By saying this upfront, you weed out under-qualified writers who know that they would not pass the test.

When scheduling the interview, remind applicants of the assessment test and to ensure that they arrive on time.

1. Explain to them what is involved, for example, that there is X number of questions on grammar, procurement, technology etc. This demonstrates your company’s professionalism as you are helping the applicants to prepare for the interview. In turn, it would be unprofessional to spring the test on applicants when they turn up and catch them by surprise.

2. Completing the test take about 90 minutes and some of your applicants may have other arrangements to consider, such as day-care, commuting etc.

3. When they arrive, interview them first and then do the test. If they are unsuitable for the position, you can cancel the test and say that it’s not necessary at this point.

In the interview ask them about:

• Technical Writing software they have use and which products they prefer to use.
• Note if they have a preference/bias towards a specific platform
• Ask why they prefer one Technical Writing tool over another, for example, why do they prefer Adobe RoboHelp over MadCap Flare?
• Ask for examples of how they solved problems. This helps get a handle on how they interact with other members of the Technical Publication Dept.

About.com has some sample questions for holding interviews:

http://humanresources.about.com

Different Types of Questions

Use different types of questions when interviewing prospective employees.

• Behaviors – about what the person has done or is doing
• Opinions – about what they think about a topic, for example, the rise in video as a tool for technical communications
• Knowledge – ask specific questions to get facts, for example, what version of Adobe FrameMaker do you use?
• Background/demographics – ask standard background questions, such as education, training to develop a profile of the applicant and also to cross-check their resume

Sequence of Questions

• Ask questions about some facts. This approach encourages respondents to relax and engage in the interview.
• Ask questions about the present first.
• Then discuss the past or future. It’s easier to talk about the present and then work into the past or future.
• Close by allowing respondents to provide other information they prefer to add and also give their impressions of the interview. More assertive types will have suggestions/opinions and express themselves more confidently.

Wording of Questions

• Use open-ended questions.
• Avoid Yes/No questions. Let the applicants choose their own terms when answering questions.
• Stay neutral. Avoid wording questions that might influence their answers, e.g. showing a prejudice towards a specific platform or development environment.
• Ask questions one at a time.
• Be careful asking “why” questions as this may make the person to feel defensive, e.g., have to justify their response/feelings.

Conducting the Interview

• Ask one question at a time.
• Remain as neutral as possible. Avoid showing strong emotional reactions to their responses.
• Encourage responses with occasional nods of the head, “uh huh”s, etc.
• Be careful when taking notes. For example, if you start to write feverishly, it may appear as if you’re shocked with the answer, which is likely to influence the following answers. Likewise, if you stop taking notes it implies that you’ve lost interest.
• Move from topics to topic, e.g., “ok, we’ve been talking about Adobe FrameMaker and now I’d like to move on to Structured Authoring.”
• Remain in control of the interview. Stop respondents from straying to other topics, rambling, or turning the tables on the interviewer.

Starting the Written Assessment

For those you want to assess, do the following:

• Give them a pen and paper (always helps). Some people like to sketch or keep notes when writing.
• Glass of water or coffee.
• Find a quiet room with a PC or laptop.
• Give them a printout of the test. Hardcopies are often easier to read than words on the screen.
• Walk through the test so that they understand what is required.
• Encourage them to ask any questions so there are no misunderstandings.
• Tip: Remind them when the test will finish.
• Once they are ready, leave the room and let them do the test.
• After 20 minutes, drop in to see how they are doing. The point here is not to monitor them, but to see if they genuinely need any assistance.
• After 60 minutes return, stop the test, and print it out.

At this point, I d suggest that they have a break so that you can score the test or let them know that you will call them tomorrow with the result.

This may be the most practical approach if you plan to hold a second interview.

If you want to do it the same day, then get the printout and go over the scores. As everyone likes to know how they performed in a test, walk through the results and discuss them with the applicant.

For example, if they scored low in one section, ask them how this area could be improved.

Finally, thank them for taking the time to do the tests and hope that they have gained from it.

Download Technical Writer Assessment Tests

Full URL: www.klariti.com/Technical-Writing-Tests/index.shtml

Opportunity for senior Technical Writer with experience with web development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and XML. As the lead Technical Writer you will:

• Develop strategic direction for improving internal documentation processes
• Lead creating, managing, editing and updating the product documentation
• Write internal and external release notes, functional and technical documentation, architecture-level documentation, white papers, position papers, implementation guides, FAQs, troubleshooting guides, system maintenance documentation, etc.
• Update and enhance product training materials and technical white-papers
• 3 years experience as Technical Writer for complex enterprise business applications
• RoboHelp
• Experience writing for users with diverse technical abilities, including developer (API level documentation), system administrators

PaperThin, Inc. is a privately held software vendor in Massachusetts. “100 Companies that Matter in Knowledge Management”. Go to: http://www.paperthin.com

Vinish Garg is the Director of vhite.com, an Indian technical writing firm that provides technical documentation and medical writing consultancy services.

I interviewed Vinish recently and asked him how he started as a technical writer, about technical writing in India, and new trends he sees emerging in this field.

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Ivan: Could you tell us a little about your background and the type of activities you perform as a technical writer?
 
Vinish: I have been developing technical documentation for software, for five years now. I started with Help Systems, User Guides, and Training Manuals.

In my next jobs, I developed Installation Manuals, Cheat Sheets, Process Documentation, Proposals, Business Plans, White Papers, and Case Studies.

I have worked in traditional development methodology as well as Agile Documentation which is a different experience altogether.

Ivan: Technical writing is really taking off in India. I read recently there may be 10000 tech writers hired in the next few years. Why do you think India is doing so well in this area?  

Vinish: Yes, technical writing is coming up gradually in India, being recognized and getting the respect as any other specialized profession.

One of the reasons is that technology outsourcing has helped Indian professionals keeping themselves updated and rubbing shoulders with the best professionals in the world.

The whole concept of technical documentation, the software, the process, and understanding the responsibility is matched to the most developed countries in world such as US, UK or other European countries.

Two, Indian professionals have generally good communication skills and this, coupled with technical education background give them a good platform to be good technical writers.

Three, I should also highlight the role of organizations such as STC and TWIN. They have been doing a great service to generate awareness about this profession, holding conferences and learning sessions throughout the country.

It is a great encouragement for budding writers who want to make a mark in technical writing profession.

Ivan: What trends to you see emerging in the tech communication field?

Vinish: I guess implementing and setting up of structured authoring would take over the traditional tools and methods of technical documentation.

Software such as Arbortext Editor is not too common in India but I can see such software being accepted in more and more companies in India.

Tip: Read more about XML in Technical Communication here 

Structured authoring brings a rich set of benefits of organization such as a more streamlined authoring process where single source authoring enables content reusability.

In the long run, it saves cost if intelligently implemented in the documentation process. The content management and version control is easier as virtually all lose ends in traditional technical authoring are eliminated.

Ivan: You recently launched vhite.com. Could you tell us a little about why you setup the company?

Vinish: I have worked as a technical writer (or documentation specialist, as was my position in Basware) for more than 4 years now. I worked for diverse product based companies, and an organization that was into B2B projects.

Setting up my own venture has been a conscious decision based on certain factors.

1. I am based in Chandigarh and I think there is no dedicated technical writing services provider in the city though it has made strides in IT. Some very good companies have setup their development centres in Chandigarh.

And as I told you earlier, since technical writing is gradually being recognized in India where organizations have realised the important of quality technical documentation, I thought that it is the right time to strike when the iron is hot.

2. I also feel that there are not too many very good technical writers in and around Chandigarh. When I look at some profiles or technical work samples of professionals, I do not wonder why they are not getting the respect. We did some research and market analysis and realised that many organizations in India offer technical writing training that focus on tool or software, or language.

So, vhite offers technical writing training where we focus on the whole concept of technical writing – the importance of documentation, the process, the review process, checklists, emails, audience analysis, and a host of such concepts that are as important as learning language or a software.

We strive to encourage technical writers take it very seriously, while enjoying the process. And since we are a start-up business, we offer traditional documentation models.

In future, we plan to setup the whole structured authoring platform so that our people and our trainees are keeping pace with the latest developments in technical writing.

Ivan: You also provide medical writing services? What type of documents or content is involved in medical documentation?

Vinish: Good documentation is absolutely vital to any field, be it healthcare or technology. We understand that accurate and clear documentation that is compliant to different style guides is important in healthcare and sciences.

We have experienced medical and healthcare professionals on board who have helped us extend our documentation services to medical writing as well. We offer technical as well generic medical writing which includes developing Protocols, Monograms, CMEs, Research Papers, besides reports and articles on general healthcare subjects.

Ivan: Finally, where do you see the technical documentation field moving in the next few years?

Vinish: I can see it getting more challenging. Technology will lead to intelligent applications where software and web applications would be intelligently and smartly developed, may be leaving less scope or low need of documentation.

Another challenge would be to keep pace with the technical documentation technologies as new software may be more challenging for budding technical writers who would be new to this profession.

On the positive note, I can sense that it would be more fun for experienced professionals. Web2.0 has facilitated information sharing and knowledge exchanged like never before.

Overall, the future is bright at least for those who would be ready to leave their comfort zones, to embrace new technological challenges, and to create their won space in the ever-growing crowd of technical writers.

About Vinish Garg

You can read more about Vinish and vhite, his technical writing company at www.vhite.com

Update: May 18 vhite now offers online technical writing training courses. This is the first of its kind in Chandigarh, India.

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Resources:

Technical Writers of India TWIN

User Guide Templates

White Paper Templates

Introduction to Technical Writing

XML in Technical Communications

1001 Writing Tips: Using Microsoft Word to Create Large Documents

Starting tomorrow through Monday, you can get $5 off a printed copy of Technical Writing 101, which is normally $35.95. To get the discount, use the code MEMORIAL09 during checkout at Lulu.com. Here is Lulu’s fine print on the coupon code:

Offer valid on orders placed within the United States only. Enter code ‘MEMORIAL09’ during checkout and save $5.00 off any purchase of $25.00 or more. Discount cannot be used to pay for, nor shall be applied to, applicable taxes or shipping and handling charges. Promotional codes cannot be applied to any previous orders. No exchanges or substitutions allowed. Only one valid promotional code may be used per account. Offer valid from 05/22/09 through 05/25/09 at 11:59 PM GMT. Lulu.com reserves the right to change or revoke this offer at any time. Void where prohibited. Please note that coupon code is case-sensitive.

Technical Writing 101: A Real-World Guide to Planning and Writing Technical Content

Technical Writing 101 details the skills you need as a technical writer to create both printed and online content. This valuable reference describes the entire development process—planning, writing, visual design, editing, indexing, and production. You also get tips on how to write information that is more easily translated into other languages.

You’ll learn about the importance of following templates and about how structured authoring environments based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) streamline the content development process.

This updated third edition features new information on the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) standard for structured authoring, and it explains the impact of Web 2.0 technologies—blogs, wikis, and forums—on technical communication.

Download the PDF version for $20: store.scriptorium.com

Get $5 off printed copies of Technical Writing 101

If you have a group of stressed out and overworked technical writers and need to add to your staff, hiring the right technical writer can be a challenge. The author, Philip Rastocny, provides some tips on the hiring and interview process and what you might look for in exceptional technical writing candidates that will best fill the needs of your group of technical writers.

Technical Writers – Considerations for Hiring Technical Writers

With so many people, tech writers included, losing their job in the recession, it’s nice to come across someone who’s turned it to their advantage and made the most of the situation. Shoshana Kleiman, started Pixel/Point Press, a technical writing consultancy in Israel last month. She thought she would have to slowly build up her new company. Instead, clients have been pounding down her door.

"Our business consultant said to be ready to open our doors June 1," she said. "We’ve already been swamped. Business has been amazing."

Kleiman moved to Israel 12 years ago. Last October she was forced to leave her technical writing job at WritePoint Ltd. partly because of the economic situation. Departing the company gave her the push to open her own business.

Read more Tech Writing Israel

US metro areas with the highest published employment concentrations and wages for this occupation are provided below.

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Top paying Metropolitan areas for this occupation:

About May 2007 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. The top five employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable Excel files (XLS).
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This page lists technical writers, tech writing companies, and education providers in India. It also provides career advice about entering technical writing in India and future prospects of graduates.

While there is alot of info about technical writing in India, what’s missing here are most Indian tech writers. From what I can see there are only two or three Indian tech writers listed on this page, which seems odd as this is a lot right now

If you’re a tech writer in India and would like to be profiled, let me know and I’ll arrange an interview with you.

Ivan

Link: Technical Writing in India | Resources for Indian Tech Writers

This page lists technical writers, tech writing companies, and education providers in India. It also provides career advice about entering technical writing in India and future prospects of graduates.

While there is alot of info about technical writing in India, what’s missing here are most Indian tech writers. From what I can see there are only two or three Indian tech writers listed on this page, which seems odd as this is a lot right now

If you’re a tech writer in India and would like to be profiled, let me know and I’ll arrange an interview with you.

Ivan

Link: Technical Writing in India | Resources for Indian Tech Writers

I’m writing a series of profiles on technical writers in India. What I plan to do is talk to tech writers in India and get your thoughts on how this industry is growing in India, tips for those entering the profession and other pieces of advice you may have.

I’ll also post the interview on our sister sites to give your interview more coverage. Our sites get over 250k visitors per month, so this could be a nice way to promote yourself and raise your profile.

There is no cost or charge involved. If you would like to be interviewed, please let me know. It’s ivan at ivanwalsh dot com.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Ivan

Klariti has published a master list of all the recruitment sites that specialize in technical writing. They seem to have most of the usual suspect, including tech writing recruitment companies in UK and India. Handy list if you want to get your CV out to multiple recruiters. 

Link: Technical Writing Jobs | Updated Every Day