Comments on: Ask STC-Montreal: How Should I Improve My Skills? http://stc-montreal.org/en/2009/04/16/ask-stc-montreal-how-should-i-improve-my-skills/ The source for technical communicators in Montreal Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:55:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Suzanne Gerrior http://stc-montreal.org/en/2009/04/16/ask-stc-montreal-how-should-i-improve-my-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-700 Suzanne Gerrior Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:18:33 +0000 http://stc-montreal.org/en/?p=786#comment-700 I think that you have the tool set basically covered, although knowing HTML is always beneficial. However, I am finding that it is becoming more common for companies to ask if you have experience writing for the web and if you are aware of Web 2.0. Also, there seems to be a fair number of jobs that require training materials and eLearning. A list of software that's fairly common: MS Word FrameMaker Robohelp Captivate Photoshop HTML I think that you have the tool set basically covered, although knowing HTML is always beneficial. However, I am finding that it is becoming more common for companies to ask if you have experience writing for the web and if you are aware of Web 2.0. Also, there seems to be a fair number of jobs that require training materials and eLearning. A list of software that’s fairly common:

MS Word
FrameMaker
Robohelp
Captivate
Photoshop
HTML

]]> By: Jim Royal http://stc-montreal.org/en/2009/04/16/ask-stc-montreal-how-should-i-improve-my-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-696 Jim Royal Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:41:27 +0000 http://stc-montreal.org/en/?p=786#comment-696 My own personal experience suggests that branching out is a good thing. Learning different forms and styles of communication -- <em>e.g.</em>, procedure writing versus courseware writing versus marketing writing -- can only help you become a better communicator. The more voices you have, the more ways you have to solve a given problem in technical communication. And that's a skill that's more valuable than expertise with one piece of software or another. Nonetheless, HR people do look for specific tools in resumes. Which specific tools to study...? I'm going to leave that thread for someone else to pick up, as I have been away from straight tech writing for too long, and don't know the current trends well enough. Anyone else? My own personal experience suggests that branching out is a good thing. Learning different forms and styles of communication — e.g., procedure writing versus courseware writing versus marketing writing — can only help you become a better communicator. The more voices you have, the more ways you have to solve a given problem in technical communication. And that’s a skill that’s more valuable than expertise with one piece of software or another.

Nonetheless, HR people do look for specific tools in resumes. Which specific tools to study…? I’m going to leave that thread for someone else to pick up, as I have been away from straight tech writing for too long, and don’t know the current trends well enough.

Anyone else?

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