Monthly Wrap
Each month rotating guest writers offer resources that benefit the technical writing industry. This month Rob Peterson, our newest member and a recent transplant from the Phoenix Chapter, offers a recap on the January presentation.

Finding Work in a Really Bad Economy
Susan Harland at the January Berkeley chapter meeting
by Rob Peterson

Susan Harlan has seen companies come and go. She is back in the Bay Area after a six year stint in Texas where, among other employers, she worked for Enron and WorldCom.

To find a new job, if recently laid off, Susan urges you to "keep up the momentum and think outside the box." One example of outside-the-box thinking that Susan offers is joining professional groups that do not directly relate to your profession.

An STC member and friend of Susan's recently joined the BAYLISA (Bay Area Large Installation System Administrators) group. As the only technical communicator in a group of network administrators, she hopes to be first in line for writing and communications opportunities.

In addition to networking ideas, the meeting's two panelists, Jonnie Pekelny and Dave Gardner, answer the question, "So, what else can we do with our technical writing skills besides technical writing?"

Jonnie has found great success with turning volunteer work with nonprofit organizations into money-making opportunities. "Nonprofits," says Jonnie, "are not always so affected by the economy."

Through volunteer jobs (e.g., brochures and newsletters) and relatively low-pay nonprofit work, Jonnie makes a living, but she has had to adjust her way of life. Nonetheless, she has had the chance to get involved in supporting important causes. When I am passionate about my work, she says, "I am that much better and jump right in."

Dave, a biology major and highly skilled and successful technical writer, sells cars. When he first set foot on a car lot to look for a job, the manager said, "You know, we have never had a rocket scientist on our lot before." Dave is proof that rocket scientist (and Biology majors) can sell too.

According to Dave, "We are all tech writers selling out services, and we are all selling something with our resumes. We are selling ourselves."

In fact, not only does Dave sell cars, he has found a way to apply his writing and design skills. He makes colorful business post cards for himself and sells custom cards to his colleagues at the dealership. He is also marketing a car-buying column to various newspapers and hopes to be syndicated. On Saturdays, he teaches English as a second language.

When asked how he keeps up the energy to be an outgoing entrepreneur, he replies, "Vitamins and Starbucks."

The Book of Lists
During his presentation, Dave also mentioned the Book of Lists, a publication put out by the Business Journal, or depending on the city, the Business Times. Since the books range in price from $40 to $90 and the online version is $150, I recommend making copies at the library.

The Berkeley Public Library on Kittredge Street has the San Francisco Business Times Book of Lists and East Bay Business Times Book of Lists at the reference desk and photo copies are $0.10 a page.

The book contains all sorts of useful lists such as the largest

• employers;
• temporary staffing agencies;
• biotechnology companies;
• software companies; and
• telecommunications companies.

It also contain lists based on highest revenue for

• nonprofit organizations;
• public companies;
• private companies;
• fastest-growing private companies (percent revenue growth); and
• technology companies.

Though there is no list of the companies most likely to take a dive, the book can be very useful in the right hands and with the proper motivation.

Just for fun, the book also contains lists for breweries, radio stations, and wineries and the most played and toughest golf courses. The number one radio station in the Bay Area is KCBS 740, an AM station! Personally, I like 95.7 the Drive. It's ranked number five.

Questions and Answers
The panelists treated the audience to a question and answer session.

Q: I don't know how to say what I do. How can I market myself?
A: Take the buzz words from job ads that you are interested in and do a search on Google for various job titles. In addition, work on you elevator speech-a brief descriptions of the expertise and services that you offer. While developing an elevator speech, says Susan, you may come up with some inventive ways to market yourself.

Q: How do I keep motivated during a job search?
A: Look for instant rewards, something inexpensive to treat yourself after meeting a goal and putting in some hard work. Paul Sinasohn, Berkeley's Vice President of Programs, recognizes that it can be hard to set such goals as cold calling 100 people while knowing that most of the people called will just say no. Instead, he recommends setting a goal to get 98 people on the phone who will say no. That goal doesn't seem so hard, and two people may say yes.

Q: How have informational interviews been used?
A: In Susan's experience, they are not always the best way to find a job, but they are a great way to network. They can be very effective if you don't sound too eager to start work at the company. Paul adds that it is sometimes smart to first conduct an informational interview at a company that is low on your list before interviewing your target. With this strategy, you can practice and gather information about appropriate questions to ask.

Resources Mentioned During the Meeting

ProSearch, Inc., a professional placement service

Selling Your Services: Proven Strategies for Getting Clients to Hire You by Robert W. Bly

The Business Journal Book of Lists and The Business Times Book of Lists
East Bay, Sacramento, San Francisco, Silicon Valley/San Jose, and North Bay editions are available online.