Thursday, April 1, 1999
Technical Writing
I am looking for information about opportunities that enable an individual to work from home or part-time, because of my current position and family obligation. What are the opportunities for technical writers and its future (as I have a flair for writing)? – P. Reddy
Technical writing comes in a wide variety of forms including software documentation, help systems and Web pages, so it’s not likely that the need for technical writers will go away in the foreseeable future. An excellent source of information about the field of technical writing is through the organization Society for Technical Communications (STA), which can be found at www.stc_va.org. “STC is an individual membership organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication. Its 23,000 members include technical writers, editors, graphic designers, multimedia artists, Web and Intranet page information designers, translators and others whose work involves making technical information understandable and available to those who need it. In addition to its annual conference, chapter events, publications, and international competitions, STC offers technical communicators other opportunities for professional development.” Once you’ve researched the world of technical writing, you can identify companies that place or employ technical writers through a Yahoo! search using “technical writing” as your keyword.
VLSI/Digital Logic
I have an MS degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma St. University. I have been unable to find a job in VLSI in past six months due to the slump in the semiconductor industry. — Ajay Bavle
If you are having difficulty finding a job in the traditional approach of applying directly to employers, I strongly suggest you try alternative methods to “get your foot in the door” of a company. First, contact the contract staffing companies in your market — even in a “slump,” contingent staffing frequently remains strong. Second, get the placement organization from your university working for you, either through direct notification of career opportunities or by facilitating introductions to alumni in your field of expertise. Third, join and participate in organizations that support your industry – these activities will help you build a network of contacts that ultimately may help you find a job.
Indian Degree Worth Its US Counterpart?
My wife has an MBA degree in marketing from India. Does she have to take an exam or enroll in some courses before she can apply for a job in the US? Please advise. — Kishor R. Gujarathi
Regardless of the origin of your wife’s educational credentials, she can apply for any job in the US. Whether her Indian MBA will be as highly valued as a US degree by the employer will vary with each employer – you may find that it results in career limitations with certain employers. Though she doesn’t have to complete additional educational requirements in the US to apply for work, she may want to contact a recognized US MBA program to find out how she can enhance her existing education and degree.
Typically, when companies specify educational requirements in a position, the requirements are somewhat flexible, based on the overall qualifications of the candidate. Your wife should simultaneously apply for the types of positions that interest her, while pursuing educational information from US-based MBA programs.
Facilitating ERP
I am in an academic program in which I will receive an MBA and MIS degree. I have had four years of manufacturing experience. Am I correctly positioned to pursue an IS consulting position in implementing Enterprise Resource Planning systems for manufacturing and distribution companies? - Matt D'Souza
Your question indicates that you are working towards a good balance of business experience and educational training, but the component that you haven't addressed is whether you have any experience or training in ERP software. You are taking the steps necessary to correctly position yourself if you are also working towards adding practical ERP experience. If you become an IS consultant through an ERP software company (such as SAP or Oracle), they will provide you additional product-specific training. However, if you pursue IS consulting opportunities independently or through a third-party ERP supplier, there is a greater expectation that you've already had product-specific ERP experience. You'll also need to define if your IS interests are at the applications level or at a programming level.
