once or twice!

(Reply) (Thread)

Leading me to wonder what's better for my blog readers: Overloading my blog with posts about how much I hate work, or overloading my blog with how much I love work?

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Squeeee away - it does us good to know when you are happy

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

of I told you so.

(Reply) (Thread)

... and this job is what?

What do you do that's enjoyable?!?!? Because my jobs? Notsomuch.

(Reply) (Thread)

I'm a technical writer. And I've had jobs that weren't nearly this good.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

How did you get into doing that? I think it's something at which I'd do pretty well, but I don't know how to convince a prospective employer of that fact. ;)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Restructure your resume to focus on the writing that you've done. Then prepare a portfolio of work to bring to interviews. If you can take classes, Middlesex Community College has a fairly well respected technical writing program.

I'd be happy to do whatever I can to help you get started. Just let me know what I can do.

I went to school largely to be a technical writer. I worked an internship at my college, I taught and prepared my own training material and handouts for seminars, and immediately went for technical writing jobs upon graduation.

The market is in sort of transition now. There are a lot more jobs then there were a year ago, but still fewer than there were five years ago. Still, I don't know what you're making or doing now, but there are a lot of entry level technical writing positions in and around Boston.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Hah. I'm making less than 30k right now, which is why I also had to get a job in retail.

I'm definitely looking to go back to school, and in fact, I'm looking for work at universities because one of the main benefits is that they offer discounted or free classes. That would help me out immensely.

During the weird market shenanigans over the last 5 years, I've kind of gotten hosed. I started off doing web design, graphic design, and technical support. Now, it's customer service, emphasis everywhere anywhere but "customer" and "service".

My salary has taken a swift nosedive since 2001, when I had a job paying $47,300. I then took a pay cut to $37,500 with monthly bonuses of about $200 monthly, and after that job, I landed here where I started out at $26,000.

Needless to say, I'm terrified that my next job will be below 20k!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Well, I can definitely help you reorient your resume and start compiling a portfolio if that's something that interests you.

I can also start sending you all the recruiters and prospects for tech writer positions that come my way, since I'm still coming off a job search.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Thanks heaps!

I have kind of a... weird resume as it is, and I'm always looking for feedback on it. I'm sure it can be overwhelming and doesn't really focus on any one thing, yet I don't know how to make changes without removing a bunch of stuff.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

As lensedsqo would tell you, I'm rather hard on resumes. I think the biggest problem people have with them is this idea that you have 1 resume. You have one CV (if you into that sort of thing), and it lists absolutely everything, but your resume is a flexible living document and it's okay to have targetted resumes for different purposes.

I currently have two. (The one I use and the one I dont. heh heh heh). I have one that's largely text based, and job-centric, and one that's more list based and skill-centric. I'm working on setting up a couple for a friend: one that's targetted at jobs inside his current company and one that's targetted at jobs outside. I think it's a hard thing to demand of your resume that it be all things to all people.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I understand that, and it's also tough to customize it for different positions when you're applying to a bazillion.

Right now, my main focus is finding a job - any job - at a university. The problem is that they tend to dismiss me out of hand because I don't have a bachelor's. I'm hardly uneducated, but that doesn't seem to matter. My last rejection went as follows:

We have received your responses to the job questions related to the USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST- The Learning Resource Center (2487) position. Based on the answers provided you may not meet the base requirements for this position. Although we are unable to further your candidacy for this specific position at this time, we appreciate your interest.

I love how it said "may not meet the base requirements" so... they're just not going to check to see if I do? Because I wouldn't have applied unless I did.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)