Given that more and more technical communication work is now contract or part-time, most of us are regularly on the lookout for a job. Think you are already an expert job hunter? Read on! Jack Molisani is the president of ProSpring Staffing (www.prospring.net), a California-based recruitment agency for technical writers and other professionals. He shared some surprising and not-so-obvious tips for job-finding success with recruitment agencies at the well-attended January Toronto chapter meeting. Braving the spring-like wintry weather to unleash an energetic laughter- and chocolate-filled evening, Jack presented his Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Looking for Work. Since he prefers a dynamic crowd to a static one, Jack quickly engaged and enlivened us by rewarding questions, comments or suggestions with Hershey's Kisses.
As technical writers, we can certainly write directions...but can we read them? Not being able to follow a simple, one-step direction on how to submit your resume and cover letter to an employer can disqualify you. Recruiters can receive hundreds of resumes per day, so the easier you make their job, the better disposed they will be toward you.
What else can you do to avoid having your application vanish into the dreaded "blackhole@nevertobeheardfromagain.com"? Develop and build a personal relationship with your recruiter. Think of the recruiter as part of your network. Try to set up an appointment to meet with him or her. If the recruiter is not willing to meet with you in person and get to know you and your talents, then it's time to find an agency with recruiters who will. After all, who else is going to sing your praises to a potential employer, especially if you may not be an exact match for the job? Think about it - how quickly will they think of you if you are just a name on a list?
Next, consider your approach to netiquette. Saying in an e-mail what you might not say face-to-face is ill advised. Even though you may be frustrated by the slowness of the recruitment process, sending an insulting e-mail is poor form and will not endear you to the recruiter. Further, the time you think you'll save by e-mailing your resume to dozens of recruiters at once will be time wasted if you display all their addresses in the "To:" field! Naturally, keep track of where your resume has been sent.
It's time to think about the job requirements - are yours at least in the same ballpark, or way off in left field? Ensure that you can fulfill - or better, match - point for point, most of the requirements. Also, note the difference between "must have" and "nice to have" requirements. If an employer expects you to hit the ground running, then be ready to run, not ready to be trained.
Also, be aware that the recruiter will need to write a summary of how your skills match the job requirements before sending your application on to the employer. Why not write the summary yourself? You can save the recruiters' time, highlight your strengths, and point out any areas where you can supply a similar skill if you don't have precisely the required skill. Voilą - you have just saved the recruiter time in both searching for and writing the information about you, another tool in getting the recruiter on your side.
Be careful of what naming conventions you use for your resume file; the common "resume.doc" used by many of us on our own hard drives is not going to help a recruiter who receives hundreds of such-named resumes. Use your first and last name and the term "resume" clearly in your file name, so the recruiter can locate it easily.
What is the first sample of writing that a recruiter sees? A piece in your portfolio? Wrong - it is your resume. You can be sure any resume that lacks formatting consistency, reads poorly and is full of typos will be disqualified. Apply the same standards to your resume that you do to your documentation work. Know your audience, and be sure your resume possesses the same usability that you would want a manual to have. As your resume is the first chance you have to highlight your strengths and minimize your weaknesses, put what is most relevant and current near the top of your resume, and move less important material closer to the bottom. And be selective when choosing an e-mail account address - something like "crankyperson@hotmail.com" will not go over professionally with a prospective employer.
Given that the employment trends today point toward fewer permanent positions, be prepared to anticipate and answer questions that a recruiter may pose if he or she notices unexplained gaps in your work history. For instance, moves from contract to permanent work and vice versa may raise questions. Also, the issues of work eligibility in a given country or the requirement of relocation assistance may come up.
Finally - keep your skills current! In addition to attending STC chapter meetings and conferences, be ready to create documentation using the most up-to-date authoring tools. Among the many useful suggestions from meeting attendees was the idea to obtain a demo copy of the software you need - or better yet, buy a licence for a later release and then get a lower-priced upgrade.
In short, make the recruiter's job easier by following the application directions and submitting a tidy, usable resume with an easy-to-identify file name and a good skills summary. Get the recruiter on your side by developing a personal relationship and being polite and professional at all times. Be realistic about your experience and apply for jobs for which you are qualified. Make your strengths stand out and be ready to answer questions about your work history. Ensure that your software skills are sharp and keep abreast of industry trends by interacting with your technical writing community. And a little chocolate doesn't hurt either!
Congratulations to Mona Albano, who won the drawing for a free pass to Jack's LavaCon conference!
Susan Webb is an STC chapter award-winning technical writer and editor who teaches Adult ESL with the Toronto District School Board. She is currently on the lookout for part-time virtual work in the areas of second-language editing and online learning. Susan is also an STC Toronto tutor, and designs exquisite, carefully-documented jewellery.