Yo, Linkedin is bomb though. I got offered a job at Apple as a technical writer because of that thing, and another job as a technical writer in downtown Denver. I believe I read that the same thing was true for thenewgreen. Give it shot, it might actually work out for ya.
How did you pull that off? I've keep my Linkedin updated and have 65 connections already, so I'll be in a good position when I graduate. Is there something you need to do to get the most out of it, certain people you need to get to or is success something that just happens to you?
I've gotten 2 jobs through LinkedIn, by which I mean literally just by having a profile on linked in. Recruiters reached out and I figured their offers were interesting enough that I decided to follow up on them. I think the industry matters a lot but beyond that, if you're in the right industry, you ain't gotta do nothin' but look good on paper and interview well.
I only have 31 connections, but the job I'm correctly working as - Technical Writer - is apparently in high demand, which I believe has more to do with it than anything else. So I assume the sales recruiter just saw my current job and decided to contact me. So I think the real thing is to post as much of your experience on there as possible, and make sure it's as up-to-date as possible, just because you never know. Sorry, I know that's vague, but I hope it helps.
So it is more of the it-could-work-out-by-chance kinda things. By the way, the wiki on technical writer uses a Vonnegut line to explain it, which is just fantastic: "...trained to reveal almost nothing about themselves in their writing. This makes them freaks in the world of writers, since almost all of the other ink-stained wretches in that world reveal a lot about themselves to the reader."Kurt Vonnegut described technical writers as:[2]
Yeah, definitely don't exclude it as an option, but definitely don't count solely on it either. Technical Writing is so awesome, I'm glad I got to try it out. Been doing it for 2ish years now and it's interesting and something I'm good at it. And it's applicable to all sorts of different scenarios too.
Tech writers are those that are capable of churning out content about things that are really not interesting. You get more points for being descriptive and thorough than you do for being engaging. If you wanted to be a tech writer, veen, all you would need to do is point prospective clients at veenspace. Although I'd aim higher if it were you. Tech writing isn't that conceptual and the stuff you do is a lot more director-level shit.
Very true. LinkedIn helped me secure a career earning 3X what I was previously earning. I owe that site big time.
How do you people do that. I have a full profile, 250ish connections and am yet to get anything out of it.
I had 3+ years of sales experience prior to this happening. A sales recruiter contacted me, I then had a series of about 6 interviews before getting the gig. I had to work for 3 years doing shit jobs to qualify for my first sales job, then I had 3 years in that job to kick ass and win EVERY award the offer. Then I got to the big leagues. It takes time and grinding it out. There's no way around it in most cases.
Wow, that's way different than I was expecting. My friends who are even remotely involved with software/comp sci/and similar professions are basically having jobs thrown at them on LinkedIn. I shoulda picked a more in demand major.