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comment by veen
veen  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: October 1, 2014

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?





_refugee_  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

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.

user-inactivated  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

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.

veen  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

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:

    Kurt Vonnegut described technical writers as:[2]

    "...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."

user-inactivated  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

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.

thundara  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Weird coincidence, I got myself really excited yesterday about a scientific writing position, then I found out today that they aren't taking on more people until the new year :(

lil  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

The new year isn't that far away. Good luck.

veen  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

How do you start something like that? Being an expert at a certain technology or something?

kleinbl00  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

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.

veen  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I was thinking more about it in terms of something to do alongside studying, as I like explaining tech to people. You're right, though, I do wanna aim higher - I just don't know how high yet, or in what direction.

kleinbl00  ·  3786 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Tech writing is a great place to start. If nothing else, it'll test the hell out of your English proficiency. Everybody needs something on the side; I mixed bands in clubs while studying and now I mix for a living.