But You Need Experience...Don't You?

There is probably no greater mystery to the beginning student of any profession than how to circumvent the familiar job requirement of "experience".To students, it really IS a mystery, because, on the one hand, there are people out there who must have started at some point, like them, with no experience - but on the other hand, how the devil did they get around this requirement?

The unspoken working assumption in many students' minds is that somehow things were different way back when, but now, "everyone wants experience". Actually, it is not true - in fact, "experience" is sometimes as much as a hindrance to getting a job as the lack of it.

What employers want is "competency" not "experience". There are many writers out there with years of experience but little skill to show for it - while there are others with enormous skill who are just starting out. So why then, do employers ask for "experience"? Often, this is simply a code word for "competent" - employers looking for technical writers are besieged with a flood of resumes from people unqualified to do technical writing - unemployed teachers, programmers,mechanics, clerks, who have never trained in technical communications, but who are just trying their luck, trying to see if someone will believe that they can do the job. By asking for "experience", the employer can at least hope to filter out many of the worst qualified applications. But that doesn't mean that employers won't jump at the chance to hire someone who is competent.

This probably explains why I have encountered, over and over again, employers who will tell students that they don't have enough experience for the job, only to find out later that the same employer did eventually hire someone - with zero experience! So, the trick for the new graduate is to be that "someone" without experience who is going to be hired. Let's look at some strategies for doing this.

Strategies for Getting in the Door

Strategy No. 1: Believe in Yourself

The first strategy actually has nothing to do with the outside world - it has to do with what's in your own head. Before you can convince anyone that you can do the job, you've got to believe that yourself. Without that, you're as good as sunk. You must have a definite belief that you know your stuff and that you're good. This is one of the most important functions of a good training course - you should feel that you've mastered the essentials and you should have the confidence that you can do the job, and do it well.

Once you are convinced that you are worth something and that you can be a decided asset to the employer, you can go on to the next stage - that of finding someone who needs technical documentation. Here too, many graduates simply fail to connect with the right people. Typically, they will send out tens, even hundreds of resumes to prospective employers - and not hear from any of them. The fact is that the overworked personnel office, or technical communication manager, is normally too busy to take a very close look at a resume - more often than not, the resume is simply "filed" where it sits and collects dust - yet someone will eventually get an interview and one of those people will be the lucky one to get the job.

So who does get the interview? Before I answer that question, you need to realize that the world is not "fair". Whether you are a toothpaste manufacturer or a technical writing graduate - the principles, and even techniques of success, are the same. More often than not, they heavily rely on the next strategy:

Strategy No. 2: Make Connections

In writing, as in many other professions, connections are a key factor in getting a job. Once you are convinced that you are competent, the next step is to start letting people around you know what you do. There is no established rule here, but there are a few guidelines that you should keep in mind:

1. The worst way of making connections is to start calling personnel agencies and others who place writers in jobs. Obviously, they are interested in getting your resume - but since they have enough of these, and also have resumes of more experienced candidates, it is unlikely that they will be giving you a call anytime soon.

2. Personal connections are the best - and these do not necessarily come your way because of any special effort on your part. Graduates often make connections that lead to work by simply letting people know what they do - these can include neighbors, friends, relatives, people you work out with in the gym, parents of your children's friends, your dentist, doctor, plumber, etc. Time and again, graduates report that they got their first job through a chance mention that they were technical writers - out of the blue comes a connection "hey, that's interesting, my boss just mentioned that he's looking for a technical writer..." Personal connections of this type are worth much more than sending out a resume to a company that may have already received a stack of resumes and has no idea which candidates are the best for them.

3. Today, thanks to the internet, it is easier to make connections than ever before. Use facebook, linkedin, and  other social media services, to broaden your connections and to let more people know what you are doing - your chances of finding that first job improve exponentially.

Strategy 3: Persistence

This is actually the most important strategy of all - as a beginner you need to avoid "giving up". Often, beginners who can't find jobs fast enough, get discouraged and stop believing in themselves - this is deadly for any possible success in finding something. The moment you lose your confidence, the game is up. Similarly, if you stop trying to make connections and spreading the word that you're a writer and open for work, your chances also sharply diminish.

4. Continue to Learn and Progress in the Field

Getting a job can take time, depending on the market, your connections, and just plain luck. But while your looking, it's important to keep up with the field - continue to deepen your knowledge of technology, of technical writing tools, and of the issues that are current in the field. Join a technical writing list (such as techshoret), or follow various blogs on technical writing.