In Part I, I discussed some ways undergraduate students can enhance their education to be better prepared for getting into the technical writing field. This time, I’ll talk about some things to do during the application process to improve your chances for landing that tech writing job. In Part I, I touched on networking, a concept that begins during your education and continues while you apply for jobs—and throughout your career. While you’re applying for jobs, don’t forget the networking.

Part II discusses a flexible resume and portfolio and self-promotion.

I: Have a Fluid Resume and Portfolio

This suggestion is one of those that seems like common sense, but I think undergraduate tech writing students tend to think they have one resume and one portfolio. Either it doesn’t occur to them to change them, or they don’t care enough. Either way, it may be a big mistake.

Your resume and portfolio should play to the job that you are applying for at any given time. If you’re applying for a Web design job, list the aspects of your experience that show what you’ve done in that area and how you’ve excelled. Then put your Web samples in the front of your portfolio. Follow this basic tech writing adage: The reader should get the information she wants as quickly as possible. Don’t make an interviewer thumb through half your portfolio to get to something relevant.

I credit the fact that I have my current job partly with this practice. I brought samples that had to do with the advertised internship, which was software documentation. One in particular was a beginner’s guide to Adobe FrameMaker, which I had created as I took it upon myself to learn the basics. The document was close enough to what I ended up doing for the job—and what the interviewer had in mind—that I think that one manual had a lot to do with my getting the offer.

One aspect of rearranging your portfolio is leaving samples home if they’re irrelevant. The same goes for your resume: If you have enough work experience by the time you’re graduating, leave off that grocery store job you had in high school. This is part of the benefit of maximizing your educational experience as discussed in Part I. If you’ve had a couple of internships and found other ways to apply your skills, you’ll have enough resume material to bump off your high school job that probably had nothing to do with your career choice.

An aside here: Whatever you do, follow the application instructions. If they ask for a ten-year work history, give it, even if it does include that high school job. It’s better to show irrelevant work experience than to give the potential employer the idea that you slacked your way through high school… and that you don’t know how to follow directions.

I think I’ve ridden that horse far enough. Next suggestion.

II: Promote Yourself

If you don’t promote you, who will?

When you have done your best work during your education and sought out additional opportunities, you can be confident about what you’ve accomplished. Don’t be shy about selling yourself. Of course, don’t be arrogant, but there’s a solid line between arrogance and confidence. Employers want someone who is confident he can do the job.

When you write a cover letter for your resume, talk specifically about what you’ve done that shows you can do what the job description says. Don’t use a generic cover letter, the same as you shouldn’t use a generic resume and portfolio.

If you see a job posting that you don’t quite qualify for, apply anyway. If you see a job that interests you that is far above your qualifications, don’t be afraid to get in touch with the contact person to communicate your interest and ask if you can meet to talk about how your skills would benefit the organization. This may require getting out of your comfort zone, but again, there’s showing your confidence.

One last suggestion: Don’t delay getting work because you’re waiting for some tech writing job offer to wander to your door. If you’re a graduate and still haven’t gotten a job, find some temporary work, such as through a temp agency. That gives you the flexibility to leave for a tech writing job without an adverse effect on your resume, and who knows?—the temp job may itself lead to a tech writing job. I did a couple of months of warehouse work before getting my current job, and job ads were posted in that company for marketing writers. The important thing for most people is that they’re working and earning. Plus, the fact that you didn’t rest on your laurels while waiting for a job indicates to potential employers that you’re a hard worker. That can’t be a bad thing.

There’s enough advice to keep you busy for a while. Good luck on your job search. The field is growing, and there are always openings for technical writers out there. And if some organization needs some convincing that they need technical communicators, here’s some ammunition.