[FM Discuss] Floss Manuals - any links or referrals to paid work?

[Janet Swisher]

Hi Jay,

As you probably know, I've been banging the drum about getting
professional tech writers involved in open source for several years
now. For new graduates and career-changers, it can be a way out of the
"can't get a job without experience" conundrum. For experienced
writers, it can be a way to fill out your portfolio if everything you
do for hire requires a non-disclosure agreement to even show. And for
folks in the same boat as you, it can be a way to keep your chops
sharp between tech writing gigs, and have something to fill in a gap
on your resume.

If I were a hiring manager, I would be tremendously impressed by any
tech writer involved in open source, because doing that requires a
great deal of initiative and self-direction. However, I'm not a hiring
manager, and most that I've come across are not well informed about
open source. So, you would probably need to make that case yourself,
for example in a cover letter.

I personally have had one employer approach me about a position as a
result of work I did in connection with FLOSS Manuals, but I certainly
can't promise that to anyone.

--Janet

On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 3:55 PM, Jay Maechtlen <techwriter at covad.net> wrote:
> As an underemployed Technical Writer, I'm wondering what connections there
> might be between paid work and efforts like FlossManuals?
> Obviously, anything we do can be use in our portfolio.
> Also, for those open-source projects that are used commercially, it would be
> a way to show expertise.
> Thoughts?
>