Entry-Level
Whether just out of school or transitioning to technical communication from another profession, you deserve a good start to your technical communication career. STC can give you that start. Once you're on your way, STC can help you plan a career strategy that will take you where you want to be five, ten, and twenty years down the road.
Continuing Education
As a technical communicator, you need to continuously update
your skills and knowledge. The technology you document is
evolving rapidly, as are the tools you use to document it. STC can
provide educational opportunities to keep you ahead of the curve:
Networking with Peers
Your fellow technical communicators can help solve problems
that you experience in your work. Whatever your situation,
chances are someone else has already dealt with a similar
problem. Peers can also be a great source for job leads, tips on
new tools, and industry trends.
STC makes it easy to meet other technical communication professionals at conferences and chapter meetings, through SIG e-mail discussions, and through special events like local job fairs. Through STC, you can find friends, a mentor, or maybe even your next employer.
Finding That Job
STC members are strongly supported in their job searches
through access to the Society's jobs database. This database is
available only to STC members.
Members can consult STC's annual salary survey to learn the salaries of technical writers and editors in the United States and Canada. Salaries are broken out by age, gender, level of education, and geographical categories.
Exploring Your Interests
STC special interest groups (SIGs) are groups of technical
communicators who share resources and information about a
particular field of the profession. Individual SIGs are devoted to
information design, technical editing, scientific communication,
and more than a dozen other specialties.
Competing for Recognition
How does your work rate? STC's technical publications,
technical art, and online communication competitions let you
find out. Winning entries are displayed at STC's annual
conference and some chapter events, generating recognition
for you and publicity for your company.