San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication

Speaker: Andrew Davis

About the program

COVID rewrote many of the rules for tech writers. From WFH (work from home) norms to hiring to compensation, the world is different now. Recent recessionary fears, regional bank collapses, security fears about China, and more, have made the 2021-22 tech industry hiring surge a nostalgic memory. ChatGPT and the possibility that tech writing will be automated aren’t helping job-seeking communicators. Then again, change and confusion are the bedrock of our careers.

This presentation will be highly interactive. Andrew will summarize what he sees and hears from the sidelines, opine about short-term trends, and seek your input about strategies that work and don’t. He’ll relate relevant advice as well as anecdotes, offer encouragement, and help you prepare for the next hiring wave.

About the speaker

Andrew Davis recruits technical content developers for software development and life sciences companies.

He is a former software industry Technical Writer and has a reputation for both understanding and championing the role of content development. He recruits Technical Writers, Technical Trainers, Courseware Developers, Instructional Designers, and Technical Content Writers for challenging staff and contract roles.

Andrew enjoys helping those who communicate complex information get ahead by recognizing and refining their value to technology companies. He’s candid and connected and, just as importantly, he likes to help tech industry workers gain their independence and operate without intermediaries.

He’d be happy to recruit you (or recruit for you) if you want his help.

Andrew T. Davis
Synergistech Communications, technical content developer recruiting
[email protected]
W: 707-554-9365, C: 650-271-0148
http://www.synergistech.com/advice.html (TC job search advice)
http://www.linkedin.com/in/synergistech (LinkedIn)
http://j.mp/sfba-tc (Comms jobs + contracts in SF Bay Area + remote)
https://www.quora.com/profile/Andrew-Davis-79 (Recruiting + TC answers)

Event Info

Time: Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 6:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom

Program:
6:30 to 7:00: Networking
7:00 to 7:25: Announcements
7:30 to 8:30: Presentation
8:30 to 8:45: More networking
~ 8:45: End the Zoom meeting

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86388481798

Meeting ID: 863 8848 1798
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Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbgkbQ7Fph

Important notes:

• Members of other chapters welcomed. If you belong to another STC chapter, you can attend our meetings.
• IABC members welcome. All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings.
• Non-members can attend. You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings.
• Tell us if you’re hiring or job-hunting. Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions or to announce that they are searching for work. Feel free to bring job listings, resumes, or business cards for distribution.

Speaker: Ace Howard

About the program

Accessibility around communication is not “nice to have,” but is a requirement.

When a company isn’t mature enough to be compliant with accessibility standards set by the ADA and Section 508, the best course of action is to submit a proposal and escalate it to the appropriate folks in leadership.

However, in the meantime, we as technical communicators must take the initiative to apply changes to our style guides and acceptance criteria to push our teams and stakeholders toward accessibility compliance. Then, when the official policy changes finally happen, the company will already have a base level of alignment.

This presentation is about the low-hanging fruit that we can harvest in the liminal space before any official policy changes are rolled out.

About the speaker

Ace Howard is a human based in San Francisco, CA. He currently works as a technical writer at Crunchyroll, where he also serves as a leader in Anime Enabled, an employee resource group focused on improving equity and inclusion efforts for people with disabilities.

Ace enjoys frogs, the color red in moderation, and art in most forms.

Event Info

Time: Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 6:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom

Program:
6:30 to 7:00: Networking
7:00 to 7:25: Announcements
7:30 to 8:30: Presentation
8:30 to 8:45: More networking
~ 8:45: End the Zoom meeting

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86388481798

Meeting ID: 863 8848 1798
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,86388481798# US (San Jose)
+14086380968,,86388481798# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 305 224 1968 US
+1 309 205 3325 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 360 209 5623 US
+1 386 347 5053 US
+1 507 473 4847 US
+1 564 217 2000 US
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbgkbQ7Fph

Important notes:

• Members of other chapters welcomed. If you belong to another STC chapter, you can attend our meetings.
• IABC members welcome. All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings.
• Non-members can attend. You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings.
• Tell us if you’re hiring or job-hunting. Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions or to announce that they are searching for work. Feel free to bring job listings, resumes, or business cards for distribution.

About the program

A roomful of technical communicators is seldom at a loss for ideas or opinions, and that goes for a Zoom-roomful as well. So join us for a lively and wide-ranging exploration.

Relevant articles:

• Tech Layoffs Shock Young Workers. The Older People? Not So Much. – NY Times
• Google, Microsoft, Amazon and other tech companies have laid off more than 70,000 employees in the last year – CNBC
• Here are the latest tech layoffs as the industry shudders – CBS News
• Tech Layoffs: U.S. Companies That Have Cut Jobs In 2022 and 2023 – Crunchbase

Discussion questions:

• Is there anyone who’d like to share layoff experiences?
  • Were there organizational signs at your company, or were you surprised?
  • What are ways to prepare in case it happens?
  • How did you market yourself post-layoff as you applied to positions?
  • What did you learn along the way?

• Are there trends as to what industries are hardest hit by layoffs? Are some more stable than others?
• How do you make your value visible in an organization?
• How can you use layoffs to pivot your career to a new industry or type of tech comm work?

We look forward to seeing you there.

Event Info

Time: Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 6:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom

Program:
6:30 to 7:00: Networking
7:00 to 7:25: Announcements
7:30 to 8:30: Open discussion
8:30 to 8:45: More networking
~ 8:45: End the Zoom meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86388481798

Meeting ID: 863 8848 1798
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,86388481798# US (San Jose)
+14086380968,,86388481798# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
        +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
        +1 669 444 9171 US
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 719 359 4580 US
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
        +1 646 931 3860 US
        +1 689 278 1000 US
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
        +1 305 224 1968 US
        +1 309 205 3325 US
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 360 209 5623 US
        +1 386 347 5053 US
        +1 507 473 4847 US
        +1 564 217 2000 US
Meeting ID: 863 8848 1798
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbgkbQ7Fph

Important notes:

• Members of other chapters welcomed. If you belong to another STC chapter, you can attend our meetings.
• IABC members welcome. All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings.
• Non-members can attend. You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings.
• Tell us if you’re hiring or job-hunting. Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions or to announce that they are searching for work. Feel free to bring job listings, resumes, or business cards for distribution.