You’ve almost completed your technical writing program, and naturally you’re thinking about starting your career in your new field.  You’ve heard that the market is really hot now as the demand for technical writers soars.  You, however, have a tiny challenge: you have no actual technical writing experience.  You also have no industry contacts and everyone you’ve studied with has found employment, or so it seems… everyone except you.  Where do you begin?  There are so many different areas of technical writing.  Which would you be good at? 

The solution - BCIT’s Industry Placement Program

While there are several technical writing programs available, BCIT’s is the only one in British Columbia that offers an Industry Placement Program to help transition students into their careers as professional technical writers. Its mandate is matching students by interest and knowledge with industry projects.  Students therefore begin their technical writing careers in an area where they’re both interested and comfortable, and in which they can make the greatest immediate contribution to the documentation process.

How Does It Help Students?

They gain valuable exposure and hands-on experience working in industry as technical writers.

They get an opportunity to create portfolio pieces.

They may be hired during future job searches by industry contacts and references. 

How Does It Work?

A database consisting of participating industry contacts is used to match students with projects that are right for them.  Students are selected for individual projects based on availability of projects and students’ interests and knowledge base. Projects must be short enough for students to complete within the framework of the program, and they cannot be of a confidential nature as any work done by students is considered sample work for their portfolio. Students are selected for projects based on the area of technical writing in which they are interested as well as their skills and knowledge gained through previous work and life experiences.

BCIT’s Industry Placement Program has been very successful in bridging the gap between technical writing student and professional technical writer. The program has been used by many students to date, and most have been hired by the companies with which they were matched.  Others have earned excellent referrals.

Want to learn more about the Industry Placement Program? Contact Thornston Ewald at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).