STC CWC Member Forum

Recruitment agencies—friend or foe?

2010-04-05T19:51:09-08:00

In recent years it has become quite a common practice to hire technical writers through a recruitment agency. Although Dynapro Systems, Rockwell Software, and Rockwell Automation had been my clients since 1996, on the most recent contract I did for them they hired my technical writing services through an agency. This was after a 12-year long, extremely positive working relationship! I was an incorporated technical writing consultant with multiple clients. I had turned down several offers for permanent employment with the company as a technical writer over the years. What earthly reason could they have for wanting to pay a higher rate to go through an agency?

Obviously, this was a new corporate policy, which affected my technical writing contracts with my long-time client from 2008 onwards. So to unravel this mystery, let’s take a look at what was happening in the news back then in the high tech world. Well, actually, we’ll have to go back about 10 years, to 1998:

Microsoft Loses Major Lawsuit Brought by Technical Writers

This story was brought to my attention when I raised this issue at one of our contractor meetings a while back. Some technical writers who were contractors successfully sued Microsoft to be deemed employees. Their goal was to gain access to Microsoft’s extremely generous employee benefit package. Although they won the lawsuit, their actions have had a major negative impact on the rest of us technical writers. There is now something called The Microsoft Rule which requires technical writers to work on contracts for a maximum of one year and then take a six month break, to avoid the possibility of being deemed an employee. Rockwell instituted this policy as well.

In the old days, the main thing Canadian companies worried about was the Canada Revenue Agency test for distinguishing an employee from a contractor. Companies didn’t want to get stuck paying EI and CPP for temporary workers. And contractors like me, who enjoy this way of life, were just as eager to ensure we met the conditions for being considered independent. Incorporation for the contractor was an additional step that established one as an independent technical writer.

Coming back to the present, in my experience through monitoring the jobs on monster.ca and workopolis.com, the majority of new technical writing contracts are advertised by recruiting agencies. I receive several calls a week from recruiters from throughout North America, looking for technical writers to fill positions here in BC and Alberta! What madness! It is becoming more and more difficult to be hired directly. I believe the main reason is that companies are afraid of having the same problem that Microsoft had, so they seek the protection of having a layer of bureaucracy between themselves and their hired hands.

As always, it is the worker who pays the price. For the company isn’t willing to pay a higher fee for long. (Rockwell asked me to drop my rate by $25/hour if I wanted to continue to do work for them—after taking a six month break, of course. I refused.) Recruiting agencies charge an hourly fee on every hour worked by the writer. This fee does not come out of the company’s pocket. It comes from the writer. So the rates being offered to writers are dropping as a consequence. By about the same amount as the agencies charge. Coincidence? I think not!

It’s a sad state of affairs, my friends! If any parallel between the recruitment agency and the procurer in the world’s oldest profession comes to mind, I wouldn’t blame you. I have had the same thought myself!

What value do these agencies add? Most of them don’t understand what a technical writer does and are not in a position to evaluate our resumes, skills, or experience. They offer the same type of service that the company’s in-house human resources department already performs—finding candidates, performing an initial interview (often a superficial 5-minute phone call, in my recent experience), and checking on references if the candidate is offered a position. For this, the recruitment agency takes their chunk, hour after hour, for the life of the contract. And they have a clause that prevents the technical writer from working directly for the company for a minimum period of time after the contract ends. The agency I am currently working through wanted this period to be a year, but I managed to negotiate the term down to nine months.

I would love to hear your responses to this posting. Do you agree that recruitment agencies are taking unfair advantage of technical writers in the new Microsoft Rule world? Do you see value in going through an agency? Have you had positive experiences you could share with your peers? Do you see any way to improve this situation?

3 May 2011 notes from STC-CWC Consultants and Independent Contractors meetup

2011-05-05T01:03:31-08:00

7:00 to 8:15 at Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St., lower level food court 
Attending: Judith, Josh, Heather, Sera, Ariel, Maria, Pam 
Organized by Ben Hechter who sent regrets
  
Attendees (and recent CIC attendees) receive emailed notes. Notes also are posted to the Contractors forum  http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/

Job announcements 
⁃ postings on the STC-CWC job board 
⁃ referrals from Ben, Rahel, Grant

Randstad Engineering is looking for tech writers to fill several full time contract positions.
John Yamazaki, Randstad Engineering, 604.915.9333, http://www.randstad.com
555 West 12th Avenue Suite 475 - West Tower, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 3X7

City of Vancouver has multiple positions for Web Projects Coordinators and Web Publishing Specialists, your basic writing / content strategy jobs, long-term contract work, http://vancouver.ca/humanresources/jobs/index.htm
 
Discussion
⁃ for tax purposes, what happens when you have U.S. clients? 
⁃ finding the ‘positive’ in a request to recommend a colleague’s ill-regarded work 
⁃ tactics on how to follow up at the close of an interview 
⁃ receiving swag after the interview—is this a consolation prize? 
⁃ stale job postings that turn urgent—if you’ve only waited for a few months don’t worry
⁃ question the agency that takes $65 and pays you $35/hr 
⁃ if the recruiter doesn’t keep you in the loop don’t waste your time
⁃ Business Network International can be a costly network to buy in to and a risky way to buy services
⁃ join the STC Canada West Coast LinkedIn group to get job updates 
⁃ Targeted Wage Subsidy Program, a federally funded assistance program covers a portion of a tech writers wage, http://fwt.bc.ca/jobseeker-sciencelink.php
⁃ Future Works Training Inc. a pilot project to prepare technology workers, http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/cs/comm/news/2003/030508.shtml
⁃ ongoing competition to snag contracts but also to share leads 
⁃ ongoing debate on how to pronounce ISO
 
Next meeting 
Tuesday September 6, 2011
  The May meeting concludes regular gathering for this season. We usually take the summer off but for those who want to meet informally please post replies to the Contractors forum, http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/
 Location: To be announced
There is no RSVP. Just show up. 
For more information, contact cicsig at stcwestcoast dot ca

5 April 2011 notes from STC-CWC CIC meetup

2011-04-06T10:52:20-08:00

5 April 2011 notes from STC-CWC Consultants and Independent Contractors meetup  

7:00 to 8:15 at Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St., lower level food court
Organized by Ben Hechter  
Attending: Ben, Judith, Josh, Christine, Heather, Artie, Tony, Michelle, Pam
Attendees (and recent CIC attendees) receive emailed notes. Notes also are posted to the Contractors forum  http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/

Job announcements
⁃ postings on the STC-CWC job board
⁃ referrals from STC-CWC contractors
⁃ recent cold calls to STC-CWC contractors led to viable positions in industry and unions
⁃ Charityvillage.com offers volunteer work in nonprofit sector

Discussion
⁃ I have an interview tomorrow, what should I bring?
⁃ course refund policy varies widely among local institutes
⁃ advantages of incorporation, are there any?
⁃ competing for contracts and sharing leads, they can be done simultaneously
⁃ contracting is more fun than not being paid
⁃ expectations on becoming a permanent employer—getting paid
⁃ request info on ISO and ANSI, make sure to pronounce it “I-so”
⁃ creative uses of spare time: optimize personal website, volunteer at not-for-profits, become visible
⁃ a flex schedule sometimes makes the office too quiet
⁃ the thinking process is clarified when you see the whole product
⁃ why no parking validation when they called you for an interview
⁃ if the UI isn’t good then don’t waste time with it
⁃ can I invoice a potential employer for wasting my time?
⁃ world’s worst interview experience—group audition, group writing test, interviewer tweets about watching you sweat
⁃ volunteers needed for Programs team
⁃ presenters wanted for Pecha Kucha program in chapter’s 2011-12 season. Watch Pecha Kucha at an upcoming event, http://www.pecha-kucha.org/night/vancouver/16

Next meeting 
First Tuesday of the month, May 3, 2011 
This will conclude regular meetings for this season. We usually take the summer off but for those who want to meet informally please post replies to the Contractors forum, http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/

 Location: Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St. There are several Tim Hortons nearby. Use the app TimmyME to locate us.  
There is no RSVP. Just show up. 

For more information, contact cicsig at stcwestcoast dot ca

What hoops are required to jump through to do contracting for U.S. businesses?

2011-03-30T14:30:41-08:00

Just wondering if anybody here has done contracting for U.S.-based businesses, and if so, what does one need to do to be *allowed* to do work for them?

Specifically, working from *here* (Vancouver), creating content for a business in the US. No trips down there, everything done via email.

Interested in Gastown office space?

2011-03-22T14:07:17-08:00

Posted on behalf of a friendly business that hires technical writers and supports communities of practice in our field:

We are a small consulting company with an office for rent in Gastown, 134 Abbott Street. Our building is very clean and well managed. Our suite consists of 4 individual offices, a boardroom, a kitchen and an entrance with chairs for guests. The available office measures 12’ x 7’ and comes furnished with an L shaped desk, filing cabinet (with a shelving unit) and a telephone.

Included in the monthly rent is your own telephone number and voicemail that gets delivered to your email address as a sound file, use of our fax machine, internet access (including wireless), use of the boardroom and our small kitchen with refrigerator and microwave. For an additional cost we could provide you with any administrative services you’d require and access to our office equipment (printers).

The rent is $500 + HST per month covering all operating costs except your long distance phone and fax charges.

Please drop us an email if you’d like to come and take a look: hous-tq98j-2258291847 at craigslist dot org

1 March 2011 notes from STC-CWC CIC meetup

2011-03-03T23:57:44-08:00

1 March 2011 notes from STC-CWC Consultants and Independent Contractors meetup
  7:00 to 8:15 at Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St., lower level food court

Organized by Ben Hechter  
Attending: Ben, Eric, Grant, Sera, Mathew, Pam

Attendees (and recent CIC attendees) receive emailed notes. Notes also are posted to the Contractors forum  http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/

Job announcements
 ⁃ postings on the STC-CWC job board
⁃ posting at Atimi.com
⁃ SAP training specialist announced at Feb mtg has been filled
 
Discussion
Characteristics that make you a qualified candidate—flexible, versatile, assured

 ⁃ Researcher in education history wants to branch out from scholarly writing and editing student works. Not inclined to pursue computer manual writing. Possible alternatives include educational media relations. To sell your services meet people who don’t do what you do.

 ⁃ New grad discovered technical writing, editing and proofreading opportunities while living abroad. Learned the Apple style guide. Now exploring fields to apply those skills here at home. Consensus that 75% of technical writers specialize in some form of computer documentation.

 ⁃ Liberal arts refugee has a knack for teaching. Learned about computer aptitude from an interview at a research institute. Compete for contracts outside your inner circle.

 ⁃ Legal secretary with a fondness for language found steady employment by temping. Skilled in Word and a proclaimed generalist, the natural next step was completing a tech writing course. “Anthropology” writer writes about anything. Industry often seeks out specialists.

 ⁃ Early retiree caught in down economic cycle prompted to earn supplemental cash. Turn someone’s need into your opportunity. For example, offer to edit a website to learn HTML.

 ⁃ “Inbetween jobs” contractor uses CIC meetings to build, maintain and renew professional network. Exploit the hidden job market.

Next meeting
 First Tuesday of the month, April 5, 2011  Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St.
Several Tim Hortons are nearby. Use the app TimmyME to locate us.  
No RSVP needed. Just show up.  
For more information, contact cicsig at stcwestcoast dot ca

1 February 2011 notes from STC-CWC CIC meetup

2011-02-03T00:04:55-08:00

1 February 2011 notes from STC-CWC Consultants and Independent Contractors meetup
  7:00 to 8:15 at Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St., lower level food court

Organized by Ben Hechter 
Attending: Heather, Eric, Pam

Attendees (and recent CIC attendees) receive emailed notes. Notes also are posted to the Contractors forum  http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/

 Job announcements 
⁃ SAP CANADA has an opening for a training specialist (see description below) 
⁃ several new postings on the STC-CWC job board   

Discussion 
⁃ Learning where non technical tech writing opportunities exist 
⁃ Finding work in your niche market 
⁃ Exploring characteristics that make you a qualified candidate 
⁃ Competing for BC contracts and Aboriginal-focused work 
⁃ Building, maintaining and renewing your professional network  

SAP HCM Training Specialist
The focus of this role is to build SAP HCM training materials and provide some training delivery in the form of classroom training or individualized coaching session.
Responsibilities:
• Develop Training Materials (Instructor’s Guide, Student Workbook, Slides, Exercises, On-Line User Guides)
• Review Training and User Documentation Deliverables
• Liaise with Project team for Technical Components of Training
• Work with Change Mgmt Lead to ensure joint solution delivery
• Coordinates the distribution of training material, equipment, and evaluations to avoid redundancies and confusion.
• Establishes and maintains a library of soft-copy curriculum resources and documentation for the project.
• Maintains course information including related spreadsheet and list of training material, registration, attendance, and course evaluation feedback forms.
• Prepare and maintain periodic and ad hoc reports and statistical summaries on training program progress including courses delivered total number of participants, and measurement of evaluations.
• Organizes and reports on training materials; and responds to requests from clients and trainers for general information related to training program.
• Print, assemble and deliver training materials and distributes to course participants or to training sessions.
• Book training facilities and equipment, order catering and supporting materials for training sessions.
• Participates as a member of the change management team, contributing to the delivery and organization of the training program.
• Ability to provide in class training or “one on one” coaching sessions.

Qualifications:
• Experience developing materials for an SAP deployment, preferably including HCM.
• Experience developing materials for an on-line, self serve web solution.
• Excellent organizational ability in order to coordinate multiple concurrent tasks and schedules.
• Well developed customer service skills to work with peers, managers and external contractors.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools including MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.
• Working knowledge of standard office administration routines and practices.

Contacts for SAP Training Specialist:
Valleri Okos - SAP Canada
valleri dot okos at sap dot com

Jeff Skipper - Peacebridge Performance Inc.
jskipper at shaw dot ca

 Next meeting
  First Tuesday of the month, March 1, 2011 
Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St. There are several Tim Hortons nearby. Use the app TimmyME to locate us.
 There is no RSVP. Just show up.
For more information, contact us at cicsig at stcwestcoast dot ca

4 January 2011 notes from STC-CWC CIC meetup

2011-01-05T21:38:31-08:00

4 January 2011 notes from STC-CWC Consultants and Independent Contractors meetup 
7:00 to 8:30 at Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St., lower level food court

Organized by Pam Drucker
Attending: Heather, Morgan, Robert, Pam

Attendees (and recent CIC attendees) receive emailed notes. Notes also are posted to the Contractors forum  http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/

We usually take the holidays off but decided to hold an informal January meeting.

Job announcements
⁃ AeroInfo has an opening
⁃ several new postings on the STC-CWC job board
⁃ TW posting paying 100K (must be a lawyer)

Discussion
⁃ Mining sector sees openings as boomers retire
⁃ Subtle messages—deciphering when to stay on, when to look elsewhere
⁃ Take charge 30 days before the contract ends
⁃ Self direction—a good trait for remote workers
⁃ They need your historical knowledge but won’t hire you permanently
⁃ What Are You Worth? Our colleagues at the BC Editors’ Association address this question at their January meeting. http://www.editors.ca/node/904

Ring in the new year
Here is a 2011 job forecast from Stats Canada and CareerBuilder.ca
⁃ Information technology is expected to be the second fastest growing sector
⁃ 51% of hiring managers expect companies will supplement staff with contract workers
⁃ 57% of employers are concerned that talent will leave when the economy improves
⁃ 70% of employers say they are in better financial position now than a year ago
⁃ 77% of employers say they will increase compensation for staff by about 3%

 Next meeting
 First Tuesday of the month, February 1, 2011
Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St. There are several Tim Hortons nearby. Use the app TimmyME to locate us.
There is no RSVP. Just show up.

For more information, contact us at cicsig at stcwestcoast dot ca

7 December 2010 notes from STC-CWC Independent Contractors (CIC) meetup

2010-12-08T16:17:40-08:00

7 December 2010 notes from STC-CWC Independent Contractors (CIC) meetup 
7:00 to 9:00 at Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St., lower level food court

Organized by Ben Hechter 
Attending: Ben, Heather, Jacquie, Ariel, Artie, John, Josh, Kristin, Mellissa and Pam

Attendees (and recent CIC attendees) receive emailed notes. Notes also are posted to the Contractors forum  http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/
The CIC meetings attract 10-12 attendees per month. There is no RSVP. Anyone interested can just show up.

The format
- introductions
- job seekers/job leads
- biz discussion
- next CIC date/venue

Job announcements
- AeroInfo is looking for a contractor
- WorkSafe BC is looking for a writer/editor for its annual report
- 4 postings on STC-CWC job board since last CIC meetup

What do you want to gain from tonight’s meeting?
- Leverage disparate experiences (industry, language) by creating job aids for non-English speakers
- Make contacts to “save my job”
- Seek/offer expert advice on converting Word docs to FrameMaker
- Is it wise to seek jobs beyond Hope (and the Fraser Valley)
- How to transition back to tech writing from a role that expanded to speechwriting, training and polishing emails (the Hotel California dilemma)
- How to transition in to tech writing from teaching French to elementary students
- How to leverage construction industry and Japanese translation experiences
- How to remain professionally engaged while waiting out the end of year lull

Discussion
- Tech writers have special skills whether learned, such as project estimation, or natural as having an eye for design or an ear for tone
- Knowing French doesn’t make you a translator just as knowing English doesn’t make you a writer
- Break-in to tech writing by offering a special skill, for example doing a gap analysis or audit report
- Soft sell your services by offering unsolicited advice about document or website makeover and following up to make a business connection
- Learn about a sector, a function, and hidden opportunities by engaging in informational interviews
- Leverage disparate experiences (industry, language) by creating job aids for non-English speakers
- Recommend Adobe’s Classroom in a Book for self-paced training and Adobe TV for online training
- Self-training is effective when you can apply training to a specific project but staying focused takes discipline
- eNegotiations—multilateral bargaining for mutual gain; imagine India and China both going after the same river
- Find opportunities to partner with those whose skills need polish—specifically in writing, editing, organization, presentation, design. For collaborative and entrepreneurial opportunities see http://democamp.com and http://bootup.ca
- Must haves—a contract and legal advice. See documents under the heading Useful Model Files http://www.stcsig.org/cic/pages/links.htm#Files

Next meeting
 First Tuesday of the month. We usually take the holidays off but for those who want to meet, our next meeting will be 4 January 2011, Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St. There are several Tim Hortons nearby. Use the app TimmyME to locate us.

The STC-CIC group wishes everyone a happy holiday. See you next year!

2 November 2010 notes from Consultants and Independent Contractors (CIC) meetup

2010-11-03T13:33:42-08:00

2 November 2010 notes from STC-CWC Independent Contractors (CIC) meetup
7:00 to 9:00 at Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St., lower level food court

Organized by Ben Hechter
Attending: Ben, Heather, Judith, Maria, Morgan, Rob, Jacquie, Tony, Ariel, Artie, John and Pam

Attendees (and recent CIC attendees) receive emailed notes. Notes also posted to the Contractors forum
http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/

A bigger than usual group showed up for coffee talk. Ben acknowledged that a looser format wouldn’t be effective. To give everyone equal air time, Ben started the conversation followed by two roundtable discussions.

The format
⁃ introductions
⁃ job announcements
⁃ biz discussion
⁃ next CIC date/venue

Round 1
Welcome new independent contractors. You are not unemployed!
Introductions and the contractor lure

Job announcements
⁃ E-learning Consultant at WCB
⁃ Instructional Project Lead at WCB
⁃ Training Design & Delivery Consultant through Annex

Round 2
What’s in your bag of tricks for contacting?
⁃ To make ends meet, use a budget and billing strategy. Bank one month’s of receivables, spread spending over non-earning months

⁃ To build a portfolio, do volunteer for non-profits or do open source work

⁃ Find a good accountant; they may happen to live in Australia

What is the next good course to take?
⁃ Tech writing role is not usually strictly defined

⁃ To compare tech writing programs first assess your lateral interest: if writing, then SFU program; if technology, then BCIT program

⁃ Technical Communicator is preferred title in Douglas Print Futures program

What’s the key to contact renewals?
⁃ Ask loads of Qs, understand the company’s business requirements

⁃ Understand how to separate information types; concept, reference, task

⁃ Need breaks in long term contracts

Advice and observations
⁃ To transition from an engineering background to tech writing, be as well-rounded as possible

⁃ To find work/life balance, negotiate to work at home 1 day per wk

⁃ To demonstrate technical competency, create a T-Letter. Draw a big “T”. List employer’s requirements on one side; match your qualifications on the other

⁃ Elance (an online contracting service) - you can’t work for $5-10/hr in North America

⁃ By a show of hands, most contractors are not incorporated

Next meeting
First Tuesday of the month, 7 December 2010, Tim Hortons, 200 Burrard St. There are several in the vicinity. There’s an app for that: TimmyME