There were four students in this batch who had different Educational Qualifications. At the same time all of them had prior work experience with different backgrounds.   

A meritorious student is placed in TWB itself. All of them were enthusiastic and interactive throughout the program. Team TWB wishes them all the best.

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 Rajendra Prasad Chamlagai is currently working as an Instructional Designer at Dexler Information Solutions Pvt. Ltd.in the E-Learning Division. He graduated as a Bachelor of Arts and worked as a Teacher and Medical Transcriptionist. He successfully completed the TWB Associate Certification Program in April 2008. Read on to know more about Rajendra… 

What is the most challenging part in your profession? 

Instructional designers develop instructional specifications. They apply specific instructional and learning theories to impart the learning effectively. In a software industry, instructional specifications or learning materials are required to train the users before they use the application. Thus, instructional design is applicable to everything that can be classified as learning. Technical writers on the other hand create document that is used by the users while using the application. 

Since the learners are spread globally, sometimes it becomes challenging to anticipate things from their point of view. Basic-level courses are generally easy as you can include all the information in them. Advanced-level courses require more analysis and thinking. 

What do you like most about as an Instructional Designer? 

To write expressively on a variety of subject matters, you need to have an inquisitive and a probing mind as well as a passion for information. As long as I am a technical writer or an instructional designer, I compulsorily need to maintain these qualities, and the best part is I get paid for it. 

How many members according to you should ideally be there in a team ? 

 A team consisting of 5-7 members can give the best results. Communication and monitoring might be time consuming in a larger team. 

What motivates you the most? 

While creating the learning materials, I get to know the business processes in various industries such as oil and gas, shipping, and huge plants in depth. This is the main factor that keeps me going. 

If you weren’t an Instructional Designer what else you would rather be?

 I would have been a social worker. 

Which of these according to you is better? - Working in a team or working alone.

I like working alone. 

If you could change one aspect of your profession, what would it be?

I have just completed one year in this profession and I am fully enjoying it. Maybe after few more years, I would be able to tell you that. 

Have you ever had come across one of your deliverables after its release into the market? 

The courses I create are mostly used for certification. Thus, I come across them now and then. 

How would you rate yourself as an Instructional Designer on a scale of 1 to 10? 

On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate myself as 7.

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Hello All,

I received this mail from one of the TWB Alumni working at IBM. She is currently working as a Team lead and is looking for 2 technical writers. please respond to her directly. The details are:

From: Anitha T Santhanam

Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 2:15 PM
To: dr.annapoorna

Subject: Job Opening for the Post of Technical Writers as Database Administrator 

Hi Annapoorna, 

Greeting! This is Anitha Team Leader in IBM for Technical Writer team, 

Currently, we have an opening in IBM for the Post of Technical Writers(Database Administration).We are looking for a candidate with min. 2  years of experience.( Not in the relevant field), but should be a Certified Technical Writer.  

Required Skills 

• Good in Communication (Verbal and written)     
• Good Listening Skills     
• Individual Contributor     
• Quick Learner     
• Aptitude to work with huge team and to learn the new process     
• Good Team player     
• Mini. 2 or 1+ years of experience     
• Certified Technical Writer     
• Knowledge on Documentation 

Role and Responsibility for the Current opening in IBM for the post ofTechnical Writer as Database Administrator. 

• Administrating the database for the Account Specific individuals     
• Attending the Weekly meeting Calls with the Goes     
• Creating an account to the individuals and sending an intimation mails     
• Testing the database     
• Monitoring and processing the Request in the Generic mailbox     
• Updating the Work Instructions per the new process     
• CV/JD review for UK & US     
• Updating the Global Document Mapping Matrix     
• Maintaining the Activity report 

Contact  details 

• Contact Name: Anitha T
• Company Name: IBM, India 

About our Team, 

We are the Document Writers and Branding & Communication team with 30members (14 members are document writers with certified Technical Writers) out of which 11 are from TWB. 

We are the Team who does a multi- tasking job with different dimension 

•  Document Writers     
• Graphic Designer & Content Designer     
• Database Administrator (Geo Specific) 

Thanks in advance and appreciate your prompt response. 

Regards, 

Anitha

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Dear Training Team,

 This is to inform you that Veena Krishna from Funda 61 has been placed at Convergys through Adecco.She is on a one year contract.Further details can be obtained from Veena directly.Her email address   is veena.krishna18@gmail.com .

Pramodh

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 Anil Kumar graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature. He completed the TWB Fundamental Certification Program successfully in June 2007. He is currently working as a Junior Technical Writer in Ocwen Financial Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in the Documentation Department. Following is an excerpt of an interview Team TWB had with Anil. 

How did the training at TWB help you?

The TWB course helped me develop my technical writing conventions, information gathering and organizing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques. It gave me the confidence and the know-how to get a permanent job in a reputed, multi-national software firm. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years, I endeavor to have refined my technical writing skills and knowledge in the Mortgage Banking domain. I intend to be an expert in using the popular authoring tools like FrameMaker, RoboHelp and Photoshop. More importantly, I will continue contributing my abilities in a challenging and rewarding environment in whatever capacity I am employed as. 

What kind of impact has your position had on your lifestyle?

Not much. Given that technical writing job pays a decent salary, I’ve been able to lead a decent lifestyle. 

Is there any particular style you follow in your writing?

I follow my company style guide, which defines the guidelines and the writing styles to be used for different manuals (for example, writing style used in a Processes Guide is different from a Setup/Supervisor/Administration Guide). 

What advice would you give to someone who is entering the field of Technical Writing?

Technical Writing is a combination of writing and technology. If you can communicate concepts clearly and concisely, conforming to a specific style, you are most probably suited for the job. You also need technical aptitude. 

How do you visualize technical writing after 5 years from now?

In the coming years, I believe technical writers will be moving towards DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) or similar architecture that allows you to reuse topic-based content. Also, the printed help manuals will give way for the online/web-based help. 

What kinds of tasks do you complete during a typical day or week?

It depends on the task I am assigned for a period of time. If I am assigned to create a new manual or update an existing manual, then I start with the Requirement Definition Document (RDD). The RDD gives a fair idea about what the project is all about and the people (SMEs/developers) involved with the project. Then meetings are held with the project manager, developers, and the business unit team to finalize the type of documentation. Then the actual process of information gathering and organizing it starts. 

What domains have you worked on?

Mortgage Banking 

How do you define ‘professionalism’?

Believing passionately in what you do, never compromising on the set standards and values, and taking care of your clients, your family, and your career. 

What are the skills required to be a technical writer?

Effective communication, active listening and learning, information gathering and organization, product inspection and evaluation, English language and computer knowledge.

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 Binu Thomas worked as a Proofreader at Macmillan after he graduated with an M.A in Economics. He successfully completed the TWB Fundamental Certification Program in August 2006. He is currently working as a Technical writer at MetricStream in the Documentation team. Read on more to know about Binu… 

How did the training at TWB help you?It gave me an overall idea about the technical writing

Where do you see yourself  5 years from now?As a senior technical writer

What kind of impact has your position had on your lifestyle?

• Reading more

• Earning more

Is there any particular style you follow in your writing?

• Using information mapping

• Adhering to Company Standard (Style Guide)

What advice would you give to someone who is entering the field of Technical Writing?

• Need to have a good command over English

• Ready to study new things (update business intelligence)

• Dedication

How do you visualize technical writing after 5 years from now?

This field will grow in leaps and bounds

What kind of tasks do you complete on a typical day or week?

• Meet testers and developers

• Update or write User Guide, System Admin Guide and Online Help

• Send the guides for review (edit and technical)

• Incorporate review comments

• Format guides

• Publish

What domains have you worked on?

• ERP

• Audits

• Risk

• Governance

How do you define ‘professionalism’?

Approach to work in a very objective manner

What are the skills required to be a technical writer?

• Good command over the English language

• Good communication skill

• Team player

• Ready to learn new things

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All

The Bangalore Technical Writers Meetup-Supported by STC India
is pleased to announce a one-day workshop for freshers and enthusiasts
in Technical Writing on June 27,2009 at Adobe.

Adobe is sponsoring this session.

Please make sure that you are present at the venue by 09:15AM (latest)to
avoid inconvenience to the speakers and the participants.

Time: 9:30 am-4pm

Please note that the registrations for the session closes on
June 24, 2009. The workshop is FREE for both STC and non-STC members.
However, registration is mandatory. For registration, please drop in an email to
rguptaz@gmail.com..

The workshop ‘Introduction to Technical Writing’ is conducted by Vasanth
Vaidyanathan and will cover the following areas:

• Introduction to Technical Writing

• Audience Analysis

• Types of Audience

• Writing styles

• Technical writing components

• Product knowledge

• Document types

• Project documentation

• Product documentation

• Book design components

• Templates

• Document Development Life cycle

• Maintenance issues

The workshop would also include exercises as well. After each main section,
we would give the exercises to those attending.

Speaker Profile:
Vasanth holds a bachelors degree in Electronics and Communication
engineering, and a masters degree in software systems.. His wide industry
experience areas include software development, technical support,
release engineering, performance testing, and technical documentation.
Vasanth is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM). He is a senior member of
Society for Technical Communication (STC), and is the Immediate Past
President of STC India chapter. He has presented papers in several
conferences. Vasanth won the “Best Paper” award in the PMI APAC
conference held in India (2005). Vasanth is currently a Documentation
Manager at Consona Software, Bangalore.

Venue for the workshop:
Adobe Adobe Systems India Pvt. Ltd.,
Salarpuria Infinity, 3rd Floor,
# 5, Bannerghatta Road ,
Bangalore

You can also get the directions by clicking the following URL-

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=adobe,+bangalore&ie=UTF8&z=13&iwloc=A

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