Danielle M. Villegas, who blogs as TechCommGeekMom, shares the steps she took to make herself into a brand in order to successfully gain a position in technical communications. This presentation was delivered to the STC-PMC Mid-Atlantic Technical Conference in Willow Grove, PA on March 8, 2013.

1. How Did you Get That Tech
Comm Job?

2. Who Am I?
Just like you.

3. Danielle M. Villegas
• Currently a Web Publishing
consultant at BASF
• 2012 Graduate of the MSPTC
Program at NJIT
• Part-time instructor for World
Learning
• Part of the Thought Leadership
for Adobe Technical
Communication group

4. Employers may be aggravating the
'skills gap'
Employers having difficulty finding qualified people
Millions of small- and medium-sized employers are
unwilling or unable to spend $ to bring new hires up to
speed; training often the 1st thing cut; question of ROI
(Source - NBC News: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/employers-may-be-
aggravating-skills-gap-1C7450821)

5. How Can You Stand Out?

6. Specialist or Generalist?
• Generalist=
Multi-Specialist
• Most employers are
asking for specialists
BUT...
• Multi-Specialists have
more value; can grow &
adapt with changes.
Promote your
specialties!

7. Examples of Multi-Specialist skills
Sure, you can write, but do you know…
• SEO?
• Use Social Media (Facebook,
Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn)?
• Web design?
• Instructional design?
• Content management?

8. Create an E-Portfolio of
Your Work
• This impresses employers!
• Provides PROOF of your
skills
• Update regularly
• If needed, "sanitize"
in-house documents as
needed.
http://techcommgeekmom.businesscatalyst.com

9. Get an education!
• Take a course--any course! Learn
a new skill or update one you
already have
• Grad certificates, Master's
degrees available
• Also courses, course certificates,
and professional certification
through STC
• Learn new software - use
Lynda.com

10. Get Involved in Social Media
• Helps to stay on top of
trends in the field and what
technology
• Connect with experts and
other tech comm pros
• Start a blog to share ideas
and viewpoints

11. This Company Will Only Accept 'Twitter
Resumes' For A Six-Figure Job
February 20, 2013 - from Business Insider:
Enterasys — a wireless network provider —
will be considering applicants for a six-figure
senior social media position, but no paper
résumés will be accepted. Instead, the
company has decided to recruit solely via
Twitter.
Jennifer Grabowski, a spokesperson for the
company, tells us that candidates need to
have a minimum Klout score above 60, a
minimum Kred influence score of 725, a Kred
outreach of at least eight, and more than
1,000 active Twitter followers in order to be
considered. Enterasys is hoping to fill the
position by April.
http://www.businessinsider.com/your-tweets-are-more-important-than-your-rsum-2013-2

12. How do I get involved in
Social Media?

13. TechCommGeekMom.com

14. Get a Part-Time Job in
the Meantime
• Helps to gain new skills or
keep current skills fresh
• Often pays better than
unemployment and helps
build employment credibility
as well

15. Network, Network, Network!
• Get involved in STC activities
• Keep in touch with
people you meet at
conferences
• Use social media! Start with
Twitter and hashtag
#techcomm

16. Create a Functional Résumé
Instead of a Chronological Résumé
Improve your chances--show off your skills, not
your history!

17. Why We Should Ban Resumes!
The idea of matching someone’s skills and experience on a resume to a
job description consisting of an arbitrary list of skills and experiences
seems rather archaic to me. Some people actually defend doing this
faster as a major advance in modern HR practices.
--Lou Adler, The Original Headhunter and Author: Hire With Your Head and The Essential Guide for Hiring and
Getting Hired (February 21, 2013)
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130221192310-15454-why-we-should-ban-resumes?_mSplash=1
Social Resumes Increase in Recruiting and Job Seeking [infographic]
http://www.recruiter.com/i/social-resumes-increase-in-recruiting-and-job-seeking-infographic/

18. Chronological Résumé

19. Functional Résumé

20. Summary: Create Your Own Brand!
• Become a multi-specialist
• Create an e-portfolio of your work
• Get an education
• Get involved in social media
• Get a part-time job in the meantime
• Network with other tech comm professionals
• Create a functional résumé instead of a chronological one

21. Contact me:
Email:
techcommgeekmom@me.com
Website/Blog:
TechCommGeekMom.com
E-Portfolio:
http://techcommgeekmom.businesscatalyst.com
Twitter:
@techcommgeekmom

22. Questions/Discussion?