Human Factors

By Kathryn Poe, Associate Fellow

Welcome to the Human Factors column. My intent is to talk to some of our senior members and officers so you can get to know them and they can share with you. LSC has a plethora of folks who have been in technical communications for some time. We have seen major changes in technology, expectations, and direction since we started, and here is our chance to communicate some of that to you. As I like to tell the newbies I meet, if I can keep you from stepping in a few of the potholes I have found, it is worth the effort.

By way of exposition, I will ask a person the same questions each month and their answers will appear right here. Feel free to send your ideas and comments to me at kpoe@ursaminorservices.com to make this information more useful to you.

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Name: Kelly Burch

Job Title: Senior Technical Writer

What do you actually do?

Manage and maintain assigned technical documents, typically by product category. I research and analyze content needs for new documents and content changes for existing documents. I design and develop new documents and make the identified changes to existing ones. I work with engineers and developers to gather information for content. I also have the responsibility for maintaining the departmental online style sheet and template. (And there are a million more things I could list here….)

What hard skills have you found most useful and how do you continue to cultivate those skills?

I primarily work with Adobe RoboHelp, but we’re in the process of switching to MadCap Flare and actually getting training for that (!). I also use TechSmith SnagIt, Microsoft Visio and Word, and Adobe FrameMaker. I build cascading style sheets (CSS), so I’m always trying to improve that knowledge. I keep my tool skills fresh by “pushing the envelope” on how I use them. Instead of doing only what is necessary to get the job done, I try to use new features when I can and learn tricks and tips to take my output to the next level. A little bit of effort can improve your value tremendously. Keeping up with new trends and technology is very important, and one way STC can help you. I attend conferences and webinars when I can. I read tons of articles, books, and Web sites to keep up and learn as much as I can about subjects such as online help and online documentation trends, project management, content management, information design, eXtended Markup Language (XML) and Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA), and so forth. Keeping fresh, up-to-date, and in-the-know is up to YOU, and it benefits YOUR career.

Do you consider yourself a guru at any particular subject?

If guru means that people come to me for help and advice about a particular subject, then I’d have to say that I’m a Microsoft Word guru—primarily by necessity. For many of my jobs it was the primary tool allowed, and I had to become an expert to get out of it what I or my department needed. I also am known (or so it seems) for my Web design and development knowledge and experience. That includes expertise in working with CSS.

What is the greatest benefit of being an STC member?

Meeting and networking with fellow technical writers and the collective expertise available through the organization and its members.

Why have you stuck around so long? What's kept you here?

The ongoing knowledge I gain through membership benefits (including meetings and conferences) and networking with colleagues.

What positions in LSC and STC have you held?

• Lone Star Newsletter Editor
• Lone Star Web Site Designer/Manager
• International CIC SIG Newsletter Editor and Web Site Manager
• Lots of other miscellaneous volunteer tasks

How can I get involved and if I do, what’s in it for me?

Just ask. There’s always something that needs to be done. And, you gain tons of experience and exposure. It looks good on your résumé, too.

How have you benefited from volunteering?

One of the biggest things for me personally has been that I’ve met many of the STC members (locally and elsewhere) and made friends, which has added tremendously to what I gain out of STC overall. Being comfortable in a group lets you relax and take in more of the knowledge and experiences all around you at meetings, seminars, and conferences. Additionally, I’ve gained more confidence in my planning and organizing abilities that volunteering requires, as well as being able to add the experiences and results to my résumé and portfolio.

How do I meet/recognize senior members?

First you have to attend a monthly meeting, read the newsletter and Web site, or attend some other event where members congregate. Then, you have to overcome your shyness and introduce yourself and ask a question. The rest is easy.

Do senior members/council members really want to talk to me?

Believe it or not, I’m pretty shy and still struggle with meeting new people. I try to meet and talk to at least one new person at every meeting I attend, and I usually manage to do that. If someone approaches me first, I’m thrilled to talk to them and help however I can.

Can STC really help me find a job?

The more people you know, the better your chances of finding opportunities. I found out about my current position through someone in STC, and having the STC experiences listed on my résumé were points in my favor during the interview process. I found my previous job through the STC Job Bank. Once again, I got my résumé to the top of the stack by knowing someone from STC. Technical writing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area really is a “small world.” Almost daily I’m asked “do you know so-and-so?”—either because they’re interviewing a candidate and want to know the “scoop” or they met someone through networking and want to make connections.