Human Factors
By Kathryn Poe, Associate Fellow
Welcome to the Human Factors column. My intent is to talk with 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.
Getting to Know Mel Haughton
Job Title:Project Manager and Instructional Designe
What do you actually do?
In a nutshell, I work with programmers, clients, developers, and writers to create eLearning courses. Initially, I work with clients and my account manager to figure out what the client really needs from the eLearning course. Then, my instructional designer develops the course and I edit it for quality control. After the client approves it, I work with my developers and programmers to develop the course. Then, I edit it again for quality control. Once I approve the content internally, we send the course to the client for alpha, beta, and final review. The process could take from one month to several months. It just depends on the project.
What hard skills have you found most useful and how do you continue to cultivate those skills?
I find these most useful: project management, editing, instructional design, writing (grammar and so forth) and software such as Captivate, Flash, and Office. I don’t have any formal software training, but I keep my skills fresh on the job. I attend STC meetings to keep myself current, and I read Intercom articles or any books pertaining to skills I’m trying to acquire.
Do you consider yourself a guru at any particular subject?
Not at any particular subject, no. In my job, I need to learn a lot about different things. I need to adapt to the needs of the market.
What is the greatest benefit of being an STC member?
Networking
Why have you stuck around so long? What's kept you here?
STC gives me a good venue to publish articles and lets me have resources at my fingertips. It also enables me to meet several people, so that if I ever need a new job, I can easily contact the people I know for help. Plus, it’s a bunch of fun people. Volunteering helps you get to know people on a personal level, which makes it fun to stick around.
What positions in LSC and STC have you held?
I have been very involved in the local level: Community Service Chair, Second VP, First VP, President, and now Past President.
How have you benefited from volunteering?
I joined STC when I was a student. STC gave me the opportunity to meet people in my field and publish my first articles. I was also able to help on several projects and increase my project management and leadership skills.
Advice/Thoughts on STC for Newbies
How can I get involved and if I do, what’s in it for me?
You can easily pick up some small volunteering projects, such as editing newsletter articles and helping at community meetings. If you want to get more involved, you can become a committee member or even run for office. The main benefit for me was in meeting people. Through volunteering, I got to know people on a personal level—much more than I would from just attending monthly meetings. I also met presenters and had to get out of my shell to convince people to come to the LSC from several parts of the U.S. and present at our community meetings.
How do I meet/recognize senior members?
I never cared too much about the distinction between senior members and regular members. I care about what people know and the conversations I can have with them. I’m not even a senior member yet!
Do senior members/council members really want to talk to me?
Of course we do! It’s all about meeting new people—all you need to do is get out of your shell and come to a meeting. Meetings are a great place to make new friends and to keep your skills current!
Can STC really help me find a job?
Oh yeah! I got my current job, which I absolutely love, through STC. I was at a summer Meet-n-Greet, and the speaker and her boss hired me three days later. All I did was sell myself and set up an interview! STC offers a great way to see what other companies are doing. And if it just so happens that the speaker who’s presenting works for a company YOU would like to work for, there’s nothing wrong with approaching him or her! It’s a great way to make contacts!