for STC Silicon Valley Philip Powers 2018 Based on content and methods developed by Dan Voss Bethany Bowles amp Sally Henschel of STC Florida Objectives for this talk Not our typical sort of discussion were going meta tonight ID: 782650
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Slide1
A Proposed Mentoring Program
for STC Silicon Valley
Philip Powers - 2018
Based on content and methods developed by
Dan Voss
,
Bethany Bowles,
&
Sally Henschel
of STC Florida.
Slide2Objectives for this talk
Not our typical sort of discussion - we're going “meta” tonight.Briefly discuss WHY. What issues are we addressing?Define mentoring, as pertains to TC.
WHAT's it look like?WHO benefits from such a program?HOW
might we go about it? (Let's just lump “when” and “where” with that last one.)
Slide3I. State of the Society
Here's what we learned from other chapters nationwide at Summit 2018.
Slide4I. State of the SocietyTech writers want more value for their time & money.Sure, we get...
(Cheaper) webinars & courses“Intercom”; Salary DatabaseFree monthly meetings with live presenters
Job Bank; STC-SV job board
Networking opportunities... But frankly, we can kick it up.
Slide5I. State of the Society
Increasing activity & membership...
(while providing a platform for members to use their talents)
is a good place to start.One underutilized gift?
TC students.
Slide6II. What's Mentoring?
A mentoring program is a sort of guided networking service, connecting teachers to learners.
“Mentoring is a way for more experienced technical communicators to share their experiences with new or less experienced 'protégés.' A mentor acts as a trusted counselor, or guide, who assists the mentored protégé in setting and achieving goals for developing career direction and skills.”
- “Guidelines for Mentoring Programs” (pdf), STCThis can mean demonstrating tools; providing writing critique; talking about the history of a field; practicing interview drills; etc.
Slide7II. What's Mentoring?
STC-SVC would start with research & outreach.
Are mentees interested? Are there enough of them?
Are mentors interested? Are there enough of you?
super nice
very helpful
On a related note...
Last Dec., we held a student Q&A for ~25 of Dr. Mark Thompson's technical writing students at SJSU!
So they already know us.
Slide8II. What's Mentoring?
With school's permission & forms signed, legalese, yadda yadda...
(Dan Voss has provided extensive written guidance for this)
1. Build list of volunteer mentors2. Build list of interested mentees3. Match by proximity, preferred field, & experience4. ????5. Profit!
Slide9II. What's Mentoring?
Every mentoring partnership is different. Partners are free to design their own activity schedule.
“We
meet at the coffeehouse to
build up her writing portfolio and brainstorm new types of projects!”
“With my team's go-ahead, we've scheduled a day for him to shadow me in the workplace!”
“Both students have a weekly email check-in; this month, they will try adding to an open-source project!”
That's mentoring!
That's mentoring!
That's mentoring!
Slide10III. Okay, but why?
Mentor Benefits
Enhance/prove coaching, feedback, & leadership skills
Gain exposure to new perspectives, new media
Expand professional networks
Personal satisfaction of helping others grow their skills
Other ideas for rewards? It's up for discussion!
Slide11III. Okay, but why?
Mentee Benefits
Receive expert career guidance and job search tips
Polish the TC skillset: writing, multimedia, audience focus, time budgeting, SME-wrangling, self-sufficiency... the works
Develop networks
Ask those nagging questions in a positive, accepting environment
Slide12III. Okay, but why?
Chapter Benefits
Strengthen student communities with add'l scaffolding & resources
Strengthen pro communities with new ideas and leadership
Put volunteer energies to use on collaboration projects
Increase retention rate of graduates
Increase meeting attendance and maybe SIG involvement!
Slide13Let's slow our roll for a second.
Fun ideas aren't always the right ones.
Slide14IV. Concerns
Q. What about jobs?
Staying employed is tough enough without training the competition, and many of us work on a contract basis to begin with. Does it help us to foster a program that may shrink the job pool?
Consider:
Training can't replace experience.
Hiring managers are always looking for candidates with relevant and proven work experience in a given area. Some may settle for a newbie, but it will seldom be the best way to get their projects done on schedule.
Slide15IV. Concerns
Q. What if transportation is an issue?
Many California TC courses are online. How can we mentor students if they are unwilling or unable to travel freely?
Consider:
Mentoring can take place online, too.
The terms should be agreed-upon beforehand, for accountability's sake.
Slide16Credits and Resources
Thanks to Nicholas Ducharme and the rest of the STC Florida CAC (Community Action Committee); to Nicki Quinn, Liz Fraley, Gale Naylor, Tonie Flores, and Richard Mateosian for their cooperation on lots of lovely STC initiatives that hopefully work out; and to our great STC-SVC officers.
Guidelines for STC Mentoring Programs
https://stc-orlando.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/AD-109-02.pdf
Invest in the Future! Reference Guide
https://stc-orlando.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Invest_in_Future.pdf