I didn’t mention it last time, but this is going to be a three-part-series. I already covered some of the great reasons to outsource your technical writing in my previous post, mainly focusing on how the peak-and-valley nature of the workflow in hi-tech lends itself to outsourcing. Now let’s talk agility and experience.
Picture it, if you will…a lone technical writer (or even a team), full-time, in-house. Spending 188 hours a month sitting at the same desk, working with the same SMEs and managers, documenting the same technology. Day after day, year in and year out. Yawn.
From the perspective of the employee (as the commenters from last week pointed out), the benefits of outsourcing are many: flexible schedule, pick and choose your projects, be your own boss, gain exposure to a wide array of new technologies, writers, writing and management styles…the list goes on and on. Looking at things from the employers side, the view is just as attractive.
Outsourcing your technical writing means more to you as a manager than just “pay your technical writer for the hours she works and not one minute more.” You also get the added benefit of a writer who, by the nature of her work as an outsourcer, is constantly exposed to a wide variety of new and changing technologies, management styles, applications, authoring environments and fresh ideas. During your downtime, the outsouced writer can easily work for 5 or 10 other customers in the course of a year. She brings back to you a breadth of experience that simply could not be gained by sitting in the same company at the same desk year-round.
Outsourcers appreciate the flexibility that their work provides, and they don’t expect the usual perks of full-time employees such as lunch, travel or paid leave. When you hire an outsourcer, you get great results from an appreciative writer with a variety of experience in latest technologies…without the burden of extra in-house resources. It’s win-win for everyone involved.
Miriam Lottner, CEO of Tech-Tav, is a “single sorceress” and technical documentation innovator whose professional passion is helping her
Help, I've been ifnrmoed and I can't become ignorant.
I just spent 7.5 years being an outsourcer to one company. I did get some employee benefits by fighting for them and I got a range of experience because the company was big and I did everything. Many companies hang on to their outsourced workers once they find good ones and that negates what you are advocating. I did not have a flexible schedule. It was a constant 10-11 hour day with no opportunity to fit in any small projects from elsewhere. It was an experience! But it was not agile.
For now I'm enjoying a new job with full employee benefits. Getting to know some new products in sufficient depth to be able to write about them really well. And I'm being taught a new tool, a new string to my bow, which will be valuable if things don't work out.
I don't expect the perks, but I sure would appreciate them (from the outsourcing companies).
Yes, my travel is tax-deductible, but it would be nice to have it covered. I still remember a job that gave me 600 shekels a month on a 10bis card (very generous).
This is not a complaint. I view the perks as much appreciated bonuses, not as basic necessities.
Post new comment