Career Development

Independent (but not Alone) with New Contracting SIG

By Karen Giventer

Question: What's the most popular SIG in STC?

Answer: The Consulting and Independent Contracting (CIC) SIG.

This fact should come as no surprise, considering the many technical writers who are either contracting now or eyeing contracting as an attractive career choice. Layoffs during recent months have also caused skyrocketing growth in the ranks of contractors.

Now the Boston Chapter of STC has its own local CIC SIG. The fledgling group is already going strong, and at the first meeting the group outlined its goals, including:

Networking, networking, networking
Mentoring
Learning about business aspects of consulting
Exchanging information about software and tools
Offering opportunities for open forum question and answer sessions

Everyone who has an interest in contracting is welcome: experienced contractors, aspiring contractors, agents, students, full-timers, and in-betweeners. Your active participation will make this a strong SIG.

To keep current on events and meetings, see the Consulting and Independent Contracting SIG page in the Special Interest Groups section of the Boston Chapter Web site (http://www.stc-boston.org/sigs/contractors.shtml). To receive notices of future meetings, join the CIC SIG Yahoo group, CICTalk, by sending an e-mail to CICTalk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. No subject or message is necessary.

Karen Giventer is a contract technical writer and enthusiastic member of the Consulting and Independent Contracting (CIC) SIG. She can be reached at kkgg123@hotmail.com.