Cover Letter: Charity Dominic, Editor and Writer
1643 Sunnyside Avenue, San Marcos, CA 92078, 760.685.3611, techwritercdominic@yahoo.com,
http://www.oocities.org/techwritercdominic/
Summary
Using my strong English background, broad range of experience
in products and document types, and my career emphasis on document usability, I
specialize in converting dense technical source material into user-friendly,
content-rich, highly accessible documentation, for hardware, software, and
retail products. My expertise in the most standard documentation software and
practices in the industry (such as Microsoft Word and Adobe FrameMaker) enable
me to ìhit the ground runningî as a documentation specialist. I am currently
freelancing for several companies, however, my proclivity to constantly build
my software and writing skills through hands-on experience drives me to seek a
more focused and challenging contract or permanent position as sole writer or
within an established documentation team. I look forward to discussing how I
can enhance your documentation deliverables.
About Me
Fast and adaptive writer quickly contributes to bottom line;
applies a broad base of project management, technical, and marketing experience.
Well-versed in technical writingís industry standards and best practices for
software and hardware products.
- Versatile, detail-oriented, efficient, and
energetic, accustomed to working with little assistance, or supervision to
meet or exceed challenging deadlines and objectives.
- Constructive, agreeable personality excels in
building inter-departmental and cross-functional relationships in order to
streamline the information flow.
- Skilled in working with eccentric,
overstretched, and non-communicative SMEs to glean important data and
information.
- Extensive experience in migrating deliverables
from print to online.
- Familiar with the unique documentation
challenges of small and growing businesses, acquisitions and mergers, and
reorganizations.
- In-depth understanding of software development,
testing, and product release cycles, and scheduling complementary
documentation projects.
- Seasoned in creating and implementing new
procedures and processes, using new documentation software, and
introducing project planning to growing organizations.
- Experienced in developing powerful marketing
content for print and online collateral from scratch and from
collaborative team efforts.
Services Offered
- Writing and information design (technical,
internal, end-user, online, print, advertising)
- Editing (substantive, grammatical, copy, etc.)
- Documentation Analysis (documentation sets,
target markets/users, needs, usability)
- Team Leadership (recruiting, mentoring,
allocating resources)
- Marketing
(coordinating PR, conceptualizing and collaborating to develop new
strategies)
Resume: Charity Dominic, Editor and Writer
1643 Sunnyside Avenue, San Marcos, CA 92078, 760.685.3611, techwritercdominic@yahoo.com,
http://www.oocities.org/techwritercdominic/
Documentation Expertise
- Instructional Documentation: User Guides, Online
Help, Installation Guides, SDKs
- Informational Documentation: Test Reports and
Scripts, Release Notes, DataSheets
- Marketing Documentation: White Papers, Business
Plans, Proposals, RFPs, Press Releases, Brochures, Posters, Banners, Pop-Ups
- Procedural Documentation: SOPs, General
Procedures, Company Policies
Software Expertise
- Adobe FrameMaker (including template design and
migration to online help), Acrobat, PageMaker, and Photoshop
- SmartDraw and Visio, RoboHelp, HTML and CSS,
Lotus Notes, SnagIt
- MS Project, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, WinWord,
Visual Basic
- Experienced in single-sourced and client-server
environments
- Read and understand most programming languages;
extensive experience with LANSA
- Current self-directed studies: C, C++,
DHTML/XML, JavaScript, DreamWeaver, and GoLive
Professional Experience
Writing
Director and Content Manager
September
2003-Present, Seasilver USA, Carlsbad, CA
Joined this nutritional
supplement company in order to ensure full FTC/FDA compliance.
- Scope documentation needs by working closely
with management. Write marketing and public relations text while ensuring
FTC compliance.
- Work with attorneys for text and ad approval.
Report to President and CEO. Adjust to constantly changing legal
restrictions and priorities.
- Design, write, and edit copy for online and
print marketing materials, press releases, presentations, infomercials,
product and company information, internal policies and procedures, and
instructional corporate and technical documents.
- Built strong copywriting skills while working
with little to no direction in a team-spirited environment.
Senior Technical Writer
September 2002-September 2003, Artisan Components, Sorrento Valley, CA
Joined this
semiconductor/engineering company as their primary technical writer.
- Analyzed documentation sets, revamped
documentation process, and re-engineered failing processes, procedures,
and working relationships.
- Adjusted to constantly changing priorities with
proactive project management strategies, facilitating significant improvements
in documentation quality and timeliness.
- Edited documentation to improve and unify style
in adherence to industry standards. Provided tremendous quantities of
documentation to meet or beat escalating deadlines, including datasheets,
test reports, and white papers. Learned to translate electrical schematics
and internal documentation into meaningful user documentation.
- Supported company acquisition (by Artisan) and
subsequent reorganizations. Initiated working relationships with parent
companyís writing team.
Senior Technical
Writer/Editor
November 2001-September 2002, MTS Technologies, Mission Valley, CA
Joined this military
subcontractor to analyze and edit documentation sets and implement more
advanced documentation and project management software.
- Designed FrameMaker templates from scratch and
wrote user manuals for high-security medical epidemiology software as part
of Homeland Security.
- Worked on-site at SPAWAR (Department of
Defense). Developed familiarity with military subcontracting, high-security
documentation projects, and working with high-ranking military personnel.
Lead
Technical Writer
June
1997-November 2001, ACBS/Fidelity Information Services, Del Mar, CA
Joined this commercial banking
software company to perform all writing and editing tasks in addition to
everyday clerical duties, ensuring the prompt delivery of manuals, release
notes, and other contractual documents to high-end customers.
- Developed, documented, and perfected procedures
as company doubled in size, working closely with management and software
engineers. Translated internal specs and software code into meaningful
user manuals, release notes, APIs, and marketing materials for both
technical and business readers.
- Promoted to lead technical writer. Implemented
companyís first internship program, recruiting and training new interns.
Managed major documentation project involving several extensive user
manuals and the companyís first online help documentation. Established
first style guide and increased documentation standards in adherence to
industry standards.
- Supported company acquisition into Alltel (now
F.I.S.) and reorganization; trained and mentored new writers and
department manager. Helped design new FrameMaker templates. Developed
in-depth knowledge of digital interface standards, the software product
development lifecycle, and publishing print and online documentation for
packaged software.
Lead Ghostwriter/Editor
June 1995ñJune 1997, Sunfeatures Inc., Carlsbad, CA
Performed editing, research,
and ghostwriting for a famous business and careers columnist/author.
- Demonstrated adaptive writing skills in
reproducing specific writing styles. Performed all research to develop
book content. Designed artwork for publications.
- Worked closely with editors at major publishers,
including Random House and IDG Worldwide. Participated firsthand in the
creation and publication of three books in the famous ìÖ For Dummiesî
series, developing familiarity with entire publishing industry and
process.
- Recruited team of freelance writers and managed
writing projects to ensure well-organized and timely completion.
English Instructor
Fall and Summer Semesters, 1996ñ1998, CSU San Marcos
Taught freshman classes in
literary analysis and English composition; designed entire curriculum, selected
textbooks, wrote all handouts. Built interpersonal skills, delegating tasks,
scheduling and handling issues.
Education
1994-1998, CSU San Marcos (funded education by working full-time)
M.A.
and B.A. (cum laude), Literature
and Writing Studies
Interests
First Aid certified. Near-fluent in Spanish; learning
German, Italian, DHTML/XML, JavaScript, and C++.