Resume

Name

Warren Singer

Citizenship

South African, UK residence status

Telephone

01223 862 559

Email

warrends@tiscali.co.uk

Present address

12 Pieces Lane, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB5 9NF

Years

Name of Company

Job Description

December 2002 +

WorldPay

Full-time writer/communications executive

February 2002 +

Targeted Writing Solutions

My private consulting business

1998-2002

VocalTec Communications

Documentation manager

1997-1997

InfoGear, Optibase

Technical writer (freelance)

1996-1997

RAD, ACA

Technical writer (freelance)

1995-1996

Human Information Technology

Technical writer

1994-1995

Berlitz, Hora’ah Mekavenet

English teacher

1993-1994

Emanuyot, Shevach High School

English teacher

1991-1992

Work in Israel, England and France

Non-professional

Years

Name of Institute

Description of Certificate

1992-1995

University of Tel Aviv

M.A degree in Linguistics/ Foreign Language Instruction and English teaching certificate

1990-1991

University of Cape Town

B.Soc.Sci (Hons) Psychology

1987-1990

University of Port Elizabeth

B.A degree in English and Psychology

Years

Name of Institute

Description of Diploma

2001

High Tech College

Building XML Based Web Applications

1989

MATI

Business development

1998

High Tech College

Introduction to Visual Basics

1997

Spectra Internet University

HTML and Web design

Operating systems

DOS, WINDOWS 2000/NT, Unix

Word processors/DTP

FrameMaker, Microsoft Word

Graphics

Visio, Corel Draw, PhotoShop, Macromedia Freehand, Paintshop, Quark Express

Statistics

SAS, DB3, SSPX

Programming Languages

HTML, XML, Visual Basic, C++

Online Help

RoboHelp, Forehelp

Internet and Web

Dreamweaver, MS FrontPage, Netscape, Internet Explorer, FTP, Lotus Notes

Presentations

MS PowerPoint

Other applications

Excel, Visual SourceSafe, DemoShield Designer

Languages

English, Hebrew, Afrikaans and French.

Specialities

Telecommunications, IP telephony, data communications, CAD design, DVD and digital video, Internet security

Technology and standards

Knowledge of: Oracle and SQL, MPEG, H.323, codecs, SS7, SNMP, IP, UDP, firewalls, client-server, clustering, registry, VxWorks

Period

February 2002 – Current

Products

Targeted Writing Solutions™ (TWS) is a small, sole-trader business, providing technical documentation and marketing copy-writing solutions for the IT and communications industry. TWS produces technical manuals, product descriptions, brochures, online and Web-based help systems, installation leaflets and Web site updates.

Responsibilities

I am responsible for all aspects of project planning and business management, including marketing, sales, meetings with clients, completion and delivery of the final project and financial management.

Work with

I work directly with Vice Presidents and CEOs of small to medium size corporations, to market my services, to determine their documentation requirements and to define the scope of the projects I am involved in. Work on projects requires coordination with logistics, marketing, engineering and programming personnel.

Skills

Running a small business requires a combination of several essential skills:

• A thorough understanding of the business environment and the market for IT and communications services
• Good communication skills and a flexible approach
• Excellent technical proficiency, advanced understanding of the tools used by technical writers and superior writing skills
• Good organizational and time management skills and an ability to work under tight deadlines and handle pressure
• A solutions-oriented approach focused on problem-solving and achieving defined objectives
• Attention to detail and achieving high quality output, on time and targeted to the client's needs

Companies

• Mobixell Networks - 3G Mobile network system, the Rich Media Service Center (RMSC); Wrote an Operator's Guide, Installation leaflet, Product Description and Web site updates
• VocalTec Communications - IP Telephony and Softswitch Architecture; Produced a comprehensive set of system documentation, including administrator guides, installation guides and service setup guides
• IDcide Ltd. - Internet Privacy protection products; Produces online help for two products, in both HTML and Winhelp format
• BATEMAN - Solvent extraction solutions for the mining industry; copy-wrote a seven page marketing brochure

Period

December 1997 – January 2002

Products

VocalTec is a pioneer and leader in the field of IP (Internet Protocol) telephony. Products include the first IP Telephony Gateway, the first intelligent IP Gatekeeper and the award winning Internet Phone. VocalTec provides complete product suites for Telecommunications companies, Internet service providers and call centers.

Responsibilities

I was responsible for managing and producing the end user and technical documentation at VocalTec. This included all stages of documentation, from initial project planning and scheduling, designing of books/documents/online help, to final production. In addition to responsibility over all VocalTec end-user documentation, other responsibilities included:

• Writing of all marketing material, including white papers, brochures, case studies and presentations
• Assistance with the preparation of proposals and responses to RFPs
• Coordinating the design and production of various product-related artwork
• Graphic user interface design review

Worked with

I worked with product managers, graphic artists, marketing managers, sales and presales representatives, engineers, project managers, legal advisors and other VocalTec departments to produce a wide variety of end-user documentation. I coordinated graphic design and print production with external contractors.

Skills

The position required an ability to make decisions and take responsibility for the smooth design and production of documentation within the company. Good organization and communication skills, a thorough knowledge of the process of producing end-user documentation and the ability to work under stress was essential. Since there was a large workload and a constant flow of new projects, correct planning and efficient time management was essential.

Tools included FrameMaker 5.5, MS Word 97, Visio, Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe Acrobat, MS PowerPoint, DemoShield Designer 5, Lotus Notes, RoboHelp, Visual Source Safe and FTP.

Period

March 1997 - September 1997.

Products

Optibase is a world leader in the development of MPEG digital video products. Their solutions range from low-end, single board, plug and play video encoders intended for the desktop, to high-end, multi-board video encoding, decoding and broadcasting systems, intended for video professionals, post-production houses and corporate businesses.

Responsibilities

I was hired on a six-month contract to take over the documentation department. My responsibilities included updating existing user manuals and Help systems, preparing specifications, user documentation and online systems for software development kits, preparing a new user manual, data sheets, web material and white papers.

Worked with

I worked with the software engineering team, the marketing manager and with the product managers. I was also responsible for arranging the printing of all user manuals.

Skills

The position required taking full responsibility for planning, producing and printing the documentation of Optibase. Good writing, organization and communication skills were essential. Tools used included MS Word, Corel Draw, RoboHelp, MS Frontpage and MS PowerPoint.

Period

November 1996 - February 1997.

Products

RAD is the fifth largest High Tech company in Israel, producing over several hundred types of data communication products, such as modems, bridges, routers and gateways.

Responsibilities

I worked on a short-term contract that required taking over responsibility for the updating and printing of certain manuals. This included adding CE marks (Certificates of safety and conformity), editing graphics and updating sections of manuals.

Worked with

I coordinated with other technical writers, engineers and printing houses.

Skills

The work at RAD required an eye for detail, good organization and communication skills and an ability to work under pressure. Knowledge of Corel Draw, MS Word and Ventura were required. I worked with FTP and email, preparing and sending postscript files to the printing houses. During a three-month period I had to update and print over 60 user manuals.

Period

January 1997 - March 1997.

Products

InfoGear is a start-up company that produces server and client networking products. Their most innovative project, the I-phone, is an Internet telephone that combines National Semi-Conductors and Bell Telephone Company technology.

Responsibilities

This project was short-term. I worked both from home and on the premises of InfoGear. I was responsible for writing a data sheet and white paper for ServerGear, a special server application designed to communicate with the I-phone. I also wrote the specifications for the various modules of the I-phone.

Worked with

I worked with the software engineers of the I-phone and ServerGear.

Skills

Good writing and communication skills. Knowledge of MS Word and Visio.

Period

August 1996 - November 1996.

Products

ACA’s main product is a 3D computer aided design application for architects, called ARC+. Companies in Europe, Japan and the USA use ARC+. A recent development is ARCDeco, a 3D-software product for interior designers and furniture manufacturers.

Responsibilities

I took over responsibility for ARCDeco. I was responsible for coordinating production of the new user manual. This included writing several of the chapters, editing the work of an external technical writer, designing the layout and organization of the manual and printing the manual.

Other duties included mapping out the user interface and providing suggestions for improvement, translating documents from Hebrew to English, producing a brochure, online Help system and a tutorial booklet for ARCDeco.

Worked with

I worked together with other technical writers in the technical writing department and with an external writer. I reported directly to the head of the technical writing department.

Skills

Good organization, DTP skills and the ability to take responsibility for and coordinate a project were important. Tools included MS Word MS PageMaker and Corel Draw.

Period

September 1995 - March 1996.

Products

ImageNet is a start-up company that specializes in network design. Their main product, CANE, is intended for network managers and network engineers.

Responsibilities

I was responsible for writing the first user manual for CANE (Computer Aided Network Engineering). I was employed by an external technical writing company.

My duties included editing the specifications for the user interface, and development of all stages of the manual, from the initial design and outline to the final printed version and online Help system.

Worked with

I worked with the software engineers and the product manager. This was the first user manual I wrote. I received feedback and advice from other technical writing staff.

Skills

The task required good writing, planning and organizational skills. Tools included MS Word, Visio and RoboHelp.

Period

September 1995 - November 1995.

Products

Comverse is an international company that specializes in large-scale audio and multi-media processing, compression and data storage systems intended for call centers, stock markets, parliament houses, military and security organizations.

Responsibilities

I was responsible for producing a product description of the AudioDisk family of generic products. I also produced the graphics for the product description. Other duties included proofreading of the AudioDisk user manuals. I worked through an external technical writing company.

Worked with

I worked together with the marketing team and the product manager of the AudioDisk.

Skills

Good writing and communication skills were essential.