Tech writer wants to advance in science communications career

February 1, 2016 10:03 AM

I had an entry-level science communications role in quasi-academia. Due to funding cuts I was let go, and fell into a job as a tech writer. But I strongly prefer my previous role and would like to advance in that career path. How do I do this? Career details inside.

I am currently a tech writer at a small software company.

I have a BS and an MA in a scientific field.

I have years of basic research experience, and writing in a laboratory context (papers, grants, PI website maintenance). I also did just under a year of "medical writing" at a glorified clips service.

I then did some work for a university - scientific articles, press releases - not a lot but enough to get a job as a communications specialist at a research institution. I LOVED THAT JOB. The funding axe came down after a year, and I was cut loose along with a lot of others. To stay afloat I took a job as a tech writer. It pays okay and I have great coworkers and everything but I really, really liked my last role.

So ... I'm trying to look ahead, make a plan to get back to such a role. But I'm completely unsure of how to go about this. I've come this far without any kind of mentoring, so I have no one to talk to. I am a NASW member but it's 99.99% focused on Journalism.

I no longer live near the school where I first freelanced. I live near a different Big Local State University now but their comms people do not use freelancers (I asked). I applied for an awesome job there and was interviewed, but they took SO LONG getting back to me that I accepted my current job before they asked me for a second interview (the bills had to be paid!).

My current responsibilities are: assist with writing whatever needs writing. So far that has meant spec documents, papers to support patent claims, blurbs for LinkedIn, and company website copy. I have also become the de facto web admin (mostly Wordpress) because nobody else has the skills or time.

Actionable Items That I Am Not Sure How To Action:

1) The grapevine says there will be more openings at Local State University. I would like to apply, but would HR et al. ball up my resume and throw it in the trash given that I turned down an interview in recent memory? (FWIW, HR does the first screening + 1st interview, departmental PIs review those and select finalists. That's where I was when I had to drop out.)

2) Are there ways to beef up my portfolio? What sort of responsibilities at my company should I ask to take on?

2.5) I am open to volunteering at my Local State School if that would help get my foot in the door, but part of me thinks I'm a professional and my time is worth more than 0. And writing/web maintenance costs a lot of time! Should I just try anyway?

3) Is my lack of any communications degrees a big deal? I am strongly opposed to going back to school. But if that's the only way forward, I would consider it.

4) Also, while I am temporarily obligated to stay in one place, I can move in the future. Are there foundations I can lay now for later?

Thanks in advance!

posted by aperturescientist to Work & Money (4 answers total)

Quite a few advocacy orgs that have a science component hire media managers to get the news out about their work, projects they fund/develop, victories, regulatory updates, etc. Communications degrees don't matter, usually, if you go to NASW and other meetings and can cultivate a network of reporters interested in covering these items. It's a nice place--a middle person between the science and communications sides of things. If you have any favorite orgs out there, maybe orgs you've given to charitably in the past or feel aligned with, check their job postings and see what turns up. Bonus points if you want to live in DC, NY, Chicago, LA, SF or the other media cities (but especially DC, where you can be close to all the public gov't meetings that these orgs are interested in).
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 11:27 AM on February 1, 2016 [1 favorite]

This may not lead to a job per se, but you could sign up for a freelance service online and then try to work the system such that you are specialized in the kind of writing you want to do. That might lead to work you enjoy doing and income from doing it. If that is all you want, that might be something you can start working on today by signing up for a few different online services and seeing which one you like or which one seems to best fits your needs and goals.

I blog and was recently offered a commission for doing paid work similar to something of mine found online. So blogging might be a way to beef up your portfolio and/or attract attention for the kind of writing you want to do.
posted by Michele in California at 12:06 PM on February 1, 2016

In this interview with Ed Yong he explains how he became a science journalist; there may be something useful to you in that. Michele mentioned blogging — and that was one of the things Ed did, too.
posted by jeri at 12:34 AM on February 9, 2016

Response by poster: Thank you everyone who has commented and MeMailed! It's still a work in progress but I'm very grateful for everyone's thoughts. If anything happens before the thread gets archived, I'll post updates. Again, thank you all.
posted by aperturescientist at 10:28 AM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]