As part of MadCap Software’s commitment to providing cutting-edge tools and resources to support education, we recently partnered with the STC Carolina Mentoring Program to help young professionals embarking on a career in technical communication.
The STC Carolina Chapter is part of the Society for Technical Communication, a professional association dedicated to the advancement of technical communication. STC Carolina offers a wealth of resources such as training and learning programs, and a robust mentoring program designed to foster opportunities for growth.
Through the STC Carolina Mentoring Program, students will be able to gain more than just career advice. The new partnership will allow mentees to obtain valuable, hands-on experience with MadCap Flare, gaining an edge in a competitive workplace.
Dr. Guiseppe Getto, STC Carolina President and mentoring committee chair, shares more information on the program, and why the new partnership is valuable for prospective mentees:
What is the STC Carolina Mentoring program?
The STC Carolina Mentoring Program was created to help students, recent graduates, and career changers to enter the technical communication field.
The program provides a structured approach by which mentors provide one-on-one assistance to mentees, helping them establish themselves in our profession. Mentees gain valuable insight from veteran technical communicators, develop a professional network, and create valuable portfolio pieces.
Why is MadCap Flare valuable for young professionals interested in technical communication?
Flare is a well-known tool within the technical communication industry. Many of the STC Carolina leaders and members use Flare to deliver technical documentation and online help. When technical communicators get together, authoring tools is a hot topic, and Flare seems to be getting more and more popular in the local area.
As such, MadCap Flare is a valuable addition to the STC Carolina Mentoring Program. Mentors involved in the program, who already have keen knowledge of the tools, will be able to share their expertise with young professionals.
“We want to bridge the gap between academic and industry and help students be more prepared for their first jobs. We hope to give our local students, graduates, and career changers a leg up in the competitive job market by having knowledge of Flare on their resumes.”
Dr. Guiseppe Getto, STC Carolina President and Assistant Professor, East Carolina University
How will mentees take advantage of MadCap Flare?
Mentees will use MadCap Flare in a variety of ways to smooth their trajectory into the field. Group training sessions with Flare are available for any interested members. This will ensure that mentees in the program have a place to start with the tool and understand some of its core features.
In addition, the program will allow for self-guided practice for any mentee who has a demonstrated interest in working with Flare, either on a project with a mentor, through their school work, or in service of an internship. In addition, the program will also support small groups of mentees who want to work together on a specific project or to learn specific features.
Finally, one of the most important efforts will be to encourage members of the official Mentoring Program to engage in documentation projects with their assigned mentees. This structured mentoring in Flare will ensure that mentees understand how the tool can be applied in real-life work environments.
To learn how to get involved in the STC Carolina Mentoring Program, visit https://www.stc-carolina.org/mentorship/.
