Technical Writer Ms Word

RESUME

Kenneth P. Jacobs

Email: ***@*****************.***

Home Phone: 770-***-****

Cell Phone: 678-***-****

OBJECTIVE

Seeking opportunities providing technical writing services that challenge me to exceed my own expectations. As part of my experience, I have freelanced for twelve years and I believe that experience had given me a unique perspective on how companies do business. From start up companies in the Georgia Tech incubator program to Fortune 100 companies, I have observed how each company accomplishes its objectives.

PRIMARY SKILLS

●Over twenty-five years technical writing experience (50% as contractor/50% as employee) in documenting hardware and software products, for internal use, general audiences, and customization for customer-specific features

●Experience creating instructional material for classroom instruction and training materials for clients

●Proficient with Framemaker, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), Robohelp, Madcap Flare, Oxygen, Astoria/XMART, Acrobat, Snag-It, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign, Illustrator, and Visio

●Online tools include Confluence, Sharepoint, and JIRA

●Extensive experience in creating and maintaining:

oUser Guides/Quick Start Guides

oReference/“How To” Guides

oImplementation and Installation Guides/Configuration Guides

oInstructional and classroom materials

oSystem documentation and Admin Guides

oOnline Help and Web-based Help, HTML content

oAPI documentation

oPolicies and procedures

●High attention to detail

●Excellent written and verbal communication skills with subject matter experts (SMEs) such as developers, product managers, business analysts, and users

●Ability to grasp technical concepts and write understandable documentation based on defined standards

●Agile/scrum software development environment

●Ability to meet deadlines for multiple projects

ACHIEVEMENTS/AFFILIATIONS

●Published author

●STC Award of Merit-Printed Publications Competition

●Amateur Radio Operator – Advanced Class

●Society for Technical Communications (STC) Senior Member

●Freelance photographer

WORK HISTORY

Contract Technical Writer – Cisco Systems (wireless products) (March 2015 – April 2016). Documented new wireless access points for print and online help deliverables. The team was located in the US, Canada, and China. User Guides, Quick Start Guides, Pointer Cards, online help. Used MS Office, Adobe Framemaker, Snag-It, Webworks, Oxygen, and Astoria/XMART.

Freelance Technical Writer (self-employed) – Virtualtechwriter.com (November 2014 – Present). Performed multiple technical writing projects remotely for several clients located in China, the US, and Australia. MS Office, MS Word, Robohelp, Madcap Flare.

Information Engineer III – NCR Corporation (financial software), Duluth, GA (November 2009 – November 2014). Maintained user guides, installation guides, and ad hoc projects for several product lines. Created new documentation for a mobile banking application. Successfully proposed to Product Management to convert a one-thousand page User Guide from MS Word to Framemaker. The result was increased white space for easier readability, use of conditional text for customizing the Guide for multiple customers, and creation of an index for the first time. Used Confluence to disseminate latest documentation to developers, product managers, and customers. Used JIRA application to track documentation tasks. Used Framemaker, MS Office, MS Word, Robohelp, Snag-It, SVN, and Adobe Acrobat. (Job eliminated due to budget cutback).

Freelance Technical Writer (self-employed) – Virtualtechwriter.com (November 2008 – November 2009). Performed multiple technical writing projects remotely for clients located in New York and Israel. Used MS Office, MS Word, and Robohelp.

Senior Technical Writer – Lancope (network security), Alpharetta, GA (July, 2006 – October, 2008). Created and maintained printed user guides, and application notes for network security product; maintained configuration guides for network hardware devices. I also maintained online help for a GUI product. Created MS Access database to track Tips of the Day items for application. Used Framemaker, MS Office, MS Word, MS Access, Snag-It, Robohelp, Madcap Flare, and Adobe Acrobat. (Job eliminated due to company downsizing).

Technical Writer – MSD, Inc. (US Postal Inspector General), Fairfax, VA (April, 2006 – July, 2006). Interviewed developers for updates to existing application modules. Revised and reformatted user manuals for Investigations, Timesheets, and Leave Notice modules as well as creating online help (HTML format). Created training materials for end users. Worked with developers to create links from application to HTML pages. Used MS Office, MS Word, Robohelp, and Adobe Photoshop.

Technical Writer – ACI Webs Inc./BearingPoint, Inc. (US Army), Blacksburg, VA (September, 2002 – April, 2006). Created and maintained user guides and online help for multiple projects (10-12) as the only technical writer on staff. Interviewed developers and project managers about revisions to existing applications. Created Framemaker templates to standardize all printed manuals for the ALTESS applications; created a writing standards and style guide. Created MS Access database to track all documentation projects from initiation to delivery. Researched integration of HTML help with Coldfusion applications and developed matrix to aid developers. Used Framemaker, MS Office, MS Word, MS Access, Paintshop Pro, Robohelp, and Adobe Acrobat.

Contract Technical Writer – Movaz Networks, Inc. (optical networks). Norcross, GA (October, 2001 – February, 2002). Maintained user documentation for startup optical networking company. Maintained user guides, reference guides, and web-based help for the network software product. Convinced management to let me convert a TL1 reference guide to HTML help for easier use by technicians. Interviewed subject matter experts to obtain technical information. Created sample RFP database to store RFP core questions and answers. Used Framemaker, MS Office and Access, RoboHelp, and Acrobat.

Senior Technical Writer – LiquidLight, Inc. (optical networks). Duluth, GA [Company is no longer in business]. (January, 2001 – June, 2001). Tasked with setting up the user documentation department for startup optical networking company, including tools, structure and templates. Maintained all customer and administrator documentation (hardware and software), and functional specifications, as well as the company web site content. Edited white papers and marketing brochures for use on the web site. Interviewed subject matter experts to obtain technical information. Provided answers to RFP requests from potential customers. Created Framemaker and Word templates for user documents, functional specs, and white papers. Used Framemaker, MS Office, RoboHelp, Visio, Acrobat, GoLive, Flash, and Illustrator.

Contract Technical Writer - Rockwell International (hardened PCs), Duluth, GA (Part-time March, 2000 – February, 2001). Created and edited computer hardware user manuals. Interviewed subject matter experts to obtain technical information. Used MS Word.

Contract Technical Writer - Nortel Networks (telecommunications), Alpharetta, GA (June, 1998 – December, 2000). Created and edited printed manuals and PDF files for telecom hardware equipment. Created online help for special hardware projects. Created master indexes for multiple volume sets. Interviewed subject matter experts to obtain technical information. Used Framemaker, MS Word, Visio, and Acrobat.

Contract Technical Writer - Media Solutions International (heavy construction equipment), Alpharetta, GA (Part-time April, 1997 – May, 2000). Created user manuals, online help, training manual, “train the trainer” manual, and PDF files for construction equipment software. Used MS Word and RoboHelp.

Contract Technical Writer - Bellsouth Business Systems (telecommunications), Atlanta, GA (November, 1997 - May, 1998). Created online Help and HTML web pages for ad hoc development tools and Marketing department. Interviewed subject matter experts to obtain technical information. Used MS Word, RoboHelp, and FrontPage.

Contract Technical Writer - Equifax Health EDI (healthcare), Atlanta, GA (August, 1996- September, 1997). Documented system migration of mainframe system to client-server platform, as well as system documentation and data dictionaries. Documented Lotus Notes application for training purposes. Used MS Word, and RoboHelp.

Contract Technical Writer - Digital Transmission Systems (telecommunications), Norcross, GA (November, 1996-May, 1997). Revised and edited hardware manuals for changes and consistency in format for telecom software. Used MS Word.

Contract Technical Writer - Telemate Software (telecommunications), Atlanta, GA (June, 1996-September, 1996). Created online Help, cue cards, and edited technical reference manual for telecom software. Used MS Word, and RoboHelp.

Contract Technical Writer - Bellsouth Business Systems (telecommunications), Atlanta, GA (Nov. 1995-March, 1996). Created online Help, reference manuals, and screen mappings for sales software. Interviewed subject matter experts to obtain technical information. Used MS Word, RoboHelp, Ami Pro, and Visio.

Contract Technical Writer - Dun & Bradstreet Software (financial software), Atlanta, GA (June, 1995-Oct. 1995). Created online Help, technical guides, and instructional lessons for human resources software using Information Mapping techniques. Interviewed subject matter experts to obtain technical information. Used MS Word, and RoboHelp.

Contract Technical Writer - Kaiser Permanente (healthcare), Atlanta, GA (Oct. 1993-Feb. 1995). Documented system migration of a mainframe healthcare system to a client-server platform, including system documentation and flowcharts. Also created policies and procedures manual. Used Wordperfect for Windows, Visio, and Folio.

Contract Technical Writer - WORLDSPAN, Inc. (airline reservations), Marietta, GA (August 1992-Oct. 1993). Created user manuals, online Help text, and technical reference documents. Used MS Word on a networked PC in a UNIX environment.

Contract Technical Writer - Lotus Development Corp. (word processing software), Atlanta, GA (May, 1991-February, 1992). Created a 700 page Macro Manual for Ami Pro 2.0 which documented 450 programming functions. Created over 1000 Windows online Help panels. Revised and edited User Manual and Install Guide for Ami Pro 2.0. Edited Lotus Write manuals and online Help panels. Used Ami Pro.

Contract Technical Writer - Coca Cola, USA (bottling), Atlanta, GA (October, 1990-April, 1991). Created user manuals for three projects. Performed testing on systems which were written in Focus and Paradox. Used MS Word.

Contract Technical Writer - XcelleNet, Inc. (WAN), Atlanta, GA (April, 1990-July, 1990). Created and edited user's guide and reference guide for new WAN product. Created white papers for new product enhancements, including overviews and technical information from the development team. Used MS Word and Pagemaker.

Contract Technical Writer - IBM Corp. (manufacturing), Atlanta, GA (December, 1988-April, 1990). Created and edited logic, user, and reference manuals, and online help text for new MAPICS application. Used Bookmaster on a System 36.

Systems Analyst - Murata Erie (manufacturing), Smyrna, Ga. (April 1988-July 1988). Created user specifications (flow and report documentation) for inventory control system based on end user requirements.

Product Support Analyst - Bluebird Systems (inventory control), Norcross, Ga. (March 1987-January 1988). Edited manufacturing and distribution software documentation for grammar, style, and consistency. Developed visual aids, classroom training materials, and demonstration databases. Performed classroom training of the software modules and provided telephone support for reseller base.

Systems Analyst/PC Coordinator - Kewaunee Scientific Corp (manufacturing),

Statesville, N.C. (December, 1985-March, 1987). Created policies and maintained programming documentation for MIS. Created operator manuals, installation guides, and visual aids. I supported users on twenty IBM ATs and XTs and trained users on operation of PC hardware and software packages.

Material Analyst - Datasouth Corp (manufacturing), Charlotte, N.C. (June, 1983-July, 1985). Created policies and procedures for MRP, inventory control, and accounting software implementation. Created user guides, operator manuals, and flowcharts; contributed to company newsletter articles. Coordinated purchases and inventory levels based on MRP requirements.

Inventory Planner - Data General Corp (manufacturing), Apex, N.C. (June, 1979-November, 1982). Coordinated purchases and inventory levels based on MRP requirements.

SAMPLES/REFERENCES

Writing samples and reference letters are available on request.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

●B.A. Business Management, N.C. State University

●APICS - Certified (American Production & Inventory Control Society)

●Completed Information Mapping course

●Completed Six Sigma Yellow Belt training

Contact this candidate