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Technical Writer – Work Project Information

Introduction

Welcome to the Project Guide for the Technical Writer graduate certificate program. This guide explains the specific requirements and available options for completing the project element of the Technical Writer program.

Bookmark this page so you always have access to the most current placement information.

Program Overview

The final semester of the Technical Writer graduate certificate program has been designed as a Work Project course requiring you to complete a writing project in-person or remotely with a sponsor. This course has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that you have learned throughout the prerequisite courses in a practical setting.  

You will be responsible for working with a sponsoring organization to complete a technical writing project which may be completed on-site or remotely. Your project can be completed as a consultant or freelance technical writer working with your sponsor (client) to define project requirements, plan project activities, design and create content to meet the needs of the defined audience, and manage project communications to ensure the client needs are being met and the project is completed on time.

Work Project

Please follow the guidelines below to prepare for your studies.

Project Deadlines

In order to complete the project option for this program, students must:

Task Deadline
Submit the Intent to Complete Work Project Form August 1 for Fall
December 1 for Winter
April 1 for Spring
Contact and secure sponsor agency Prior to the semester start date
Submit the Sponsor Agreement in AC Brightspace Prior to the first day of placement

Completing the documentation and securing a placement agency can be a complicated process and students should start the preparations early.

Work Project Eligibility

To be eligible for placements, students must meet the following requirements prior to the deadlines:

  1. Academic Clearance: students must successfully complete all theory courses prior to the Work Project course start date. This will be confirmed by the Student Advisor after the Intent to Complete Work Project Form deadline.
  2. TW Intent to Complete Work Project Form: this form must be submitted prior to the deadline to confirm your plan to take the work project course, and ensure you are added to the master work-project list.
    NOTE: if you are hoping to complete the work project in your current place of work, you will be required to submit a copy of your resume when completing this form.
  3. Secure an appropriate work project sponsoring organization: it is the student’s responsibility to confirm the requirements of their sponsor including dates, hours, etc. All supporting documentation confirming your sponsor must be submitted in your course on AC Brightspace.

How to Secure a Work Project Sponsor

Students in the Technical Writer program who choose to complete the Work Project are responsible for finding and securing their Project sponsor.

To get started:

  1. Update your resume. Be sure to tailor your resume to highlight your recently acquired technical writing skills as well as note any previous or related writing experience.
  2. Prepare and polish your technical writing portfolio. Curate your best examples of your technical communication projects to highlight your skills as a content designer, writer, and editor.
  3. Define what services you are offering. Consider what kind of projects you can support and what you want to offer in terms of your technical communication services: develop online help systems, write process and procedure documents, write and edit proposals, write and design web content, write and design technical materials (brochures, tutorials, users manuals, etc.).
  4. Determine your availability: Define your availability so that the sponsoring organization understands the timeframe of the project and your availability to work on the project. Have your availability (working days and hours) as well as your preferred start and end dates defined before you contact agencies.
  5. Identify organizations to contact regarding project opportunities. Some of the best resources to identify potential sponsors include:
    1. Local business directories and associations
    2. LinkedIn networks and business profiles
    3. Personal and professional networks
    4. Technology incubators and start-up companies
    5. Non-profit and community organizations

Contacting Potential Sponsors

We highly recommend that students reach out to their potential sponsors by phone and then follow up with an email that explains what services you are offering and describes the program in detail.

  1. Contact your prospective sponsor by phone. Be prepared to summarize:
    1. Who you are: indicate your full name, and that you are an Algonquin College student studying in the Technical Writer graduate certificate program.
    2. What the purpose of your contact is: you are hoping to complete a technical writing project with the organization.
    3. When the placement period would be: indicate the start/end period and outline the expectations for the project.
    4. Ask the agency if there is a particular person you should reach out to by phone or email to provide further details. They may refer you to HR, a hiring manager, or they may prefer that you send them the details to follow up with the appropriate contact.
  2. Send a follow-up communication by email, including:
    1. Who you are
    2. If contacting the person you spoke to by phone, thank them for the time they have taken to speak with you and consideration of your request
    3. If contacting someone you have been referred to, indicate who has referred you, and the reason for your contact
    4. A brief summary of your request, including your objective and the key placement dates/hours
    5. Attach a copy of your resume
    6. Invite the sponsor to contact you for an interview or further information prior to making a decision
    7. Include a date for follow-up, approximately one week after the initial contact.
  3. After your date for follow-up has passed, if you have not heard back from the sponsor, send a follow-up email asking for a final decision so you can determine your next steps.

Confirming Your Project With Your Sponsor

After you receive confirmation that your project has been approved by your sponsor, you will need to submit your supporting Sponsor Agreement and related insurance forms through your AC Brightspace course.

Registration

Full-time Students

Level 2 students will receive a returning status for level 3 of the Technical Writer program automatically, however due to the program fee structure, students will not be able to defer or register themselves into the WKT2000 course. Eligible full-time students will be registered for WKT2000 Work Project by their Student Advisor after the deadline has passed if they have submitted the TW Intent to Complete Work Project Form and have successfully completed all theory courses.
If you do not submit the TW Intent to Complete Work Project Form on time, you will not be eligible to take the Work Project in your preferred semester. This will delay your graduation.

Part-time Students

Online registration is not available for part-time field work courses. Part-time students will be provided with the next steps to register after the deadline has passed if they have submitted the TW Intent to Complete Work Project Form and have successfully completed all theory courses.

Please note: registration does not guarantee a work project; part-time students must have Field Placement Officer permission to register for all work-integrated learning courses. Students will be withdrawn if the work project requirements are not met by the indicated deadlines.

Work Project Stream: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any special insurance?

If you are completing any hours on-site, you will be required to complete our Health and Safety Training certificates and to submit our Student/Learner Placement Consent Form which outlines the insurance agreement for placement students.

Who do I contact regarding insurance?

While the supporting documentation will be available in your AC Brightspace course, the Field Placement Officer will support questions or concerns regarding insurance claims.

May I complete the entire project remotely?

It is possible to complete the entire project remotely, in agreement with your sponsor agency.

Who do I contact if I have issues or problems with my project?

You will be connected with the course facilitator when the project course begins. The facilitator will support questions or concerns regarding the nature of the project.

May I complete a project at my current employer if the project is over and above my regular duties?

It is possible to complete your project with your current employer. If you would like to choose this option, please be aware that you will be required to submit your resume and answer additional questions related to this request when you submit the Intent to Complete Work Project Form.

Do I need to submit my project work to the course facilitator?

You will be required to submit a Project Proposal, Project Plan, Project Status Reports, Project Summary and Sponsor Feedback throughout the course. Due to the confidential nature of many projects, you will not be graded on the final product itself.

What happens if I get sick and cannot perform my project duties?

If you are not able to participate in the project for any reason, please contact the facilitator and Field Placement Officer immediately. Each case will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine the appropriate next steps.

If a sponsor requires me to start earlier than the semester start date, can I begin the work project early?

If you are working remotely, you cannot be onsite with your sponsor outside of the course start/end dates as you will not be insured by the college outside of this period. Students completing a placement in their current workplace are excluded from this condition.

If you are working remotely, the request to start early may be accommodated with special permission from the department. You will be required to contact the Field Placement Officer to confirm the rationale and request approval to begin prior to the semester start, as well as connect with the course facilitator to ensure you have remote access to all AC Brightspace resources and expectations ahead of the start date.

What if the project gets delayed and the project can’t be completed by the course end date?

This is a real-life experience and we understand that setbacks are a reality in the workforce. If the project is delayed beyond the course end date, we will request that the sponsor submits the Sponsor Feedback form based on the work completed by the end of the course. We encourage students in this situation to continue their project beyond the end date, as following through on the project directly reflects on your reputation in the industry.