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Julie Furst

'99 BSTC
Marcom Technical Writer
Mentor Graphics Corporation
Longmont, Colorado

 

Question: Tell us about your job: Where do you work? What is your job title? How long have you had this position?

Julie: I have been the Marcom Technical Writer for the Systems Design Division (SDD) of Mentor Graphics Corporation for the past year. Mentor Graphics is a technology leader in the electronic design automation (EDA) industry, and my division makes printed circuit board (PCB) design software. The company headquarters are in Wilsonville, Oregon but SDD is located in Longmont, Colorado.

My first position after graduating from MSOE was with GE Marquette Medical Systems in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was a Technical Communications Coordinator at the Cardiology Division in Milwaukee and at the Prucka Center for Electrophysiology in Sugar Land, Texas.

Question: What are your key duties at work? What is a typical day like?

Julie: As a Marcom Technical Writer, I primarily promote our PCB design software tools through customer success stories, datasheets, trade magazine articles, press releases, white papers and other promotional activities (such as direct mailings and advertisements). I also work with the Internet team to produce a quarterly eNewsletter and weekly eNews highlights for the division.

A typical day for me could involve working on a combination of any of these things. I usually am working on ten different projects at a time, so the ability to multi-task and stay organized (and calm) is a necessity.

Question: Does your job involve travel?

Julie: Typically, my job doesn't involve travel other than a trip or two to Portland, Oregon for a company-wide Marketing function. Since we have offices in Europe and Japan, many of my projects require me to speak with Mentor employees and customers overseas.

Question: What do you like most about your job?

Julie: I really like the fact that I am working on so many different projects at one time, as opposed to projects that can last anywhere from six months to a year. Every day, I learn something new about the industry and about our customers. I'm constantly in touch with my end audience, so I really feel like I can write about what they are interested in. Not to mention, looking out at the Rocky Mountains from my office window is a constant "highlight" throughout my day.

Question: What is the least favorite part of the job?

Julie: Tight deadlines and quick turn-around is the nature of Marketing collateral. Sometimes finding the right person to ask a "quick" question can be a monumental feat, since so many of my co-workers are traveling, or working, in countries that are in different time zones. At times, I find myself working at home (at odd hours) trying to put things together, so I can be prepared for the next day.

Question: How did you become interested in Technical Communications?

Julie: Thinking back to High School, I passed through my English classes with good grades, but only really found myself interested in math and science. Writing was something I excelled at, but I didn't realize it until my junior year at MSOE. Like several other TC alumni, I didn't start out in the TC program. For the first two years at MSOE, I was studying Biomedical Engineering.

I struggled with the decision to transfer programs, since I had already invested too much "sweat and blood" in the BE curriculum. Accepting the fact that I really didn't want to be an engineer was a difficult one, but graduating as a TC was the best move I could have made for my career, and my own personal well-being.

Question: Do you consider yourself to be a Technical Communicator? How do you feel your job is suited for a TC? Do people with other backgrounds also perform your type of job?

Julie: I definitely consider myself a "technical communicator", since I am describing technical information to our customers in a way that suits their needs, and is in line with the objectives and goals of the company. I am the only Marcom Technical Writer at SDD, but there is another Technical Writer in Engineering. Other people in my group do graphic design, trade show and event coordination, budget planning, Intranet and Internet development/management and high-level strategic planning for all marketing activities.