The TimelyText Blog

Industry news, career development, and free advice from North Carolina’s premier technical resource placement company.

Brant Wilkerson-NewApril 12, 2023

Two years with TimelyText!

By Brant Wilkerson-New If you thought TimelyText’s 20-year anniversary celebration back in February was the biggest milestone we’d celebrate this year, you’d be absolutely correct —  but hey, two years on the team is nothing to sneeze at, either! Ronnie Duncan first reached out to...

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Brant Wilkerson-NewApril 12, 2023

Two years with TimelyText!

By Brant Wilkerson-New If you thought TimelyText’s 20-year anniversary celebration back in February was the biggest milestone we’d celebrate this year, you’d be absolutely correct —  but hey, two years on the team is nothing to sneeze at, either! Ronnie Duncan first reached out to...
Brant Wilkerson-NewMarch 28, 2023

TimelyTexting: Alisa DeJoseph goes from classroom to dream role in instructional design

The weight of the world has been lifted off Alisa DeJoseph. Talk to her for five minutes – heck, just take a look at her smile – and you’ll feel the love radiating as she talks about her journey from teaching art to working as...
Brant Wilkerson-NewFebruary 14, 2023

One Meeting, a Call and A Little Trust

When you look back at TimelyText’s two decades of success, and hundreds of hires and placements along the way, it’s only right that the most important moment comes down to getting the perfect people into the right spots at critical times. Reflecting on 20 years...
Brant Wilkerson-NewFebruary 10, 2023

TimelyText’s 20th Anniversary Party

When: Thursday, Feb. 16 Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Where: Top Box at The Boxyard RTP (900 Park Offices Drive) What we’ll provide: Delicious Fullsteam beer, appetizers, birthday cupcakes and fun! “I decided if I didn’t try to do this on my own, I’d go to the...
Brant Wilkerson-NewFebruary 7, 2023

How Has Raleigh Changed in the Past 20 Years?

Over his 20 years leading TimelyText, Ronnie Duncan has noticed a funny change when folks at networking events ask where he’s from. “I tell them, ‘Right here,'” Duncan said, “and they say, ‘You’re the first person I’ve met from around here.” Such is life when...
Brant Wilkerson-NewJanuary 18, 2023

Five Interview Tips from TimelyText

You’ve written up a perfect résumé and hit it off with the hiring manager in a quick introductory call, and now, it’s time for the big interview! These days, that’s more likely to take the form of an hour-long Zoom meeting than making the trek...
Brant Wilkerson-NewJanuary 10, 2023

Preparing Your Résumé for the Hiring Rush

How does one fit their entire career into one neat little document? Well, that’s one of several mistakes that job applicants commonly make with trying to put their best foot forward with a résumé. With peak hiring season getting started here in North Carolina, Ronnie...
Brant Wilkerson-NewDecember 22, 2022

TimelyText Talks Holiday Gifting

Instructional design isn’t only about training new employees or getting your team up to speed on a specific software. This holiday season, we decided we’d like to showcase the fun side of learning and development, and TimelyText associate Paige Barnes delivered this wonderful instructional video...
Brant Wilkerson-NewDecember 19, 2022

TimelyText Holiday Party 2022 Photo Gallery

By Brant Wilkerson-New December 19, 2022 It’s good to be back. We’d waited more than three years to throw another holiday party, and based on the turnout, it seems the TimelyText family was ready to reunite for another great evening of fellowship and networking in...
Brant Wilkerson-NewNovember 16, 2022

#TimelyTexting: Meet Adam Houston

We’re excited to bring back this monthly feature, offering a look at TimelyText’s greatest assset: the incredible people we have the chance to work with every day! By Brant Wilkerson-New Nov. 16, 2022 When Gilbarco Veeder-Root approached us in May 2021 with a need for...
thinkwebadminApril 21, 2021

The “Unofficial” TimelyText Team

When Ronnie Duncan started TimelyText on Feb. 14, 2003, he did it as a one-man show in an office above his garage, but he was never alone. It took the help of so many friends in corporate communication to get things off the ground, offering...
thinkwebadminApril 14, 2021

TimelyText Adds to the Team

Referrals have always been key to helping us get to know and place the best communications professionals in the Triangle, and this time, we decided to keep one for ourselves. Thanks to a referral from a longtime friend of TimelyText, we’ve added Brant Wilkerson-New as...
thinkwebadminFebruary 17, 2021

TimelyChat February 2020

Periodically we like to check-in with current and former TimelyText contract employees for a brief chat to discuss their experiences working with TimelyText. In this chat, we feature Tom Lyndes. When did you begin contracting with TimelyText? About 15 years ago. I have worked for...
thinkwebadminJanuary 15, 2021

TimelyText Video Series – The Current State of Hiring Communication Professionals (Part 8)

THOUGHTS AND TRENDS IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS FOR 2021 In part 8, Kelly Phillips and TimelyText’s VP Adrian West discuss some of the new challenges and trends in business communications for 2021 as we continue to deal with the pandemic.
thinkwebadminJanuary 15, 2021

TimelyText Video Series – The Current State of Hiring Communication Professionals (Part 7)

PART 7 – TIMELYTEXT VS OTHER STAFFING COMPANIES In this segment, Kelly Phillips and TimelyText’s VP Adrian West discuss what sets TimelyText apart from other staffing companies.
thinkwebadminJanuary 15, 2021

TimelyText Video Series – The Current State of Hiring Communication Professionals (Part 6)

PART 6 – TIMELYTEXT’S TWO-CUSTOMER PHILOSOPHY In Part 6, Kelly Phillips and TimelyText’s VP Adrian West discuss TimelyText’s Two Customer Philosophy. They also discuss how TimelyText goes about understanding the clients needs so they can find the right candidate.
thinkwebadminJanuary 15, 2021

TimelyText Video Series – The Current State of Hiring Communication Professionals (Part 5)

PART 5 – CONTRACT WORK AS A JUST IN TIME RESOURCE In this segment Kelly Phillips and TimelyText VP Adrian West discuss how using TimelyText and contract workers can provide companies workforce flexibility which is especially helpful during these uncertain times.
thinkwebadminJanuary 15, 2021

TimelyText Video Series – The Current State of Hiring Communication Professionals (Part 4)

PART 4 – NAVIGATING A MANAGED SERVICE PROVIDER(MSP) AND APPROVED VENDOR LISTS In Part 4 Kelly Phillips and TimelyText’s VP Adrian West discuss how TimelyText can still be brought in even if the client uses a Managed Service Provider(MSP) or if they are not already...
thinkwebadminJanuary 15, 2021

TimelyText Video Series – The Current State of Hiring Communication Professionals (Part 3)

PART 3 – TIMELYTEXT’S SERVICES AND CLIENTS In part 3 of our series with Kelly Phillips and TimelyText’s VP Adrian West, we learn more about TimelyText. We find out the types of service offerings that TimelyText specializes in and also some examples of their typical...
thinkwebadminJanuary 15, 2021

TimelyText Video Series – The Current State of Hiring Communication Professionals (Part 2)

PART 2 – HOW TIMELYTEXT CAN HELP WITH BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS In part 2 of our series, Kelly Phillips talks with TimelyText’s VP Adrian West about how TimelyText can help with your company’s business communication efforts during the pandemic. TimelyText can help implement an existing plan...
thinkwebadminJanuary 15, 2021

TimelyText Video Series – The Current State of Hiring Communication Professionals (Part 1)

PART 1 – THE PANDEMICS IMPACT ON TRAINING Kelly Phillips and TimelyText’s VP Adrian West discuss the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on corporate training and development.
thinkwebadminDecember 14, 2020

What’s it Like to be TimelyText’s “Mr. ATD”?

TimelyText has been supplying Instructional Designers to Raleigh/Durham businesses for more than fifteen years, and we have become well known, in local circles, as a “go-to” provider of such resources. But at the core, TimelyText is a stable of communication professionals, and behind all that,...
thinkwebadminNovember 23, 2020

TimelyChat November 2020

Periodically we like to check-in with current and former TimelyText contract employees for a brief chat to discuss their experiences working with TimelyText. In this chat, we feature Kelly Phillips. Why did you begin contracting with TimelyText? I met Ronnie Duncan years ago when I...
thinkwebadminNovember 3, 2020

Consider contracting during the downturn caused by COVID-19

Covid-19 is causing layoffs, uncertainty, and disruption. Yet, here at TimelyText, Technical Writers and Instructional Designers are still in demand. Many of our clients are implementing either temporary or permanent remote work. That means communications and training professionals are needed to help smooth the transition.
thinkwebadminSeptember 1, 2020

Six Reasons a Specialty Staffing Agency Can Help You Land That Perfect Job!

Six Reasons a Specialty Staffing Agency Can Help You Land That Perfect Job!  Mergers, buyouts, downsizing, reorgs…Maybe you have a bad boss or are simply unhappy where you are. Companies and agencies often do not reply to your application or seem interested and then suddenly...
thinkwebadminJuly 21, 2020

Retain and Engage with an Effective New Employee Onboarding Program

With the mass transition to remote workforces, an online new employee orientation can set your employees up for success.
thinkwebadminJune 17, 2020

Outsourcing/Contracting for Instructional Design and Development Enables Your Remote Workforce

The Coronavirus pandemic has created a massive shift for the world’s workforce. Some companies, such as Facebook and Google’s parent-company, Alphabet, plan to allow most workers who can work from home do so through year end. Other large companies, such as Nationwide and Barclays, are...
thinkwebadminJune 12, 2020

Challenges Abound for Hiring Managers During COVID19 | An Interview with Ronnie Duncan

Join Mir Garvy, Owner and Founder of Job Market Solutions as she talks with TimelyText CEO Ronnie Duncan about the challenges facing hiring managers in a post-COVID19 remote working world. Right now companies are fighting fires and trying to deliver remote training via webinar, which...
thinkwebadminJune 7, 2019

How to Successfully Manage a Short-Term Freelance Project

By Kelly Phillips As a freelancer, it’s those long-term, steady contracts that keep a paycheck hitting the bank. But often the key to landing those lucrative gigs is building a relationship with your clients though short-term contracts. Nothing builds trust like delivering actual results. If...
thinkwebadminMarch 9, 2018

“TimelyText Story of Innovation” Featured in RTCC Blog

One of TimelyText’s biggest success stories has been our partnership with ABB, a global technology leader in industrial equipment and systems. As a result, TimelyText is featured in a “story of innovation” on the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC) website (link below). The blogpost describes how TimelyText and ABB worked together with John...
thinkwebadminFebruary 19, 2018

TimelyText Celebrates 15th Anniversary!

Every year, Valentine’s Day is an extra special day for all of us here at TimelyText because it is also our Anniversary, and this year we are proud to be celebrating our 15th! We would like to thank all of our employees and clients for...
thinkwebadminJune 5, 2017

Wool E. Bull joins TimelyText Employee Appreciation Event

On May 9th TimelyText held its annual Employee Appreciation event at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Despite the threatening weather forecast, about 70 folks came on out and joined us on the John Deere Bull Pen Party Deck. Fortunately, the rain held off long enough for us to have...
thinkwebadminMay 8, 2017

Reasons a Specialty Staffing Agency Can Help You Land That Perfect Job! (Part 2)

Reasons a Specialty Staffing Agency Can Help You Land That Perfect Job! (Part 2) In the first part of this blog I looked at why you should be using a specialty staffing agency to help you find your next job opportunity. Since I work with...
thinkwebadminFebruary 15, 2017

TimelyText Welcomes New Team Member – Gary Baker

TimelyText is pleased to announce that Gary Baker has joined our staff as Marketing/Administrative Assistant. Gary will be helping to keep things running smoothly with the day-to-day administration and he will also focus on improving our marketing strategies. We have asked Gary to put together...
thinkwebadminFebruary 9, 2017

LearningDITA.com now offering Course Completion Certificates

Recently, LearningDITA.com, a provider of no cost e-learning DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) courses, announced that they now offer printable certificates upon completion of any of their DITA courses. For those of you who may have already completed one of their courses and would like...
thinkwebadminSeptember 15, 2016

TimelyText Joins Sensus at 4th Annual Charity Golf Classic

Sensus, a TimelyText customer, made significant strides in helping grant wishes for children with life threatening conditions last Monday. The company held its 4th annual Charity Golf Classic tournament at North Carolina State University’s Lonnie Poole Golf Course, raising $55,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Since...
thinkwebadminAugust 4, 2016

Employee Success Stories – Claudine Caro

For over thirteen years, TimelyText has worked with some of North Carolina’s most talented writers and editors. The diverse skillsets and expertise of these men and women have earned this company the reputation it has today, and we at TimelyText continue striving to help every...
thinkwebadminJuly 13, 2016

Knowledgeable Narratives: The Art of Corporate Storytelling

In today’s world of rapid communication and endless information, one important element is often absent. People long for a sense of true connection. For some it’s connection to their community, for others a connection to a greater set of ideals, but in general, all people...
thinkwebadminJune 30, 2016

Employee Success Story – Chuck Arnold

For over thirteen years, TimelyText has worked with some of North Carolina’s most talented writers and editors. The diverse skillsets and expertise of these men and women have earned this company the reputation it has today, and we at TimelyText continue striving to help every...
thinkwebadminJune 14, 2016

Employee Success Stories – Les Williams

For over thirteen years, TimelyText has worked with North Carolina’s most talented writers and editors. The diverse skillsets and expertise of these men and women have earned our company the strong reputation we enjoy today. In fact, that relationship is at the center of our...
thinkwebadminMay 17, 2016

Last Wednesday’s Ballgame Saw a Great Turnout!

TimelyText friends and family gathered in the ballpark last Wednesday, cheering the Durham Bulls to victory over the Buffalo (New York) Bisons. Here are some of the evening’s highlights:   Everyone mingled in the Durham Bull’s “Miller Lite Bullpen,” enjoying delicious ballpark food and clear, sunny skies....
thinkwebadminApril 11, 2016

TimelyText Joins the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster

TimelyText is a proud new member of the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC). An initiative of business, government, academic and nonprofit leaders, the RTCC works to accelerate the region’s cleantech economy by promoting innovation and sector growth.  TimelyText supports these initiatives as a leader for...
thinkwebadminMarch 28, 2016

We are buffing and polishing at TimelyText!

You may have noticed our new logo popping up over social media this week. TimelyText is getting a sparkle and shine this year by updating our logo and website. Change is good, and we are constantly looking for even better ways to provide our clients...
thinkwebadminMarch 16, 2016

TimelyText Welcomes New Team Member

Hello! My name is Robert McNeely, and I’ve recently joined the TimelyText headquarters team to help handle internal projects and content curation. I’ll also have a role as TimelyText explores new approaches for online media presence and development of strategies to grow our client base....
thinkwebadminMarch 2, 2016

Look Closely and You’ll See Art in Punctuation

Punctuation is a fundamental and critical element in writing, providing organization and lending intention to written thought. Commas, semi-colons, dashes, and periods all serve as suggestions to direct a reader through any piece of writing. But in what other forms than writing can punctuation be...
thinkwebadminFebruary 16, 2016

TimelyText is 13 years old! Do you know what this number means?

The TimelyText team is thrilled to be celebrating 13 years in business as the Triangle Area’s leading provider of instruction designers, technical writers, marketing writers, editors, and corporate communications specialists.  This is a wonderful milestone for us, and we consider it lucky 13, as this...
thinkwebadminFebruary 5, 2016

The Carolina Panthers and TimelyText have had historic years…what about Broncos fans?

What a great season this has been for the Carolina Panthers! Their best ever! TimelyText had our best year ever too! Most of us at TimelyText hope to be celebrating our great year along with the Panthers if they can win the 50th Super Bowl....
thinkwebadminJanuary 22, 2016

Workplace Changes Expected in 2016: More Freelancers

Between technology advancements, work/life balance initiatives, and constant need for companies to become more agile, the list of categories that companies need to stay ahead of in the new year is nearly endless. With the demands of younger generations of workers moving toward a “fewer...
thinkwebadminNovember 17, 2015

Why we all Make Typos – and What to do About it

When you write for a living, missing a typo is incredibly embarrassing. It makes you look unprofessional, sloppy and lazy. And if you have no proofreader, it’s nearly inevitable. You hang your head and vow to do better the next time. You can imagine how...
thinkwebadminOctober 28, 2015

When you Must Write Outside Your Comfort Zone

We’ve all been there. We can draft a great technical document, or whip up a business letter that will win over the most skeptical client, but give us something to write that isn’t in our genre and we clam up, dawdle, claim writer’s block and...
thinkwebadminSeptember 23, 2015

Is There a Udacity for Instructional Designers?

Last week, New York Times’ columnist Farhad Manjoo wrote about the success of Udacity, the online teaching start-up that offers what it calls, “nanodegrees,” in highly sought after skills like mobile programming, data analysis, and web development. Students pay by the month, work at their...
thinkwebadminSeptember 9, 2015

Five Tips to Make Your Professional Portfolio Sell Your Skills

What is the best way to showcase your work? That’s a question a lot of job seekers and freelancers grapple with. Is a personal, branded website necessary? Can a free LinkedIn account do the job? What about highlighting proprietary work? We’re assuming you already know...