Michaela Diaz works as a Technical Documentation Specialist at Transtema. She is a social problem solver who enjoys helping others. Michaela is an agronomist by training, but thanks to her great interest in mapping systems and technology, she found her way to the profession of Technical Documentation Specialist.
– I studied agronomy at university and chose to take courses in geographical information systems (GIS). That’s when I became interested in working with maps and managing data. When it was time for me to look for a job after graduation, an acquaintance told me about Transtema. I went to the website, saw the job as a Technical Documentation Specialist and immediately felt that it was something I wanted to apply for. My knowledge of GIS combined with the fact that I have a great interest in technology and find it easy to learn digital systems is the reason why the job suits me so well.”
From pre-project planning to final documentation
As a Technical Documentation Specialist, Michaela and her colleagues work on documenting our customers’ fiber networks. They draw up what the fiber networks look like and update the systems as the fiber networks are expanded or changed.
– We work in different systems where we can make schematic sheets of what the fiber networks look like. We do some pre-project planning, which means that we help to book fiber before it is built. We also work with final documentation where we document how the outcome was after the fiber was built and the end customer was connected. In Sweden, we are in a phase where we have fiber almost everywhere, so when we expand, it usually means that we build in an existing network. So, it’s important that the documentation is kept up to date.
Michaela’s work group consists of eleven Technical Documentation Specialists. They have knowledge of different systems and have different areas of expertise.
– We help each other a lot and are flexible in what support our colleagues in the organization need. If there is something we do not already have knowledge of, we are happy to learn new systems and programs. We are spread out over large parts of the country so there are a lot of digital meetings.
Clearing out incorrectly documented networks with detective work
– Sometimes we take over jobs where it is incorrectly documented from the start. Then we sort it out and make sure that the documentation is correct. We usually discover these errors when we go out and start working in an area and see that the existing documentation may not be correct or is incomplete. It is then in both the customer’s and our interest to correct it and get the documentation in order.
Properly documented networks are crucial for fast troubleshooting, security requirements and future expansion of fiber networks. It also contributes to better customer communication, transparency and reduces the risk of errors. It ensures that everyone involved has the information they need to work effectively.
– When a network is mis-documented, we look at all the documentation material available. This can be in text format, different file formats and images. We try to put together a puzzle from the documentation, which means that we must do some detective work and put it together so that it fits. There are many conversations where I sit together with designers and technicians who have been out on site and seen what it looks like. Sometimes there is no information at all and then it becomes real detective work. Then I contact the technicians in the area and see if they can go to the site and take photos. I find it exciting when I get to work methodically to solve problems.
Likes challenges and learning new things
– I like when things happen, and I like to learn new things. When a job comes up where, for example, we need to learn a new system or way of working, I’m happy to be part of it. I’m a very social person so it might sound strange that I have an office job where I mainly work in systems, but my job is much more social than you might think.
– The best thing about my job is the feeling of being able to help and solve problems that others are stuck on. I am a service-oriented person and have previously worked in shops, restaurants and cafés, so I have the service ethic in me, which is very useful in my work today. When we get work that colleagues in other parts of the organization are stuck on and they do not have the opportunity to spend time solving, it is very satisfying to be able to go in and solve them. It’s usually very gratifying to help and it’s great to get that feedback back. Sometimes it feels like I can pick stones off their shoulders!
