Offer to intern for three to six months, a technique that many writers use very successfully. Once you're inside a company, quite often you end up getting an offer there. You'll get the experience you need and will meet people that could hire you later, if not now. Before you contact a hiring manager, it is critical to assess your skills. The major key to marketing yourself is knowing what you know.
Companies hire for product knowledge .
It's easier and faster to become productive if you already have knowledge of a particular topic. In addition, programming background is one of the hottest skills around for writers. If you have any programming background, capitalize on it. It means you know how to communicate with developers. Ability to get along with all types of people is another unique skill, believe it or not.