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Technical Writing/Communication Technical Writing/Communication
About the Field Today technical writing has evolved into technical communication.n Stated very simply, technical communicators serve as the bridge between those who create ideas and those who use them. In essence, technical writing involves translating technical ideas initiated by scientists and engineers into words and images a specific audience will understand. It is the technical communicator‰s job to not only write, but frequently design the entire document which might include text, tables, graphs, drawings, and on-line media. The technical writer‰s audience almost always knows less about the subject than the scientist or engineer initiating the ideas. This means the technical writer has the job of:
(The Tech Writing Game, Van Wicklen) The final document might be a user's guide explaining how to install, maintain, and repair a product; instructional and tutorial manuals, frequently on-line, for internal and customer training; or in-house manuals that explain how a product is to be manufactured. Organizationally, technical writers may be part of a technical publications or documentation group within a technical company. Smaller firms may hire freelance technical writers on a contract basis. There is also a general market within publishing for books explaining popular software and hardware packages.
"One thing is clear - tech writers spend most of their time at activities other than writing." What you do in a day depends upon the kind of technical writer you are and the stage of your project. A survey of technical writers came up with the following percentages on how they spent their time on the job (Van Wicklen):
In practice, then, the technical writer's time is taken up with as much research as it is with writing.
According to the Society for Technical Communication (STC), the major professional association for technical writers, U.S. technical writers earned a median salary of $49,000 in 1999. Salaries in Silicon Valley tend to be higher than this national median. A beginning writer can expect a salary in the range of $30,000-$45,000. A mid-range writer can earn $40,000-$70,000. And a senior or staff writer might earn $50,000-$80,000. Many technical writers are also hired on a contract basis.
Who makes a good technical writer? While the settings for technical writers will vary, technical publication managers generally look for theses skills when hiring:
A tech writing position will normally require a minimum of a Bachelor's degree. It is also a field that attracts students from all disciplines with advanced degrees. Academic majors range from English, communications, or other heavy writing majors to technical backgrounds in engineering or computer science. Some companies believe strong writing skills are more important than in-depth technical knowledge, while other companies will prefer just the opposite. Job listings often request experience with Adobe Frame Maker and some knowledge of Robohelp or an HTML authoring tool. The tech writer must be self-motivated and able to work independently. Even when working in teams, each writer has his or her own projects to complete and deadlines to monitor. The writer may have to sacrifice grace of expression so that the manual is ready when the product is shipped. While there may be some frustration that the written materials are secondary to the actual product, many tech writers speak of the satisfaction that comes from continually being in contact with the cutting edge of new technology.
Preparation and Job Search Strategies Writing and research experience of any kind are useful when seeking a technical writing position, particularly "how to" writing. Summer internships are often available, although they may not be extensively publicized. Some take a few classes or attend a program in technical writing. (See the STC web site for a list of technical writing programs.) Often small technical companies are willing to train "quick learners" who have had no previous experience. Many Stanford graduates have interest the field by networking with alums, or by working through temp agencies where the temp positions became permanent after the employer observed the "temp" had solid writing skills. Very few organizations come to Stanford to formally recruit for technical writing positions. However, CDC career fairs held in the fall and spring usually include numerous technical organizations whose representatives could put you in touch with the staff of their organization who hire technical communicators. You should also attend regional meetings of the STC. This Society encourages networking with its professional members at local chapter meetings. In addition, the STC web site posts jobs openings.
Society for Technical
Communication (STC) International Association
of Business Communicators (IABC)
Numerous other specialized organizations include: American Medical Writer's Association (http://www.amwa.org/) National Association of Science Writers (http://www.nasw.org/)
Web Sites Information about being
a tech writer: http://atechwriter.homepage.com/ http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos089.htm http://www.stc-va.org/fjobstart.htm Job listings and other information: http://www.stc-va.org/ http://stc.org/ http://www.iabc.com/messages/job_postings/1.html http://www.nwu.org/
Focus II The Tech Writing Game,
Janet Van Wicklen Occupational Outlook
Handbook Alternative Careers
in Science 100 Jobs in Words,
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