Is Technical Writing A Good Career

Technical Writing: Is It A Good Career? (Twenty Qs-&-As To Enlighten You)

Jerry Grohovsky

President, JPG & Associates, Inc., "The Technical Writing Experts."

Published Jan 8, 2021

Technical writing (or technical communication) is a very rewarding career both in terms of job satisfaction and monetary reward. Many people outside of the profession may be familiar with the term on a superficial level, however their knowledge of the profession may be limited or inaccurate. For those individuals who are considering technical communications as their primary under-graduate program, or for those working professionals who are considering a viable career change, it serves them well to ask more questions in order to make the right decisions.

The following set of 20 questions and answers should help with the decision-making process:

What do technical writers/communicators do? The conventional (and common perception) definition of a technical writer is a professional who develops technical manuals, instructions, and other documents that users of products find useful and necessary for starting, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting commercial and consumer products which require guidance for use. However, this represents only a small fraction of the ever-expanding bandwidth of this profession. The technical writer of today often is trained to do more than just instructions on how to use a product. The profession has expanded tremendously over the past several decades to include such titles as: e-learning developer, web content writer, content strategist, user-experience specialist, and social media specialist (just to name a few).
Why is technical writing considered such a good profession to pursue? The technical communication profession ranks high for availability of opportunities coast-to-coast, job satisfaction, income, personal reward, variety of specialty areas, and stability. Formal surveys, consultation with peers, and informal networking all have shown technical communicators to rank high on the list of professions on all counts.
Is this a good time to pursue a technical writing career? Yes, now is probably the best time (certainly since the 50's and 60's) to consider pursuing a technical writing career. Several patterns are converging as major contributors to this vigorous market, including: a) the emergence of new ways to deliver content, b) the explosion of various technologies, such as web-based applications, and the hyper-expanding medical and healthcare industry, and c) a demographic wave of retiring baby-boomers over the next decade, which will certainly have a major impact on the availability of writer talent.
Which industries hire technical writers? There are dozens of industries that employ technical writers. Those on the list offering the best opportunities include the following kinds of companies: engineering, manufacturing, computer hardware and software technology, web-based commerce, medical devices, healthcare, banking and finance, automation, heavy equipment, aerospace (just to name a few).
What sort of education is required? The most successful path to take is to enroll in a 4-year degree in a program such as Technical Communication, Journalism, English, Marketing Communications, or any writing studies equivalent. However, if you are currently working fulltime in another profession, then you will be happy to know that many professionals are able to make shifts into technical writing quite easily because: a) their current profession demands a great deal of communication already, and b) they have an inherent passion for writing.
What colleges and universities offer technical writing training? There are numerous colleges and universities throughout the U.S. offering technical communication/writing studies degrees at both the under-graduate and post-graduate levels. Some of those in Minnesota/upper Midwest region offering specialized academic training for the technical communication profession include: University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University, and Minnesota State--Mankato, University of Wisconsin (UW) Eau Claire, and UW Stout. In addition to offering conventional classroom settings, online (e-learning) options have expanded greatly in recent years that allow more flexibility of schedule.
What sort of income can I expect? You can expect to earn a better-than-average income in the technical communication field for all levels of experience—from entry-level pay for tech. comm. graduates through senior-level. Average incomes for technical communicators across the U.S. are approaching $75,000 annually, plus benefits. Management pays much higher (ranges of $85,000 to $100,000+ are common). Independent consultants who are well-established in the profession can easily make well into the six figures (especially when becoming specialists in certain industries, such medical devices).
Can a person transition from their current career into technical communication? Yes. However, some professions are easier to transition into technical communication versus others. Why? Because there are professions which require significant written communication skills and therefore provides the opportunity to gain more relevant communication experience that is more easily transferable into technical writing. Some professions may require a strong technical background combined with the need to communicate ideas, train employees, or persuade clients.
What professions would you say are the most common and/or afford the easiest transition into technical writing? Certain professions—by their very level of involvement with communications—are those where transferable skill sets and experiences are more easily carried into the next profession of technical communication. Historically, technical communicators have transitioned very successfully from such professions as: engineering, software development, primary and secondary education, research and product development, customer satisfaction/technical services, news/editorial (newspaper and magazine writing), marketing communications, and computer sciences, and more.
If a person is currently working in another profession, what sort of experience and education is helpful for transitioning into technical communications? If you are passionate about writing, and you are currently doing lot s of writing in your current role, then you already have a good start. Any basic 4-year undergraduate degree is good, in combination with day-to-day writing experience in your current profession. The title of your current job doesn't matter as much as the skill sets and experiences which are "transferable" and relevant to the new career of technical communication. We like to call the skills and experiences you carry forth into tech. comm. your "writer's toolbox." Also, it can be of tremendous help to "legitimize" your transition by enrolling in a writing studies certificate program, which are more available online than ever before.
Which skill sets, strengths, and experiences are most noticed and sought after by hiring managers? Some of more common attention-getters include: strong aptitude in both verbal and written communication, attention to detail, ability to coordinate several projects simultaneously, knowledge of basic software authoring tools (i.e., Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office, awareness of XML or content management system theory), good interpersonal skills, ability to assess-develop-timeline-execute a project plan from concept through delivery, good interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Am I able to keep working fulltime at my present job while I enroll in classes? Yes. Many college-level under-graduate, post-graduate, and certificate programs offer online options that allow working enrollees the flexibility to plan their course schedules to accommodate their professional and personal lifestyle needs.
Is the pandemic impacting the technical communication profession? Yes. Probably the most obvious impact of Covid-19 is the acceleration of searching for and hiring of remote-based talent. Also, it has the accelerated forward the remote office concept and made it more accepting to those corporate managers who previously were skeptical and hesitant to embrace it as a fulltime arrangement.
Are there remote opportunities? Yes. In "pre-Covid" times, there was the ever-increasing use and need for hiring talent outside of the immediate commuting sphere of a particular company geographic location. With the onset of the pandemic, the acceptance and practice of hiring talent to work on a remote basis has accelerated.
Is Minnesota a good market for technical writers? Yes, Minnesota is an excellent geographic region in the U.S. for technical communicators to seek employment. Reasons are several: a) Minnesota has a diverse economy, spanning the spectrum from engineering, manufacturing, and high-technology, to banking, finance, healthcare, and medical device, and b) Minnesota's recent history of low-unemployment rate means less competition for the job seeker, and c) Minnesota ranks as one of the top medical device markets in the U.S. and globally, and this means that the medical device industry is a dominant player in the hiring of technical writers.
Am I able to keep my current job and still enroll in technical writing studies? Yes. Many colleges and universities that have established writing programs do offer online opportunities, including undergraduate, post-graduate, and certificate programs.
Do companies offer training to entry-level technical communicators? Some companies, but not all. It is often dependent on such factors as size of company, availability of staff/budget. Some companies may offer either formal training or casual/informal. Formal training usually involves an established internal training program on such topics as HR policies, enterprise software, and company products. Informal training generally means that a more senior-level writer is assigned to a new hire (in the roll as a "mentor") to guide incoming writers on departmental procedures, authoring and archiving tools, etc. Informal training is particularly effective for both interns and entry-level new hires.
Are there internships available for graduates of writing programs? Yes. Internships are highly recommended. They are extremely important, for they provide a pre-training boost and validation of the undergraduate's credentials. They can be divided historically into paid and non-paid, although "paid is getting to be the more common practice by companies today. The first and second quarters of the calendar year are the most active for internship opportunities.
If I am currently in another professions, what steps should I take to start the process of transitioning into technical writing? Start by taking these 8 basic steps: 1) "functionalize" your resume to emphasize your communication experience--and make your career objective clear, 2) update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your new career objective, 3) consider enrolling in a technical writing certificate program or individual writing course online flexible or evening classes, 4) update your software skills immediately—start with the Adobe Suite, 5) build a paper and on-line portfolio of samples of your past work, 6) join the STC (Society for Technical Communication), AMWA (American Medical Writer's Association), and/or PEN (Professional Editors Network), 7) start attending networking events and job fairs, talking with professional peers-family-friends, researching on-line, 8) contact a firm that specializes in technical communication—such as JPG--for guidance and advice on careers in technical communication.
As someone who is graduating from a technical communication or other similar writing studies program in the near future, what steps should I take to prepare for the job market? Start the process by following these 8 steps: 1) in your final year prior to graduation, be sure to make securing an internship in a corporate setting a high priority, 2) create a LinkedIn profile, 3) build an effective resume, 4) develop a paper-based and online portfolio, 5) update your software skills, 6) join a professional organization, such as the STC (Society for Technical Communication) or AMWA (American Medical Writer's Association, 7) start attending networking events and job fairs, talk to peers-family-friends, and 8) contact a firm that specializes in technical communication—such as JPG--for guidance and advice on careers in technical communication.