Technical Writing: Making a Career Out of It
Creating a career and landing jobs in technical writing
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking with the members of the Empower Her community on this topic. For those who missed out, here is a guide on how to make a career in technical writing.
Tech has a lot of fantastic career paths, and technical writing is not left out. You do not necessarily need a university degree to be a technical writer, but there are some skills you need to develop. Technical writers must be able to put detailed information into a format that is easy for audiences to understand. Before you decide to become a technical writer, you must evaluate yourself to determine if becoming a technical writer is right for you.
If you've decided to pursue a career as a technical writer, this article is for you. It describes how you can develop your skills and start a career in technical writing, either as a freelancer, or in an organisation.
For beginners in technical writing, here is an introductory article on how to write a compelling technical article.
How to Create a Career in Technical Writing
Apart from the standard requirements and qualities needed as a technical writer, such as writing, editing, and proofreading. Here are other ways that you can create a career in technical writing:
Develop your technical and soft skills
In technical writing and other technical careers, constant enhancement of skills is necessary. These skills include both your technical and soft skills as a technical writer. Technical skills can work with tools, such as (Google docs, Hemingway, Git, GitHub, etc.,) with which you gain proficiency over time. You’ll need to take some courses and certifications to hone your skills in technical writing.
On the other hand, soft skills are interpersonal or people skills that you can apply to any/all jobs. These include communication, teamwork, adaptability, critical thinking, problem-solving, etc. A technical writer should have a good command of verbal/spoken communication skills due to day-to-day collaboration with others.
My next article will deeply explain the skills required as a technical writer. Stay tuned by following this blog!
Research, Read and Learn
There are a lot of fields in tech, so as a technical writer, you need to know a little about everything. Researching, reading, and learning work hand-in-hand and are a requirement in technical writing. Technical writers should always explore and read to improve their vocabulary and keep up with current trends in the report and technological world. Regular consumption of technical content is a plus.
Developing a Unique Voice
In the same way, not all fingers are equal; not all humans think alike, so your views and opinions on things are valid. In addition, people learn differently, and your content might be the very thing someone out there is hoping to read before they can understand a particular concept fully.
How to Get That Technical Writing Job
Now that you have understood what is involved in making a career out of technical writing. Here are tips on how to land that technical writing job;
Tip #1: Create a technical writing portfolio
A technical writing portfolio is a document that contains all your technical writing samples. You will likely be asked for writing samples or a portfolio when applying for a technical writing position. It is to exhibit your skills and knowledge to prospective employers. You can start by creating articles about tech-related concepts. It could be a new concept that everyone is saying. Then publish these articles either on your blog or other people's blogs.
Contributing to open-source documentation is a great way to get experience in writing and experience in writing documentation. All these should be in your portfolio.
Tip #2: Build up your professional network
Use social media to your advantage; LinkedIn is highly recommended to connect with professionals in the field. Establish your identity. Make your bio and content engaging to appeal to your desired audience.
Join a technical writing community and participate in their events (webinars, conferences, writing contests, etc.). Some of these communities are: Society for Technical Communication, Write the Docs, and Technical Writers Forum. In these communities, you will find opportunities to share your skills and improve your reputation as a technical writer.
Tip #3: Be Consistent
When you start, don’t stop. You need to engage in continuous writing to get better at technical writing. Start by posting articles on your blog often till you develop the habit of writing; you can also contribute to open-source projects or write for other blogs. Your next employer might just be a random reader. You can also promote your blog by sharing it on your social media platforms.
Tip #4: Job Hunting
Knowing when you are ready to start applying for jobs is probably the most challenging part of landing a job. Research technical writing jobs on LinkedIn using the keywords “technical writer", “junior technical writer", “content writer", etc. Figure out the standard requirements in their job descriptions and narrow your curriculum vitae to suit them. Here’s an article on how to write a technical writer's resume. You can also start with small gigs by freelancing for companies.
Below are some websites where you can find job listings for technical writers and other related roles:
How is technical writing used in business?
As a technical writer, you can be your boss (an independent contractor) if you don’t want to work for a company. Here’s how you can achieve this;
Create a business out of your skills
Many technical writers do not have a formal technical writing education. Your success as a technical writer largely depends on your experience. Use this to your advantage, tell your story, and attract the clientele you need.
A strong brand is your business advantage
Define your brand. It is what your business will be known for and how the public perceives your business. A strong brand will help your business stand out from other technical writers.
Create a Unique Portfolio
It could include a personal website that serves as a one-stop spot for clients to view your portfolio. It's one of the easiest ways to put yourself on the map.
Be the technical writer you love
Be part of a community that helps you thrive, ask questions, and be intentional about your growth. It isn't always easy, but you'll get there with consistency.
Conclusion
“Writing is not just the technical act of your fingers on your keyboard." "Writing is living.” - Melissa Marr
The methods outlined in this article will assist you in making a career out of technical writing. As with any professional field, there's always an opportunity for technical writers to grow as specialists.
This field also offers competitive rewards for those passionate about technical writing and willing to put in the effort.
Hopefully, this article has given you an overview of what it takes to make a career out of technical writing.
To learn how to create a technical writing portfolio and build your technical writing career, follow this blog to get notified when it is published.
Feel free to share your technical writing journey with me on Twitter or in the comment section.