A Career in technical writing- 5 steps to build a career in technical writing

1. A Career in Technical Writing 5 Steps to Build A career in Technical Writing

2. “Remember, your output is not a work of art; it’s a work product designed to help the customer – whoever the customer is.” ― Krista Van Laan, The Insider's Guide to Technical Writing

3. What is Technical Writing • Technical writing involves presenting technical information through writing. Technical writing is about effectively communicating the intricacies in an easily understandable manner. • It involves writing user manuals and online help. Technical documentation, however, is a much wider term and involves different technologies and genres. It also involves memos, business reports, product descriptions, resumes, job applications, etc. Not all types of technical documentation will require a technical writer however inputs are always helpful, especially if the technical writers are subject matter experts. If not, it can be reviewed by a subject matter expert to ensure accuracy..

4. Career In Technical Writing • No wonder acareer in technical writing is highly sought after. The technical writers are much in demand in industries such as energy, finance, manufacturing, engineering, and medical business. • The list is not exhaustive and the technical writers are also in demand in fields like software, consulting academia, telecommunication to name just a few. • To tread on the technical writer career path, one has to plan ahead. Few of the career options are- Manual writers, Policy writers, Technical communications specialists, Technical communicators etc.

5. First Step - Learning • You need to have a systematic approach only then can you chart career in technical writing. First step is learning technical writing- • Getting certified in technical writing course– Though it is not mandatory, getting certified does make your CV more impressive and helps you land a job easily, especially for beginners. To know the nuances of writing, a diploma or even a certification can go a long way. • With numerous courses for the content writing on offer, a good course can be of great help. You can choose the one that fits you best. Another good part of this field is that you can even get learn the skill sitting at your home. Hence, courses are available both online and offline i.e. classroom-based. There are weekends as well as weekdays batches available and they are flexible with the timings as well.

6. Second Step – Practicing • Practicing before taking the plunge in the job market. Before applying for jobs or searching for freelancing gigs, it is highly suggested to have a minimum level knowledge. The heart of any form of writing is the skill to communicate the material in a crisp manner. Significant improvements can be made to the writing skill by delivering projects for friends and well-wishers can be taken up and completed with the seriousness of a paid project. • One can get a good following by writing tutorials on the preferred industry. This is a good way of catching attention. Since error-free communication is one of the cornerstones of technical writing it is highly recommended to get initiated in the field in a gradual manner.

7. Second Step – Practicing (Continued) • Keep in mind the following core techniques for technical Writing- • Planning and Preparation according to clients requirements. • Audience analysis • Feedback of the user • Conceptualizing the document • Expert opinion • Finality on the document type

8. Third Step- Building a Portfolio • Maintain a body of work -where all your small and big project should be recorded to be presented. • It is recommended to take small projects at a nominal or no compensation and work on it with seriousness. The compensation aspect has to be overlooked initially.  • Restricting oneself to only one field restricts the job options too. The dynamism of the writer is reflected in how diverse topics he has written upon. • The projects of friends, acquaintances, well-wishers, or offering less compensation should be immediately lapped up and a decent portfolio constructed. •  In a portfolio besides paying attention to the text if the visual effects and text formatting have also been taken care of, it greatly enhances the job prospects. 

9. Fourth Step-DevelopingIndustry knowledge • Stay in touch with the latest developments in the medical world, new technological developments, and new R&D being carried out. • It is advisable to be a part of a professional network as it can also lead to landing new projects, besides offering networking benefits like journals and articles. • go through and practice the tone, style, and content common to documents in the chosen field • Learn the various tools to aid in presentation, it would be a great asset if you possess develop web designing, page layout and document designing skills. • The readability of the document can be maintained through visual media effect using videos, charts and infographics. They can add a new dimension to their skill. 

10. Fourth Step-DevelopingIndustry knowledge (Continued) • Since many technical writings are published on the web and online platforms, it would greatly help if a web designing course and certification is acquired. • A review of learning materials and resources also helps in gaining experience in writing and creating new followers. • Short videos on tutorials can also be floated on the internet creating followers and hence getting noticed. • Though coding is not a compulsion familiarizing oneself with coding nuances and applications helps especially for languages Java, HTML.

11. Fifth Step-Building the right resume and Uploading on websites  • The search for a career in the technical writing industry begins with posting and uploading resumes. • Since the resume will be the first exposure to writing skills, great care has to be taken to see that it is error-free. It should be free of all grammatical errors, customized for job you are applying and contain all the relevant skills without exaggeration. • The resume should be uploaded on sites that cater to technical writing. Other professional networks should also be explored. Greater participation in seminars, workshops, and being an active member of social media groups also helps in getting noticed. Writing blogs, posting videos also helps. • There are a lot of job sites like internshala.com, writerbolg.com, iwriter.com, upwork.com, where the resume can be uploaded to get project work. Besides, there are a lot of platforms like medium.com where the articles and blogs can be published to catch attention. Quora is another platform, which offers new writers an excellent platform. All such platforms should be utilized.

12. Some Helpful Tips for Drafting • Some do’s of drafting which is useful to practice- • Single words should be used and a group of words should be reduced. • Simple verbs are to be used for a group of words • Shorter sentences should be used • There should not be unnecessary repetition • Ideas should be expressed in as few words as possible. • Active voice is preferred over passive voice. • The meaning of the words being written should be clear. • The writer should put himself in place of the reader and satisfy himself about the sense, content, and the interpretation it carries.

13. Challenges in Technical Writing • Like any other profession, technical writing also has challenges. Some of them are: • Technical writing involves jargon – There should be a balance between the technical terms and colloquial ones. To make the writing informative and useful would involve inducing the jargon in a an easy understandable way. • It can sometimes be drab and dull- It involves facts and figures and gives lesser room for creativity as opposed to creative writing. The challenge is to make technical writing. • It involves responsibility- Technical writing involves hard facts about the subject and the techniques, any deviation from the set standards or wrong interpretation can be detrimental in many ways and can even lead to legal issues.

14. Why Choose Technical Writing as Career • Technical Writers Make Good Earnings- A technical writer earns $57,851 on average according to Payscale. • Creative Job- Learning new things and the usage of visual tools make it an creative interesting work. • Hone expertise in a chosen field- Technical writing being a specialized field, you are involved in a constant research which helps you in widening your knowledge base which can further help y our career progression. • Up-to-date- You will be required to stay in touch with the latest trends and advances that the industry has to offer. • Different Projects- You will receive exposure to some really interesting projects in different fields through this career option.

15. Reference: Five Steps To Build A Career In Technical Writing byPrabhat Sinha. He explains in detail everything you need to know about technical writing as a career. From choosing technical writing course to job searching, he covers all the topics in his eBook.