Getting Started
Many different roads can lead to a technical writing career. Although some technical writers attend school specifically to learn about technical communication, most of them did not. Some technical writers have a technical background, and because they also know how to write, they end up in a position that incorporates their technical knowledge and savvy with their writing strength. This happens often.
Basically, technical writers facilitate information transfer. If someone already has a good grasp of a specific technology, including the vocabulary related to that technology, then they just may be good at writing about the technology.
Rework Your Résumé
Rewrite your resume so that it emphasizes every bit of writing experience you have ever had, even writing a column for a student newsletter.
Build a Portfolio
Companies looking to hire a technical writer want someone who can give them some writing samples. Beginning technical writers can create some technical documentation by:
- Writing articles for nonprofit newsletters
- Writing documentation for a shareware application
- Writing instructions for building something, like something you already do as a hobby
Join STC
Attend STC development meetings to network with technical writers and learn about the subjects that interest them and affect their work. Consider attending an annual STC conference, which is an excellent place to meet potential employers and a good way to meet more technical writers.
STC is the largest organization in the world dedicated to promoting and disseminating information about all aspects of technical communication. Local chapters hold periodic development meetings that are open to everyone. Contact the national office to get contact information for your local chapter: stc@stc.org
Joining STC provides many benefits, and adding membership to your resume can help you get that interview, even if you have little technical writing experience. This is money well spent.
Work with Recruiters
Technical recruiters have access to lots of companies looking to hire technical writers. In fact, some companies only hire technical staff through a recruiter. As mentioned above, look at the job boards that post openings for technical communicators. Many of those job openings are posted by recruiters.
Study Technical Writing
Study technical writing to become a better technical writer. Below is a list of resources you can use to get more information about the business of contract technical writing.
Books
Most thorough technical writing books cost from $30 to $90. You can find many of them by searching on Amazon.com for “technical writing.” These are some of the books I own:
- Making Money in Technical Writing: Turn Your Writing Skills into $100,000 a Year, Peter Kent, ARCO (a division of Macmillan General Reference), 1998.
- The Elements of Technical Writing, Gary Blake and Robert W. Bly, Macmillan General Reference, 1993.
- Franklin Covey Style Guide for Business and Technical Communication, Franklin Covey Company, 2000.
- The Elements of Style, 4th Edition, William Strunk Jr., E. B. White, and Roger Angell, Pearson Education Company, 1999.
- The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition, University of Chicago Press, 2003.
- The ACS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors, American Chemical Society, 1997.
Periodicals
- Intercom, the magazine of the Society for Technical Communication
- Technical Communication, the journal of the Society for Technical Communication