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Breaking In: Suggestions for Breaking Into Technical Communication
Contents
Table of contents
- Blend Writing and Technology
- Build Experience in Your Current Job
- Build Volunteer Experience
- Supplement with Training
- Supplement with University Credentials
- Read Helpful Books
- Learn Authoring Tools
- Join a Professional Association
- Work with a Mentor
- Begin with Contract Work
- Have Some Luck and Good Timing
- Conclusion
Entering a new field of work can be a daunting task. Don’t give up! This is a brief collection of useful tips for people who want to break into the technical communication field. While this guide will not guarantee you a job in technical communication, it may help you get started on the right foot in your search.
Blend Writing and Technology
Technical writing requires a combination of technical aptitude and skill with words. This is not a common skill set, and many technical writers must improve their technical skills or writing skills in order to move into the field in the field.Technical communicators come from many professional backgrounds, and many begin from a more writing or technology-oriented skillset and move into technical communication. Whatever your strong suit, work to have a balance of technical and writing skills.
Build Experience in Your Current Job
You do not necessarily need to get a technical communication job to begin developing the skills you need. Experience with writing or technology in any job can be helpful prerequisites to moving into technical communication.Build Volunteer Experience
If you join one of the professional organizations listed, you can gain more experience in the field by serving as a volunteer.Supplement with Training
Registering for training programs can help you develop specific in the technical communication field. These training options are available locally:Sign up for training offerings offered by local organizations to begin learning the tools you need to land the job. See the listing of Professional Organizations below for more information.
Supplement with University Credentials
While not a requirement to enter the field, some local universities offer continuing education programs in technical communication.- Duke University, Certificate in Technical Communication
- NC State University, Masters of Science in Technical Communication
Read Helpful Books
These books provide general information about technical communication and how to move into the field:- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing by Krista Van Laan, et al
- Technical Writing 101 by Alan S. Pringle, Sarah S. O'Keefe
Learn Authoring Tools
Technical communicators use specialized tools to develop content. These tools may be helpful for getting a foothold in the industry:- Structured Authoring and Content Management Tools
- FrameMaker
- any of various XML editors
- AuthorIT
- Web Tools
- HTML
- DHTML, JavaScript
- Adobe Acrobat
- Dreamweaver (or other Web Design tool)
- Flash
Join a Professional Association
There are several professional associations that support technical communicators. The largest and most active in this area is STC, the Society for Technical Communication. Each organization has a distinct focus, and many technical communicators participate in one or more organizations.These are local organizations that focus on technical communication:
- STC Carolina- Eastern North Carolina chapter, but mostly the Triangle Area, of the Society for Technical Communication. www.stc-carolina.org
- KeyContent.org- An educational organization dedicated to providing technical communicators and content managers with the tools to instantly publish ideas and help advance what is becoming the discipline of content engineering.
- Tri-XML- The Triangle Area XML group with a large representation of local technical communicators.
- Usability - There is a local chapter of Usability Professionals forming this year.
- DITA User Group - Local technical communicators that use DITA DTD and structured authoring.
- information architecture
- XML authoring
- content management
- structured authoring
- information reuse
- usability
- single-sourcing
- collaborative authoring
- user experience
- online course management
- knowledge management
- automatically generated documentation
- web design
Work with a Mentor
If you become a member of STC, you can apply to work with a senior STC member as a mentor. The mentor program is designed to help beginning technical communicators develop a specific skill set by working with a experienced technical communicators.Begin with Contract Work
Many technical communicators gain their first experience in the field by working as a contract technical communicator. Contracting often has drawbacks, such as limited assignments and fewer benefits than a full-time job. However, contract work can allow you to gain significant experience in a small period of time and move into a full-time position in technical communication.Have Some Luck and Good Timing
Of course finding an opportunity and meeting the right employer or contact sometimes involves good luck and good timing.Conclusion
Making the move into technical writing field is not easy, but the results can be very rewarding. Go for it!{SUBMIT()}{SUBMIT}
