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Last updated Jan 29 2025
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Technical Writer Reviews
What is it like working as a Technical Writer?
May 2015
Start Young, REtire Early.
Technical Writer:
Start early in state government.
April 2015
Writing Technically.
Technical Writer:
Pros: I enjoy my fellow workers and the work environment at this company. Some of the topics are interesting and people are willing to answer questions.
Cons: For the proposal center, the work flow tends to be feast or famine. There is no respect given to the work I do, it only seems to be appreciated if we win.
March 2015
Usually a fun opportunity to learn new things.
Technical Writer:
Pros: Research, editing, graphic design, and creating engaging multimedia content are the cornerstone of what I do, and it can be fun. The people I work with are very accommodating, and there's always new learning opportunities.
Cons: Dealing with inconsistent product specifications, working against a deadline, and getting no budget for much-needed info, equipment, and upgrades are the constant challenges of working for a hungry small business. Seeing years of work go up in smoke because the current marketing person wants to change everything for no good or justified reason can be a little frustrating too.
March 2015
Creative and at times monotonous.
Technical Writer:
Pros: Getting to learn & work on new software products almost every other month.
Review & enhancements.
Cons: Current job nature is not so creative.
Nothing to create from scratch.
February 2015
Communication degrees do NOT stand alone.
Technical Writer:
Communication degrees only train you to communicate, they do NOT train you for the field into which you will enter, be it translation, journalism, curriculum writing..etc. You must obtain technical certification or expertise if you want to be a writer that makes good money.
Furthermore, technical writing can be a very broad field and you can end up doing things you didn't expect, such as business development or creating training. Some technical writers get very boxed in, but they don't have to be. Keep an open mind once you're in your field and always look for new opportunities.
January 2015
Take IT classes.
Technical Writer:
Be familiar with IT, MS Word, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and Captivate.
January 2015
Take More Technical Courses, Such As Computer Science.
Technical Writer:
To get a job as a technical writer, you need a college degree, preferably in English, Technical Writing, or Communications. Your minor should be in a technical field, such as computer science (for software/hardware companies), engineering (for mechanical companies), or biology (for science or medical fields). While your writing skills are important, your ability to learn about the product the company makes is also important. If you already understand the field and basic terminology, you'll get along well with co-workers and be able to contribute more to the company and at meetings.
Also learn as many tools as possible. Microsoft Word is not enough. Look at job listings to see what tools they want you to know and sign up for seminars (online or at the local junior college) that show you how to use those tools.
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