By Dr. Erik Bean
Associate Professor of English, American Public University
Judging by the many online articles in circulation and this Bureau of Labor Statistics outlook, technical writing is a growing occupation. Why? Technical writers are in demand I believe because of two reasons. Traditionally, there isn’t a strong career interest in technical writing among graduates and consequently this trend results in a small pool of qualified applicants.
The field of technical writing is often misunderstood. While technical writers do transfer complex information into easily understood context, it does not necessarily mean technical writers have to be IT or software pros. Another reason is due to the business-to-business (B2B) role of the technical writer, which is more “behind the scenes,” compared to similar, but more glamorous public relations or copywriting roles. Even so, technical writing is a good fit for those who like to work relatively independently, are passionate about writing, and are very deliberate about choosing their words. Technical writers enjoy competitive salaries and the flexibility of temporary, part-time, and remote opportunities.
Just surf over to the chatter at Dice, Indeed, or The BareFoot Writer and you will quickly discover the numerous technical writing positions currently available. To support this growth, several schools like American Public University offer students the opportunity to take a technical writing class. According to the course description, American Public University’s Technical Writing (ENGL220) course teaches students to analyze the purpose of documents to determine the most suitable means of communication. Students learn to plan, write and present effective technical communication materials and employ organizational strategies and persuasive techniques for key audiences. The course also teaches sound writing and editing skills that are valuable to a variety of professions.
Technical writers are particularly suited to develop user manuals and to build precise procedures and instructions that are needed by the military, the consumer products industry, and for commercial applications. If you’re interested in the technical writing field, I recommend that you begin by building a portfolio of freelance work and make yourself available for more stable fulltime employment or contract work. While it may be challenging to find long-term, full-time technical writing positions, one can typically supplement his or her work by taking advantage of the many versatile projects available in the technical writing industry.
If you’re willing to hustle and hone your skills, technical writing may translate into a satisfying and viable career. For more information and networking possibilities, visit the Society of Technical Communications, the Association of Professional and Technical Writers (APTW), and the Association for Business Communication (ABC).
About the Author:
Dr. Erik Bean has been working with American Public University students and faculty since 2010. He enjoys helping people succeed by assisting them in developing superior business communication skills. “My goal is provide contemporary and relative information so learning is engaging, meaningful, and memorable.”
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