What is Technical Communications?
Technical communications is a professional field that can be found in just about any industry. Technical communicators gather data about a product, service, or specialized subject, and present that data to a target audience in a form that audience will understand. A technical communicator can be called upon to produce a wide range of information, including white papers, technical specifications, web content, online help, business proposals, presentations, brochures, marcomm, instruction manuals, and reports. You know the manual that came with your car or with the software you're using on your computer? Chances are a technical communicator wrote them.
In their What do technical writers do? press release, the Society for Technical Communications—the largest professional organization for technical communicators—includes the following professionals under the umbrella of technical communications:
- Technical writers
- Information developers
- Web designers
- Documentation specialists
- Technical editors
- Technical illustrators
- Technical translators
No matter the title, the basic goal is the same, to present technical information. I have seen people be very adamant about their title, but I've also seen terms like technical communicator and technical writer used interchangeably. It boils down to personal choice and how people market their skills. Chances are if you say technical writer, people will know what you're talking about. In conversation, I generally use "technical writer" mostly because there are fewer syllables; I use "technical communicator" when writing.
Adding Value
Good technical communicators add value by gathering information about a product or service and presenting that information in a form that specific target audiences can understand. While anyone in a company might be able to learn these skills, good technical communicators already have them. Good technical communicators know how to conduct research, layout documents, skillfully use publishing software, distill and structure information, and write to a variety of needs. It's a fairly large skill set that is part writer, part private investigator, part desktop publisher, part anthropologist, part graphic designer, and part business person.
Good technical communicators also add value by becoming a conduit through which information within an organization is disseminated. They might be tasked with creating and maintaining the company intranet, producing company newsletters, and documenting internal policies and procedures.
Becoming a Technical Communicator
Technical communications can be a very enjoyable field. More importantly, it pays well—probably better than most writing jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor's "Occupational Outlook Handbook" puts the number of technical communicators in the year 2000 at 57,000 persons in the United States. The same handbook puts the median annual earnings for salaried technical communicators at US$47,790. As of September, 2003, Salary.com puts the median expected salary for an entry-level technical communicator (tech writer I) at around US$43,000. It puts the median expected salary for a senior-level technical communicator (tech writer IV) at US$66,000.
The best way to become a technical communicator is to go to school. Almost all employers require some form of degree. The most common degree requirements that I've seen on the job boards are English, Communications, Journalism, or some form of engineering degree. Very few of the technical communicators whom I've met actually have a degree in technical communications. That doesn't mean that there aren't degrees out there. Check your local university or community college. They may have degree or certificate programs in technical communications that will give you a leg up in this competitive field.
Other than a degree, there are a few things you can do to sharpen your skills and improve your chances for getting hired.
- Read, read, and read some more. There are lots of books about technical communications. A good book to start with, believe it or not, is Technical Writing for Dummies. It's an inexpensive way to learn about the field and see if the work is right for you. You can also drop by EServer TC Library, an online archive of technical-communications articles, sites, and other information.
- Join organizations like the Society for Technical Communications (STC). Joining an organization can introduce you to the field and give you a chance to meet other technical communicators in your area. The STC also offers magazines devoted to technical communications.
- Find a mentor. Latching onto someone and sucking all their skill and knowledge from them can do wonders for your career. Just make sure you hide the dried up husk when you're done!! :-) Gaining a mentor can also give you inroads to a field you normally would not have known about or had access to. The best way to find a mentor is to join an organization like the STC. You can also go to TECHWR-L and sign up for their mentor program (I'm not sure how fruitful the latter is).
- Learn software. You can pick up how-to books for just about any piece of software at any bookstore. Check to make sure the book comes with a demo copy of the software. If it does, you're in luck. You'll be able to familiarize yourself with the software without having to dump hundreds, or in some cases a couple thousand, dollars on it. Many companies provide evaluation copies of their software (usually with a 30 day evaluation period). You can use these evaluation copies to learn the software and gain some practical experience with it. Start with FrameMaker, Word, and PhotoShop.
- Jump in head first. I stumbled into the field. Employers seem to snag people with a background in English or engineering, but not always. You can always pick up the skills you need as you need them. Companies usually don't mind spending a little money to improve the skill sets of their employees. If you do get your company to pay for training, be sure to read the fine print and fully understand your obligation to the company for providing that training.
- Remember, never underestimate your worth to an employer (but don't overestimate it either). When you go in for your interview, be energetic, positive and enthusiastic! Above all, be professional. Slouching or picking your nose during the interview is bad form. Bossing around your interviewers is straight out.
