The new age career option: Technical Writing

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

Technical writing is an interesting and modern career option. The growing IT, manufacturing service sectors have created a huge demand for technical writers. Here is all that you want to know to jump-start your career in technical writing.

What is Technical Writing?
Technical writing involves putting technical information into easily understandable language. Technical writers work primarily in information-technology-related industries, coordinating the development and dissemination of technical content for a variety of users.

Why Technical Writing as a career?

• You get the opportunity to work on different technologies, products, tools and domains.
• You can choose and work on your areas of interest such as editing, graphics, training, product analysis etc. thereby it reduces the scope for monotony.
• It is a day shift job, which pays well and there is less competition with assured growth.
• Opportunities to travel abroad on projects.

What are the qualifications required to become a technical writer?
Any graduate can be a Technical Writer. The advantage about this field is that it is not restricted for people with a particular qualification.
What are the essential skills set that a technical writer should posses?
Basic computer skills, ability to write clearly, talent in showing ideas graphically, patience in problem-solving/troubleshooting and the ability to interact with SMEs is some of the skills required.

What are the job opportunities in this field?
Technical writing is a vast field. You could work for the different sector like the IT, Education, Medical, Finance, Governments at all levels, Manufacturing, Publishing, Telecommunications, Law, Tourism also Technical Writers are in great demand in areas such as Bioinformatics, Clinical Research, Patent Writing, Research and other writing jobs. In short, technical writers work in every industry and in every field. You would be hard pressed to find a single industry where technical writers are not employed.

What is the technical writers’ career path?
You can get started as an Associate Technical Writer and with just about four to five years of experience, you can become a Team Leader. With over 7 years of experience, you can be either a Documentation Manager or a Product Analyst. The pace at which you grow in this field is much faster as the competition is less. If the writer has a technical background, then he/she can opt to be a Subject Matter Expert.

Remuneration
The starting salary for a Technical Writing ranges anywhere between 2.75 lakh to 3.2 lakh per annum can go beyond 12 lakh per annum with relevant experience.

How can I be a technical writer?
Visit http://pradeepmg.wordpress.com/ to learn more.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Interested in Technical Writing

If you are interested in technical writing, I suggest you check out my web sit. You'll find many pages on different aspects of technical writing that might interest you. And I'll be happy to answer any questions you have about technical writing.

I've been a technical writer for about 27 years and have worked in a lot of industries and with many technical writers (including several in India). I offer you only what I've learned throughout my technical writing career.

Need help to Decide on Technical Writing Career.

Hello Pradeep,

Thanks for sharing your insight of career as a technical writer .
I have around 8 yrs of experience in the IT industry (last worked as a Project Lead) and have a degree in B.E. Computers.
I have been on a break for the past couple of years now and am a stay-at-home-Mom now.
I have very recently come to know of the technical writing field and have been contemplating venturing into this field .

I have the below questions -
a. I have heard that flexible hours is possible in this field. Is this correct ?

b. I live in Pune, and was thinking on joining a Technical Writing course offered by 'TechnoWrites'. Through your blog I have found out about the distance learning course offered by Symbiosis. Kindly guide me as to which would be a better option since Iam not working currently.

c. Will doing any of the above courses be enough to jumpstart my career as a technical writer or to start freelancing ?

d.
Also will my past 8 yrs of IT experience be of any relevance in the Technical Writing field or will it be like starting from scratch ?

Would highly appreciate if you could spare some time to clarify my doubts.

Thanks in advance.
Regards ,
Aspiring Technical Writer.

I think before foraying into

I think before foraying into this field do some research.

There are many institutes which provide the courses in Pune. I will suggest to go for classroom rather than online if time permits and also it is not necessary to join classes to become a techwriter.

There are many resources available go though it then decide.

Read this blog may help you.

http://informationdevelopers.blogspot.com/2012/06/technical-writingsome-question-is.html

Job Opportunities

What about technical writers role in Power Industry. Could you give more information on this.

Regards,

Parthasarathy

Job Opportunities in Power Industry

Hello Parthasarathy,

Power industry is one place that has a great demand for technical writers, especially those with strong domain knowledge.

Power equipment manufacturers need product manuals, parts manuals, service manuals, etc.

Aruna

Copywriting Agency – Writing Services | Express Writers

“You can't read, drive or eat out without seeing an advertised product.”
Advertisements are everywhere. If you are interested in copywriting, there are several ways you can approach learning the craft. Copywriters write copy for advertising so you can find jobs in print, TV or online. If you are creative and have a flair for writing, investigate how to learn to become a copywriter.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <style> <span> <cite> <class> <div> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <p> <b> <i> <u> <s> <color> <img> <td> <tr> <font> <basefont> <table> <p> <br> <th> <ins> <h1> <h2> <h3> <h4> <h5> <h6>
  • You can use BBCode tags in the text. URLs will automatically be converted to links.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
+ seven = eleven
Solve this math question and enter the solution with digits. E.g. for "two plus four = ?" enter "6".
By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy.