I got this email during the week. The question was: is it worth the time and money to take a technical writing course?
“I’ve been reading articles about Technical Writing and I’m thinking about a change in career. I’ve worked as a non-degreed Quality Engineer in the manufacturing industries. Writing quality documentations and SOPs was a large part of my duties. In the last 12 years I’ve been employed as a Business Mail Entry Tech with the United States Postal Services. I’m currently making 53K, and with all my benefits add up to about 75K. Writing has always been a love of mine. I’ve been looking for a field that will provide decent living as some sort of writer. After reading your articles I realized that I should take courses in HTML, Frame Maker, etc. Is it worth the time and money to take college technical writing courses?”
Can I get a job as a Technical Writer without a Degree?
Taking the courses won’t hurt, that’s for sure. However, I think we need to step back a second and look at the bigger picture. If you’re thinking of moving into technical writing —and don’t have a technical writing related degree —then, how do you go about it.
My story
I left university in the middle of my computer science degree. This was 20 years back when the economy was even worse than it is now. Partly this was to take up a role in London as a programmer (v low salary but a step in the door) and also to see what opportunities I could generate in a large city versus the small town I was living in.
I moved out of programming and into dtp/technical writing; more out of necessity as the recession got worse and also no-one else wanted to do it!
Several years later, I was working in Sacramento for at Intel on a nice little contract. That was a start as a freelancer technical writer. I’d held full-time positions now and then but prefer to work for myself.
In that time, I’ve worked in Dublin, London, USA, and Asia. Clients include IBM, Bank of Ireland, Valista, and S1.
So, how much training have I had?
Some courses in UML, Process Design and Oracle, but no formal training courses in Adobe FrameMaker and other technical writing tools.
I didn’t go on the courses because of a) cost, b) time, c) and justification.
Instead I downloaded the applications and trained myself to use them. So, while I’m not a ‘recognized’ expert on Adobe FrameMaker, I know how to get under the hood and get things done.
This meant that when interviewed, I could hold my own and ask the interviewers questions that demonstrated that I knew the applications, making suggestions on how they could resolve their issues and improve working practices and so on.
Having the actual diploma wouldn’t have hurt and if you can get it, then go ahead.
But, by itself, then diploma or degree won’t get you hired.
There are a few reasons for this. What I’ve done next is complied some articles that discuss how to get hired as a technical writer, especially those who don’t have a degree or are coming into this field from another area, for example, journalism or engineering.
What type of skills do Technical Writers need?
You need enough expertise to understand your audience’s background and their needs. For example, writers who develop documentation for software APIs and other technical subjects are often paid more than those who write guides for a nontechnical audience as it’s difficult to find writers with specialized technical knowledge.
Qualifications for Technical Writers
This article is from a technical writer who started when there were no technical writing qualifications.
“The only requirement was that you had a degree of some sort, and even that wasn’t really compulsory. I know some technical writers who came up through clerical roles. Others, like me, are former programmers. A lot of them are trainers who decided that they could write better training manuals than the ones that were forced on them.”
A journalist who set-up a home office with the aim of becoming a freelance writer, lives in an area that is very IT-connected with many tech writers roles available.
He asks: how important is it for a writer to have a background in IT to be a techical writer in the IT field?
“I have done tech writing in the past (instruction manuals for the pulp and paper industry.) I knew little about the machines for which I was writing instructions, but was able to understand and clearly explain how the machines worked.”
Chris Street says to turn your skills to your advantage. For example:
- You are a technical writer (you have written instruction manuals)
- You understand programs from a user’s point of view
- You can write simply and clearly
- You are used to writing to deadlines
- You’re used to writing quickly
- You’re used to rewriting to editors requirements
- You’re used to talking to people and getting information which you then turn into documentation
- You’re used to working with house styles
Chris adds that the two areas non-tech writer friends fall down in (from an IT-related perspective) are:
- They don’t know the tools and
- They’re not comfortable with project management and the software development lifecycle.
He also adds that most writers are “notoriously bad at selling ourselves, particularly if we have been in one job for a long time. You have to take a long, hard look at what your skills are and produce a marketable resume.”
UK STC on Qualifications for technical writers
The UK chapter of the Society of Technical Communications reckons that it is not necessary to have a degree in technical communication in order to get a job.
Only a small proportion of technical authors in the UK have such a qualification because most of the university courses in technical communication did not start running until the late 1980s or early 1990s.
However, most employers expect candidates to have a degree or equivalent qualification, though they sometimes settle for less in people with good practical experience.
The qualifications demanded depend to some extent on who’s doing the hiring; a Technical Publications Manager is more likely than a Software Development Manager to look for a degree or diploma in technical communication.
Any experience of formal writing is useful, as is a solid grounding in a technical discipline, such as computing or engineering.
Education and Qualifications
The Technical Writing Zone makes the point that unlike other professionals, “technical writers do not have to meet specific educational requirements in order to be considered for employment opportunities. Indeed, there are successful technical writers who only have a high school diploma.”
Most technical writers today have a strong educational background. So, although there are no mandatory courses you must take before you can try to pursue a career as a technical writer, it is recommended that you obtain one or more of the following qualifications to increase your chances of success.
Technical Writing Specialist Certification
If you want to become a qualified technical writer then the Certified Technical Writing Specialist course is worth a look.
The Certified Technical Writing Specialist (CTWS) is a globally administered credential representing the highest level of certification for professionals who create technical documentation.
CTS sets the credentialing standards for the CTWS credential and develops, maintains and administers the Certified Technical Writing Specialist Examination. CTS provides an objective reference for technical writers to demonstrate that they hold the highest level of core knowledge, skills, abilities and attributes.
UCR Technical Writing Certificate
This Technical Writing Certificate was introduced in 1998 in response to the growing demand to more effectively communicate technical material through manuals, reports and online documentation. The program design provides an integrated curriculum covering principles and practices commonly used in technical environments. The program is designed for those who are looking to accent their current careers or enter an entirely new career focusing on technical writing.
Skills focus on organization, project management, creating user guides and manuals, documenting policies and procedures and writing documentation for online formats.
Online Brooklyn College Technical Writing Certificate Program
Started in 1999 this program gives students plenty of opportunity to interact with instructors. As of February 2007, people from all over the world have registered for and completed over 400 individual sections of the courses that are offered.
Eight-course program is online: you can take the courses individually, or you can take some combination of the eight courses and earn the certificate—right in your own home and from anywhere in the world.
UML Certificate Program in Technical Writing
Those with strong writing skills and an aptitude for computers are encouraged to enter this program. Taught by practicing professionals from the high tech industry, students learn to use the most current technologies and processes.
Students enrolled in this certificate program are eligible for special internship opportunities and can apply for scholarships sponsored by the Society for Technical Communication.
Online Technical Communications Courses
You can selectively take Business & Technical Communications courses without going for a degree or certificate. Students intending to complete the degree or certificate often get jobs during the program and never complete the degree or certificate.
You can register in two ways:
- Regular academic credit: To get a formal academic certificate or degree, you must take courses for regular academic credit. This entails admission to the college and tuition payment according to where you live. You can transfer in any relevant college course work you have done. You can complete the certificate or degree by distance. As a distance student, you can apply local course work to the certificate or degree as long as at least 25% of your course work is “in residence” at Austin Community College. (Online Austin Community College courses are considered “in residence.”)
- Continuing education: With this option, you do not have to apply for admission to the college, and you pay the same tuition no matter you live. However, you must “convert” courses taken as continuing education to official academic credit.
Summary
While I believe it’s possible to move into technical writing with a little determination and perseverance, the salary expectations for technical writers is falling. Contracts are also drying up and more IT companies are outsourcing to Eastern Europe, Asia and India.
For this reason, I’d be cautious in moving from a ‘stable’ position, especially if you’re earning 53K, with benefits 75K.
One approach might be to learn some of the tools (e.g. Frame or RoboHelp) and/or writing techniques and try to get freelance technical writing work. If this takes off, then you can give it more consideration and maybe move into it on a part-time basis.
One final thought it that most technical writing roles tend to be in large metro regions. It’s hard to find freelance work in the suburbs unless you live near an R&D centre.
