#19726
I started by saying that I wish to make everyone a technical writer. But I think I have taken the easy way out and am saying everyone is a technical writer. Welcome to technical writing!
Kamath, Gurudutt R. ITpeople (2000). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#21405
A Career in Technical Writing: What Can You Expect? 
What can you expect from a career in technical writing? The answer depends on a couple of factors. Specifically, will you be a lone technical writer or part of a technical writing team? Will you be a freelance technical writer or an employee?
Docsymmetry (2003). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#21675
Career Outlook for Technical Writers and Editors
The U.S. Dept. of Labor’s 'Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-03 Edition, Writers and Editors,' is recommended reading for those considering technical writing as a profession. Some of the main points highlighted in the handbook make interesting reading.
Klariti (2003). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#31655
Career Outlook for Technical Writers to 2010
Most professional writing jobs still require a college degree either in the liberal arts with a preference for Communications, Journalism, and English. Competition is expected to be less for lower paying, entry-level jobs. Writers who fail to gain better paying jobs usually can transfer readily to communications-related jobs in other occupations.
Klariti (2007). Careers>TC>Technical Writing
#30835
Competentieprofiel Technische Communicatie
STIC-leden kunnen zich uitstekend vinden in het competentieprofiel voor de Technisch Communicatie-specialist. Dat blijkt uit de resultaten van de enquête die de werkgroep Opleiding en Trainingen in het najaar 2007 aan de STIC-leden voorlegde.
#22613
A Day in the Life of a Senior Technical Writer
Any technical experience helps, because once you have a little, it's easy to get more. For example, if you understand the basics of programming, it's easier to learn about additional languages. Once you know the basic terminology, it's easier to learn more and you have the words to ask the right questions. I've found that degrees are not required if you can perform, but a technical or writing degree is always welcomed.
Sereno, Lynda. Binary Girl (2000). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#23424
Formalism and its Impact on Technical Writing
Discusses briefly the work market for technical communicators and their careers.
Baumert, Andreas. TC-FORUM (2000). Careers>TC>Multimedia>Technical Writing
#31775
Technical writing exists to communicate and disseminate technical information. And it's clearly a different animal from some other kinds of writing…say screenwriting.
Harper, Judith. Between the Lines (2007). Careers>TC>Writing>Screenwriting
#21404
Getting a Technical Writing Job, Even If You Have No Experience
Technical writing jobs can be hard to get if you have little or no experience. But there are things you can do to improve your chances of getting hired.
#31698
A Guide to Careers in Technical Writing
Contrary to what many assume, working as a technical writer involves much more than sitting alone at your PC. The job requires plenty of contact with technical professionals, from programmers and project managers to machine operators and medical technicians. Solitary? Not quite. Collaborative? Most definitely.
Hoffman, Allan. Monster.com (2007). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#31711
Hiring Contract Technical Writers
When you finally get the approval to hire a contract technical writer you'll want to go about it the right way in order to avoid problems and ensure success. This article provides insight on what you need to do before you start looking for a contract technical writing professional and how to go about finding one suitable for your project.
Hartmann, Scott. Writing Assistance (2006). Careers>Interviewing>TC>Technical Writing
#18926
How To Break into Technical Writing
Whether you're attempting to become a technical writer at 21 or 41, the steps are the same. Statistics show that the best way to find a job is network, network, network. Go to association meetings, like STC, and talk to as many people as you can. Introduce yourself and tell them honestly what you want. Ask them a lot of questions about how they did it. Everyone started somewhere.
#18480
Is Technical Writing Right For You?
Times are tight, and as a writer, maybe you find yourself looking for a new way to use your love for words in a way that generates a more steady stream of income. You come across articles and ebooks on technical writing and wonder if it may be right for you. You already know technical writers penned every owner’s manual for all the gadgets and gizmos, appliances and machines in your every day life. Did you also know they prepare reference manuals, product specifications, assembly instructions, parts lists, help screens and website text? Add to that all the mountains of information they create for businesses – employee handbooks, policy manuals, training manuals, and other documents specific to that type of business. If your only ambition is to see yourself on the NY Times Bestseller List, obviously technical writing isn’t for you. On the other hand, if you have ever had to wade through a user guide that was so vague or so far over your head that you thought I could have written a better book than this, technical writing may be worth considering.
Sommer, Diane. About.com (2003). Careers>Writing>TC
#31728
'Lone writers' — those people who work as their employer’s only staff writers — are a different breed, with their own unique set of professional and personal challenges. At the same time a blessing and a curse, the lone writer life offers flexibility, variety, and autonomy, along with feelings of stress, isolation, and burnout.
Potsus, Whitney Beth. Writing Assistance (2006). Careers>TC>Technical Writing
#31716
Making the Transition From Techcom to Marcom
At first glance, technical communication (techcom) and technical marketing communication (marcom) appear to be very different genres. Where traditional techcom strives to help people use products, marcom seeks to make people realize they need products.
Simard, Christy. Writing Assistance (2007). Careers>TC>Technical Writing>Marketing
#31717
Making the Transition from Technical Writer to Manager
This article is a collage of ideas and experiences from some people who've made the leap from writer to manager. Although it's not a step-by-step guideline, it provides some compelling insight as to what individuals might expect as they transition into the management ranks. Even if you are an experienced manager, you might find these ideas helpful.
Capri, Steve. Writing Assistance (2007). Careers>Management>TC>Technical Writing
#30004
Momma, Don't Let Your Babies be Tech Writers
If you have the stomach for it, technical writing can be the path to a full-time writing career. I did it for three years before switching to general business writing, which offers more variety. If you decide to go technical, be sure to keep reading the work of authors you admire so your day job doesn't make you forget everything you ever knew about 'real' writing.
Wormald, Karen. Absolute Write (2001). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#22614
The Personal Narrative of a Technical Writer
When I graduated with an Honours degree in English from St. F.X., I had no idea that I would find work as a freelance technical writer; in fact, I had next to no idea at the time what technical writing was. In short, a technical writer produces the literature of engineering, technology, software, and systems development.
Currie, John. St. Francis Xavier (1999). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#26617
The Seven Deadly Sins of Tech Writing Burnout 
Beware the need for a vacation when the normally exciting and always rewarding nature of your technical writing job begins to lead you astray.
Russell, Liz. TECHWR-L (2000). Careers>TC>Technical Writing
#26616
Tech Writers in Startup Environments
Responses from an inquiry about the type of writer most likely to do well in a start-up environment and what management needs to do to keep those people committed and dedicated for the long-term.
Kohn, Sheldon. TECHWR-L (2000). Careers>TC>Technical Writing
#19728
Technical Writing in 1993 and 2003
Ten years ago, if someone had asked me about my profession, I would have spent a good 15 minutes explaining what I did for a living. Today, ‘Technical Writing’ is answer enough. This is one notable change in my life. In the last 10 years, I have witnessed many important changes in the field of technical writing. Here are a few.
Pandit, Makarand M. Indus (2003). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#13994
The TECHWR-L website periodically polls users' opinions about the current state of the field. Review the recent findings.
#33169
Becoming a Technical Communicator
Thinking of a career in technical communication? This article offers one point of view on what you need to know to be successful in the field.
DMN Communications (2008). Careers>TC>Technical Writing
#33320
Some thoughts on what it takes to effectively mentor another technical communicator.
DMN Communications (2008). Careers>Mentoring>TC>Technical Writing
#33462
If you need a job, then you might look for companies that have never had a professional technical writer working for them. It may require making calls or networking with friends or former co-workers. Most companies have a ton of writing to do. Usually they put off their documentation requirements and their needs have piled up. You may also find that someone such as a regulator has confronted management about insufficient documentation and they have to put a writer to work immediately.
Adelstein, Tom. O'Reilly and Associates (2007). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
