Career Summary

Technical writers write maintenance manuals, catalogs, parts lists, assembly instructions, and assist sales departments with promotional materials. Many technical writers work with computer and software engineers to prepare written understanding of equipment / software specifications and other needed information for a general readership. They plan and edit technical materials and oversee the preparation of illustrations, photographs, diagrams, and charts.

Technical writers possess a combination of technical language and writing abilities with a certification and or degrees in areas such as Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, Technical Communications, Technical Writing and or Technical Support.

The writer must have the skills and abilities to understand the document's intended readers and write for those readers. Because it is more difficult to find writers with a genuine knowledgeable of technical support and functions, technical writers are generally in higher demand. As a writer learns more software and computer engineer systems, the more the writer is in demand.

Each technical industry may have different requirements. While a technical writer for life science may require a degree in biology, a technical writer for health care equipment may require a degree in health care or computer support with in experience in the other.

Some technical writer duties may include

• Develop and or maintain manual style templates.
  
• Recommend edits on written materials to improve readability.
• Update revisions to existing documents
  
• Copy, edit and proofread scientific manuscripts and coordinate journal submission.
  
• Produce figures and/or graphics for publications.
  
• Review professional journals and books to stay on top of new requirements in technical writing field.
  
• Design and produce posters for conferences and or trade shows.
  
• Write FAQs and fact sheets.
  

The best technical writers are the ones who can give clear and concise directions. When you give driving directions are you complemented because they were very easy to follow? If yes, you’re already taken the first step in technical writing.