Technical writers can also have jobs in writing as copy editors, editors or freelancers.
Technical writing jobs are becoming more and more common as businesses understand the need to create support documentation, regulatory documentation or process documentation. While some writing jobs are simple 500 word articles, professional technical writing jobs may require you to write technical manuals, standard operating procedures or current best approaches to change management.
Requirements and Experience Needed
For basic technical writing jobs, the best candidates are those people who come from a technical background, be it web design, operating systems or application development, but who can explain complex ideas in either a technical way or a simplified way. They may either work from home as temporary resources, or be required to spend some time on site. And high paid technical writing jobs require even more practice and dedication in the areas of comprehension, attention to detail and readability, and they may require you to be a full time employee permanently on site.
People who have technical writing jobs generally have degrees in English or journalism combined with experience in the fields of science, information technology, finance or some other function of business. Of course, writing jobs can be a combination of all those things. Diversity can give a technical writer the edge they need to land one of many professional technical writing jobs.
Ultimately, technical writing jobs require you to have the ability to explain technical ideas in simple terms or vice versa.
Benefits
Writing jobs in general can be fun and insightful, allowing you to make some extra money working from home or part time for a company as a technical writer. Ever wanted to work from your patio, deck or kitchen? Think about the free time you would gain by removing that daily commute from your life. Your successful efforts finding jobs in writing could save you thousands in fuel costs, wear and tear on their vehicle and save yourself the aggravation of sitting in traffic.
Think of the time you could spend with your family, raising your children with the flexibility most professionals only dream of. Writing jobs would be more healthy for both you and your loved ones. For those wanting get their diets and daily routines under control, jobs in writing could be perfect. Working from home gives you a chance to eat better meals at designated times, eliminating that stressful hunt for restaurants that meet your requirements or the time it takes you to pack your lunch each day if you were required to commute.
Professional technical writing jobs also afford you the opportunity to gain a lot of technical experience in a wide variety of fields. People who have high paid technical writing jobs work with technical professionals all the time. You may learn about Oracle, UNIX, or how to replace a transmission as a byproduct of your job. In this way, high paid technical writing jobs allow you the ability to learn and grow as you make a living.
Future Opportunities
The outlook for professional technical writing jobs is great. As businesses see the need for solid technical documentation, they will be looking for people who easily understand their needs and who can apply a vast array of experience and writing skills to sort out a complex processes and functions. As the web grows, jobs in writing will be necessary as people who have little writing skills develop sites to sell their products. Those companies with the best sites and best site content will make the most sales.
Big businesses understand that they are accountable for their actions, so high paid technical writing jobs will be available to those who can document the processes, guidelines, and principles that define a company.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for professional technical writing jobs should grow by about 10% up until 2016. Because of the rapid growth in technology and the need to explain technical concepts to others, there should be plenty of work available in the fields of law, medicine, economics, and science. Also, the rapid growth of technology, and consequently the creating of new gadgets, will create high paid technical writing jobs for writing manuals and guides.
Your hunt for writing jobs could be the best decision you ever made, but be prepared for a competitive environment with a lot of skilled people who have the same idea as you. Your success in attaining one of many professional technical writing jobs depends on your skill, but certainly even more on your hard work and dedication to the field.