What EXACTLY does a Technical Writer do?

Eurorunner

Have seen a job advertised internally and was curious as to what EXACTLY a technical writer does? I have read the job spec but i'm still at a loss.

Is there a specific qualification for this job? I have a hons. degree (management based) and i'm currently doing a M.Sc. Purchasing & Supply Chain Management. These are unrelated I suppose but I'd like to establish whether it would be of interest to me or not.

Saint_Mel

UL I think has a Technical Communications post grad course which covers Technical Writing.

Any Technical Writers in places I've worked in had to write user manuals etc.

AARRRGH

Technical writers write manuals and release notes.

It is a very boring job.

Eoin

AARRRGH wrote: »

Technical writers write manuals and release notes.

It is a very boring job.

For you perhaps. But I'm sure many people can't understand how we can find our respective jobs interesting.

AARRRGH

eoin wrote: »

For you perhaps. But I'm sure many people can't understand how we can find our respective jobs interesting.

By **** at your desk? But you can only do that max maybe 13 times per day.

ixoy

I did it for three years. In my case it was writing online training material - an SME (Subject Matter Expert) would be there to provide technical support and someone up would break down a course (such as "Introduction to MS Word") into lessons. I would be given broad targets for a lesson, as to what had to be covered, and I would write about that.

There were pretty strict rules about what you wrote and how you wrote it. For example, we had to use "American English" to cater for our audience. It's not just a matter of spelling words like "color" but being conscious of "Hiberno-English" phrases like "going on holidays" (you have to say "going on vacation"). Editors would parse your work for the usual tautologies and circumlocution and grammar, et cetera.

The challenge, as it were, came from taking a few bullet points and expanding it into a comprehensive lesson. You need to take into account your target audience - are they technically adept for example? What can we assume about them? Can you make that sentence more succinct?

Ultimately I got made redundant when the company down-sized but I'd like to think I got something out of the job.

leeroybrown

As ioxy says, a Technical Writer accurately extracts relevant information from their SME's then expands out and distils down that information into well designed, well organised and concise documents.

As someone who's had to produce online documentation, manuals for complex software packages and training materials as a part of various jobs I'll say that this is far from an easy job to do to a very high standard.

Eurorunner

Thanks for the input folks.
@Aarrrgh: Yeah, I figured as much - but there are other factors at play in different job roles. Boredom (whilst not ideal) is but one of them - and may not necessarily be the worst. Point taken, nonetheless.
@ixoy: good insight, thanks. As a matter of curiousity, can you give me a very rough idea of what type of salary to expect for someone starting off as a Tech. Writer?

I've put in an application for it anyway. Will see what happens.

pwd

I've done it a bit ever as my main role though. I enjoyed trying to write information as clearly as possible. Not everyone's cup of tea.
btw Microsoft were offering their manual of style for free download a while ago - it might be still available for free. Haven't read it, but might be of interest.

NullZer0

I have a quick question about this. I'm in IT myself but my Cousin seems to be very interested in Technical writing because of the $$$ in some of the roles.

However, he has no technical background. He currently holds a Masters in ... I think English... something or other.

What would be the best way for him to break into technical writing?
He's always asking me and I'd love to give him an answer!

Thanks,

iRock