Technical Writers? Any here? Advice?

seachto7

Hi guys,

Any technical writers posting here? I’m looking for some advice if possible. I’ll give you a summary as to why I’m looking for the advice:

I finished a Grad Dip in Technical Communication in UL in 2002, and worked as a technical translator for a few years after it. I gave that up and went on to do unrelated stuff like play music, travel, and play more music. Eventually drifted into advertising and went on to complete a journalism MA in the meantime as well.

I’m back in the ad world again, and am not doing anything content related as such. Therefore, I’d like to build up my writing chops, and “topping up” or embellishing my original tech writing skills is something I’d like to look at.

It could offer me a way of combining everything I’ve done to date.

I am voluntarily contributing to online websites, but that’s a bit far removed from tech writing.

Are there any courses where I could “top up” the tech writing side of things, so as to have a knowledge of what I need to be doing in 2017 in this area? I haven't found anything as of yet.

It’s still an area I’d like to explore professionally.

ForEffsSake

Hi Seachto, I'm a tech writer for a good few years now. There aren't many of us! My path was a little bit less direct in that I trained and worked as a scientist for 6 years and then decided to move into IT. Tech Writing seemed to be the best way in and I was lucky enough to land a job with zero experience and no Tech Writing qualifications. The good old days eh??
These days I would say the majority of jobs are in software, with possibly some engineering jobs but as we don't have much of that kind of industry in Ireland they would be few and far between.

I would say you wouldn't need any more qualifications in writing, what companies look for is experience or knowledge in the area for which they are producing software. For example, if you know a bit about finance/trading, you could get a position in a company producing trading platform software.

If you can, maybe try bombarding the software companies with your CV and get an entry level job for now. Maybe take a course on the side. Look first of all at companies where you know a bit about the industry or can put yourself in the shoes of someone who would use the software. Are there any journalist applications that would be specific to that industry (or even software for producing/mixing music!).

You say you did Technical Translation - what other language do you speak? That would be exceptionally useful too as a Tech Writer. Most documentation translation is required to be outsourced so being a writer and translator would be a great combination.

As for courses, I would say do something techy like Java/database-related or perhaps something related to Data Analytics which is very big at the moment.

Best of luck and hope you find something soon,

FES

seachto7

The good old days indeed. I got a job translating software user manuals from Italian to English, and, like an eejit, turned down a technical writing job in Rome a few years after that one! I speak Italian and French, so would be good to translate from those languages to English. Maybe I’d be more of an asset in those countries

ForEffsSake

I wouldn't necessarily say you'd need to go abroad, most software companies here would need documentation translated and a TW with two additional languages would be a very valuable asset. I know we outsource translation as I can't do it!

seachto7

Translating from English to the target language would be beyond me though, as I'm not a native speaker. Translating from those languages to English is a lot more manageable I found. Food for thought...

beauf

eLearning companies used to use a lot of technical writers, and subject matter experts. Not always the same role.

I've seen some translation being automated. With only proof reading and error checking done by those with the language. Depends on the material I assume.

seachto7

Yeah I guess so. The original tech writing gig I got was pure luck. I spoke Italian and was in the right place at the right time. It's a hard one to call, but I did apply over the last few years and never even got so much as an interview, even for junior roles. I'm guessing it was down to my lack of recent experience.

househunter2

Have you considered Instructional Design? While it is not Technical Writing, they are similar fields, we are currently looking for an Instructional Designer, Google SHRC Limited and in the blog you will see 'Recruitment: eLearning Instructional Designer'.

UL now have a 2nd year after the Grad Dip that you did that offers an MA in Instructional Design.