You Can Earn A Great Living As A Technical Writer
ould you like to earn the median annual salary for
steady, dependable income entry level technical writers was
as a writer? $42,500. The median annual salary
for midlevel nonsupervisory
If you answered yes, consider technical writers was $51,500,
technical writing. It isn't sexy, and for senior nonsupervisory
and it won't make you famous. But technical writers, $66,000. Rates
working as a technical writer has for contractors are always higher
provided me with an excellent, at each level. In fact, I've
steady income, and greatly earned as much as $38/hour.
increased my creative writing
skills. While you do need good writing
skills and the ability to
The field of technical writing is communicate instructions clearly
exploding, due to the need to to become a technical writer, you
keep up with advancing do not need a specialized degree
technology, so there are plenty or certification. And you can
of opportunities. After all, begin in this field at any stage
SOMEBODY has to write the of your life. While some
instructions for all the products technical writing jobs will be
and services we use. And age is way above your skill level (I’d
NOT an issue! I began my tech never write a medical or legal
writing career in my 40s, and manual, for instance), there are
know plenty of tech writers who many types of documentation that
began in their 50s. may fit in with your own
background (for instance, a
In 2004, according to the Society former HR professional could
for Technical Communication (from write a Human Resources manual or
the U.S. Department of Labor's a former accountant could write
Occupational Outlook Handbook), the documentation for a new
Accounts Payable system). procedures, a quick-start guide
for the voicemail system, or a
Here's the best news: more and how-to article for the company
more, technical writers newsletter. If you aren’t
telecommute ... every writer's currently working, I’ll bet you
dream. In fact, I’ve worked can get an opportunity if you
remotely part-time or full-time offer to provide such services
since 2000. But don't get too for free to a local business or
excited yet. You will most likely non-profit organization.
have to earn this privilege by
establishing your reputation Next, rewrite your resume, adding
first. in this new experience. (But
ALWAYS be honest. You’ll
So, how DO you break into the inevitably be tripped up if you
field? don’t. It’s not worth the
embarrassment.)
First, look at existing examples
of technical writing, such as the You'll need two copies of your
Help section of programs you use, resume. One will be nicely
or even your car's owners' formatted. You'll present this
manual. You'll soon find that resume to potential employers or
technical writing is simply when you mail the resume. The
documenting steps clearly. other must be saved as text. This
is the copy you'll place online.
Next, think about instructional (TIP! Use asterisks [*] instead
writing experience you may have. of bullets in the Text Only
If you've never written copy.)
instructional material, do some
on your current job. Volunteer to Next, the job hunt begins. Most
write instructions on office job opportunities for technical
writers are located online (see www.craigslist.com. Though there
listings below), but newspaper is a lot of competition, if your
Help Wanted sections are also a rates are reasonable enough,
source. Check the online website someone may just give you a
for your local newspapers for chance.
jobs.
Many sites allow you to place
Here are some suggested web your resume online. Be prepared
sites: to spend some time (about 45
minutes) filling out questions on
* http://www.careerbuilder.com/ the forms. Once your resume is
* http://www.monster.com/ online, it's very likely that you
* http://www.dice.com/ will receive calls or emails from
* http://www.jobsearch.org/ recruiters requesting more
* http://www.computerwork.com/ information, and maybe an
* http://www.guru.com/ interview, even if you are just
starting out! Remember,
Since these are recruiters make money by getting
technology-oriented sites, you hired and are hungry to find
entering "writer" in the search good talent.
box will return technical writing
jobs. So if you have writing talent,
open your mind and increase your
Tip: You may even think about income by becoming a technical
putting yourself on writer!
www.elance.com or even
About the Author:
Susan Bilheimer is the author of How to Become a Technical Writer (http://www.becomeatechnicalwriter.com), a step-by-step guide to breaking into the field. Susan also writes about women's issues, such as perimenopuase (http://www.perimenopausesupport.com). Her media kit can be found at http://www.perimenopausesupport.com/peri_site/mediaroom.asp.
Read more articles by: Susan Bilheimer
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