Technical & Scientific Writing : Why Technical Writing?

What do technical writers do?

Technical writers transform scientific and technical information into easily understandable language. For instance, they prepare scientific and technical reports, operating and maintenance manuals, sales promotion materials, and project proposals.

Technical communicators often acquire a broad range of valuable (and transferable) skills, which they apply in many different areas of the workforce. Technical communicators work in areas such as public relations, non-profit organizations, technology companies, marketing departments, the medical industry, and government.

What kind of future does technical communication have?

"Corporations today produce massive amounts of written materials. They need good, clever writers to produce marketing pieces, research reports, business proposals, PowerPoint presentations, media releases, and more."

"Writing for Corporations," Chronicle of Higher Education, January 14, 2003.

Business, government and non-profit organizations produce massive amounts of print and online materials. They need trained, sophisticated writers who can communicate ideas effectively, design information, and manage complex documentation projects.

Technical communication is one of the ten fastest growing fields of expertise in the United States. The 2002 survey of the profession from the Society for Technical Communication reported that the median salary in California was $67,000; the national average was $56,870.

Can technical communication lead to other career opportunities?

"Be aware that writing for corporations rarely begins and ends with crafting powerful prose. Most positions also require that you have -- or learn -- other business-related skills. Writers in these jobs often find themselves overseeing budgets, analyzing numbers, managing projects, or supervising teams of people, and they must have above-average abilities with computer-software programs."

Chronicle of Higher Education, January 14, 2003.

Technical communicators work at the intersection of many different workplace functions. You may need to interface with programmers, engineers, marketers, and project managers. As you learn more skills and gain expertise in a company, you could have an opportunity to move into other areas such as public relations, marketing, or project management.