A Warning on Certifications as a Technical Writer

A reader recently wrote me asking about the possibly of acquiring certifications as a way to jump-start her career as a technical writer.

While there's certainly much to be said about your efforts along this route, please remember many certifications require a relatively short time to earn. Depending on whom they are issued by, certification could easily be had for almost anyone willing to dish out the money. With the bad rap that "diploma mills" have gotten in recent years, a well-seasoned hiring manager's outlook on mere certification may be sullied, circumspect at best.

On the good side, more conservative employers may view your long-term efforts more favorably if they saw you studied tech writing for one or more years in a formal educational environment.

Formal Study as a Technical Writer

We cannot look upon the diploma mill phenomenon as entirely bad, for it begat something good. It has in part prompted some "legitimate" learning institutions to restore the image that certification lost.

Up until several years ago, the best qualifications hiring managers could identify for a technical writer was a degree in Journalism or English. While having one of these two degrees is a good move, Journalism or English is not an exact match for the requirements demanded of a tech writer. To answer this, it seems that more formalized education in technical writing has sprung up finally.

As recently as five years ago, mention of a "degree in technical writing" was unheard of. Fortunately now there are offerings for Bachelor degrees in Technical Writing or "Technical Communication". Some are sponsored by recognized names in education, and may come as an extension of their existing English or Journalism departments. Among these are curricula offered by Carnegie Mellon University - Bachelor of Science in Technical Writing and Communication.

Aside from formalized education be sure not to forget...

Your Past Experience Is Certainly Relevant

There is also much to be said about the diverse - and seemingly irrelevant - backgrounds from which technical writers have sprung.

A tech writers' practical experience in other careers may later end up being very valuable. In my case it certainly did. Because of my past experience in foreign languages, I now travel internationally as a technical writer.

How did I get here?

I started with a degree in Oriental Studies at my university, specializing in Mandarin Chinese language and Chinese linguistics. I also took a double minor in Renewable Natural Resources (say "park ranger") and German language (say "Ausgezeichnet!).

Not unlike many folks, after graduating from school I found work having absolutely nothing to do with my college studies. I took what work I could: ranging from pushing a mail cart, truck driving, living in a monastery, and then fortunately I found the opportunity to move to China and work in international air-sea-land freight logistics. While in China, I helped to procure machinery parts and then assemble entire factories. After returning to the USA, I then signed on with several temp agencies and landed a very low-key job formatting some documents.

That job was the start of my technical writing career.

Since then I have worked 10+ years in hardware, software, education, writing for the Web, and writing for heavy industry. More recently I write for the medical device industry, and this job takes me traveling to China frequently where I can use my Mandarin language skills.

Do not be disheartened by what you perceive to be an irrelevant work background.

If you worked previously as a bank teller, then you can find work as a technical writer specializing in the banking industry. Your experience in banking is a strong foot in the door. After that, just make darn sure you are a decent writer.

To be a good writer, yes, it certainly does help if you have a gift with words. If you think you are merely okay as a writer, consider this: once you find that if you write exactly as you speak, you can easily jump up the writing quality ladder in clarity and readability. How to do this? Try speaking into a recorder about whatever it is you wish to write. Then transcribe it. An even easier way to do this is to use voice recognition software. (Read about this by clicking here.) FYI: I "wrote" this entire article using voice recognition software.

After you have your writing skills down, you might want to know...

Other Ideas?

Aside from this, here are some other ideas:

Volunteer Work as a Technical Writer. If you're uncertain where to apply your skills, try any place. Try doing technical writing projects for the local library, the school you're attending, a fire department, or even your church. Rack up the experience and get some reference letters in exchange for your work. You may even try offering some volunteer work to a prospective employer that would normally hire a tech writer. Who knows, they might like your work so much that they will hire you!

Do an Internship. If you're a student, what better way to learn up by interning directly with a company that needs tech writers?

"Shadow" a Technical Writer. If you know a friend or acquaintance who works as a technical writer, then ask them to obtain permission with their employer to have you tag along for one or two days. Attend some meetings. Shake some hands. You may learn hard and soft skills that could later prove invaluable in your new career as a tech writer.

Write Mockup Projects. In the absence of any readily available alternatives, try making up some technical writing work. By this I mean you could create documentation about something, anything - and then review them with others to get feedback. Preferably your mockup project would be relevant to the industry in which you wish to work. Post your project to the web and showcase it for online discussions. Get those creative juices flowing, and be willing to accept constructive criticism on your work.

What Else?

While plenty been written about the tech writing trade, these words serve as some discussion to help you think over what has proven (at least for me) to be a growing and rewarding career.

Get out there, try some trial-run tech writing, talk with seasoned writers and ask them about the benefits and pitfalls. With this arsenal of information, you will be well armed for jumping into the world of technical writing and technical communication.

Good luck!