Who is a technical writer: duties, training and specialties of the profession

We rarely hear about such a profession as a technical writer. However, this is an extremely necessary specialty in industrial enterprises and IT companies. What does this expert do? What kind of education is necessary to have a job as a technical writer? How much does a professional in this sphere earn? We will try to answer the questions of interest to many careerists.

About profession

A technical writer is an expert in the preparation of engineering documentation. He performs the following types of work:

• Drawing up documents describing the production process (explanatory notes to the drafts and drawings, terms of reference, instructions, passports to finished products);
• Maintenance of engineering documentation in an up-to-date condition;
• Editing of technical texts;
• Description of rules, work standards, algorithms for performing actions;
• Analysis, systematization, grouping of engineering documentation;
• The formulation of the compiled texts, if necessary - the layout of the material for printing;
• Making speeches for reports, presentations of complex technical products;
• Writing advertising articles;
• Translation of technical documentation from one language to another;
• Maintaining the company's corporate website;
• Description of methods of work of the enterprise;
• Preparation of benefits for the training of new employees;
• Participation in drafting contracts (if necessary);
• Compilation of descriptions and instructions to software products;
• Maintenance of reference resources.

In every company where there is a technical writer in the state, its responsibilities depend on what tasks the employer firm faces in the near future.

What is important and unique is the profession of a technical writer?

Note that the documentation with which this specialist works can be designed for internal or external use.

Constructing "internal" technical documents, their author provides an operative exchange of information between all parts of the production chain. The task of the technical writer is to ensure that all employees involved in the production process have a common understanding regarding:

• Characteristics of individual parts;
• Rules for the operation of devices, hardware complexes, tools;
• The order of application of the software;
• Methods of product testing.

"External" documentation technical writer makes for customers, customers, investors and other interested parties "from outside". In presentations, advertising brochures, on the corporate website of the company, this expert should present difficult for understanding technical information in an easy-to-understand form.

At industrial enterprises, the author of engineering documentation is one of the first employees who are involved in working with a new product. He studies and describes it.

Where are technical writers needed?

Jobs for these professionals are most often found in IT companies that produce software products or automated control systems.

Also, the documentation engineers are always happy to see at large industrial enterprises, where, as a rule, entire departments for working with documentation are created. Technical writers are in demand in chemical industries and in the aerospace industry. Do not dispense with them and plants that produce cars, household appliances, tools.

Vacancies for compilers of technical documentation are often found in budgetary structures. Engineers-experts prepare texts of orders, normative acts, instructions in the production sphere.

Where to get an education?

In Russian universities do not prepare professionals in the specialty of "technical writer". Training of future authors of engineering documentation is most often carried out at the duty station. Technical writers are, as a rule, specialists with engineering education, able to correctly express their thoughts in writing. Experts in the documentation often retrain former engineers, less often - philologists and translators. The technical writer often needs to know the English language.

Income

How much does a technical writer get? Salary depends on what duties and on what conditions the specialist is performing.

If a person is employed in a large industrial enterprise, where it is required to prepare large volumes of texts with descriptions of production processes, his monthly income ranges from 60 to 120 thousand rubles.

The documentation specialist can earn a stable job as a freelancer, serving several customers at the same time. Many firms are easier to pay for one-time services, the professional performer of which is a technical writer. Remotely fulfilling orders, an expert who has proven himself in the market, receives up to 150 thousand rubles. In months. The first earnings of beginners are 5-10 thousand rubles. In months.

job search

A graduate of a technical college can try to start an engineer's career in writing documentation at an industrial enterprise or in an IT company as an intern. At the beginning of the professional path, it will be necessary to perform simple types of work: to arrange information, draw up graphics, work with lists, prepare screen shots for inclusion in documents.

If you have already found an open vacancy as a "technical writer", try to make a resume competently. Any inaccuracy (incorrect wording, mistake in spelling or punctuation) will indicate a low qualification or inaccuracy of the candidate for the position.

To the resume it will be necessary to attach a portfolio with samples of the executed works.

Opportunities for professional development and career growth

As we have already said, a technical writer can be a member of the company or perform orders as a freelancer. Some experts combine both ways of earning. You can develop your career in a horizontal or vertical direction.

In the event that horizontal development is chosen, the author of the documentation constantly upgrades the qualification and expands the field of activity. Due to this, he earns more.

Choosing a horizontal career development, a technical writer compiles directories, manuals, technical dictionaries that are in demand among industry experts, and receives royalties for them. He can also earn by writing articles for specialized magazines and websites.

An experienced documentation engineer teaches the wisdom of his craft of young colleagues. He not only communicates the necessary knowledge orally, but also plans a training program, and also makes tests to assess the quality of mastering the material. For this, the employer, as a rule, pays the "teacher" additional cash bonuses.

You can increase your earnings by studying foreign languages. Linguistic education turns such a competitor into an exclusive specialist for working with documents of foreign companies.

Vertical career development is associated with moving up the administrative ladder. Working in a large enterprise, a technical writer can gradually become the head of a working group. Under his guidance, not only colleagues in the specialty, but also copywriters, programmers, translators, and PR specialists will work in this case. An even higher degree of career is the head of the technical documentation department .

Required professional skills and skills

The technical writer should:

• Well-versed in their professional field;
• Be fluent in the language on which to prepare documentation, make texts without spelling, punctuation and stylistic errors;
• Have an idea of programming, computer technology, information products;
• Be aware of what colleagues of related specialties are doing;
• Own computer at the level of a confident user, know special programs for editing text, layout and web-design;
• Be able in a short time to learn new computer programs and their updates;
• Know technical English;
• Have the skills of self-organization and work planning.

Medical restrictions

Such work is not associated with a risk to life and health. At first glance, there are no special restrictions for it. However, a person with low intelligence, neuropsychic disorders, and also with poor eyesight can not work as a technical writer.

Now you know who a technical writer is and how his career develops. This specialty in our country is still quite rare. Therefore, now professional drafters of documentation are very much in demand on the labor market.