Career Research Essay

Technical writers work in a variety of fields, either as freelancers or employees

(Occupational Outlook Handbook). They conduct research and gather diagrams or photos to

create documentation for various technologies (CareerOneStop). Through their research, which

includes interviewing engineers, technical writers create resources for users or tech support

staff to help clarify how a product should be used and troubleshoot common issues. Today,

technical writers are commonly employed in tech, although they may find opportunities in nearly

any industry.

To succeed, technical writers need both soft skills and specialized knowledge.

Successful technical writers are often curious, empathetic people (Watson, Sean). A desire to

learn constantly lends itself well to researching and producing innovative documentation.

Furthermore, technical writers need empathy to anticipate points of confusion for users that

need to be clarified. Additionally, strong written communication and knowledge of the technology

they write about is a must (CareerOneStop). Although many technical writers are

communications majors, those with degrees in science or engineering sometimes assume this

role due to their extensive technical knowledge (Occupational Outlook Handbook).

Regardless of one’s educational background, obtaining a certification in technical writing

often assists in developing key skills for the job. Many universities offer the certification as an

adjunct to a bachelor’s degree. Some institutions that offer this certification in California include

California State University Long Beach and San Diego State University (CareerOneStop).

Popular majors among technical writers, such as Communications and Computer Science, are

also offered at these institutions. Although I am not yet sure where I plan to live, the starting

salary for technical writers near San Diego is $53,180. Benefits vary depending on the

employer. Technical writers seeking to increase their salaries can do so through experience and
education. For example, a few master’s programs exist for scientific writing, including at the

University of California, Santa Cruz (University of California, Santa Cruz).

Technical writing has a strong occupational outlook, as the number of jobs available is

projected to grow by 12% (Occupational Outlook Handbook). Related careers include computer

engineers and editors (Occupational Outlook Handbook). Like computer engineers, technical

writers working in the tech industry sometimes participate in product development (Google).

While computer engineers design functional hardware, technical writers are more concerned

with optimizing the user’s experience. Technical writers and editors are both responsible for

managing the accuracy and clarity of writing, but the types of writing they handle are very

different. While the editor of a magazine works frequently with articles, technical writers revise

user guides, tutorials, and documentation for a variety of audiences.

I would be successful in this career because of my empathy, curiosity, interest in

technology, and linguistic intelligence. I care deeply for others and enjoy learning about a wide

variety of subjects. As discussed previously, these traits are essential to success in technical

writing. Furthermore, I have developed some knowledge of technology through my exploration

of related careers. By speaking to computer science majors and learning various programming

languages, I feel well prepared to research technology further and explain it to others. Finally, I

possess the clear writing skills necessary to present complex information to a general audience.

My personality, skills, and experiences are well-aligned with the responsibilities of a technical

writer.
Works Cited
“Occupation Profile for Technical Writers .” Careeronestop, U.S. Department of Labor,
https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?keywor
d=Technical%20Writers&location=California&onetcode=27304200.
“Open University Certificate in Professional Writing.” SDSU Global Campus, San Diego State
University, 21 Oct. 2021,
https://ces.sdsu.edu/open-university-certificate-in-professional-writing.
“Professional Writing Certificate Program.” Professional Writing Certificate Program – English,
California State University, Long Beach,
https://cla.csulb.edu/departments/english/professional-writing-certificate-program/.
“Technical Writers : Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14 Feb. 2022,
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm#tab-6.
“Technical Writers.” Naviance Student, https://student.naviance.com/careers2/occupation/312.