If you have a love for words and the power to create beautiful and informative content, then technical writing is a job for you. Technical writers are in high demand. Companies like Google, HP, and Microsoft need people to write blogs and documents to support and explain their products. You will be communicating with customers and prospects via email, chat, and social media. The only difference is that you will be solving technical problems rather than explaining how to use a product.
There are several entry-level technical writing jobs available. You can start small and learn the ropes from experts. After a while, you can apply for intermediate level positions. Ultimately, you can become a reputable and experienced technical writer, capable of taking on complex jobs. You just need to learn how to perform various tasks effectively. Luckily, we have you covered on this front. Here are some of the best tips on how to get an entry level technical writing job.
Decide Which Type Of Writer You Are
Before you begin your job search, you need to decide which type of writer you are:
- An editor – You will be taking care of the content that others have created. You are the one who cleanses the content and makes it perfect for readers.
- A developer – You will be taking a product and making it usable and understandable to people. You are the one who brings the product to life by creating the necessary screens, wireframes, and other related stuff.
- A copywriter – You will be taking an already existing product and creating marketing materials (blog posts, website content, etc.) to promote the product.
- A proofreader – You will be correcting spelling errors, verb tense errors, and other mistakes in the text. You do not have to be a professional writer to do this job. You just need to have a good ear for English.
- A linguist – You will analyse the customers’ language and find areas where improvements can be made. For example, you may notice that some of the customers use words that may not be commonly known by people in the United Kingdom. You will need to learn a new language (in this case, American English) for this role.
- A transcriber – You will be listening to audio files and typing out what you hear. You do not need any previous experience in doing this, but you must have a reliable typing speed, otherwise, you will never meet the minimum requirements for this job.
- A researcher – You will be searching for information online and gathering as much data as possible. This could include:
- Looking up competition analysis
- Scouring the web for informative articles
- Reading customer reviews for the product or service you’re supporting
- An indexer – You will be using software to rapidly index large amounts of content so that others can easily find it. You will be entering content into the software and assigning each piece of content a unique code. This is so that the content can be easily identified.
- A translator – You will be translating documents and websites into your chosen language. You do not need any previous translation experience, but you must have a good ear for languages. Translating is a great way to learn a new language. You must also have a reliable translation tool on your computer.
- A marketer – You will be taking the product that you have been developing and using the information you’ve gathered to pitch the product to potential customers. You are the one who brings in the revenue by either selling the product yourself, generating leads, or some combination of the two.
- An agnostic – You will need to read and understand content from multiple sources. You need to be open to new ideas and be able to apply the concepts you learn to different situations. This is a desirable characteristic for any aspiring marketer.
The Importance Of Project Management
Project management is essential when it comes to getting a job in marketing or technical writing. You will be working on multiple projects at one time, so you need to be able to prioritize and manage your time effectively. Setting up regular meetings with your manager or a trusted colleague is a great way to stay on top of your game. You should also be setting yourself challenges and then achieving them. This way, you will continue developing your skills and prove to yourself and others that you have improved. You can use a tool like trello to organize your challenges and meetings with your manager. By doing this, you will make him or her proud of your work and encourage them to give you more responsibility.
Know Your Target Audience
When you are starting out, you should try and get a general idea of who your target audience is. This means that you will be creating content for people who have an interest in the topic you are writing about. For example, if you are writing about digital marketing, then you will be posting on social media channels, such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as creating content for websites and other digital magazines. Ultimately, your target audience will be people who work in digital marketing.
Skills Matter
There are several different skills you will need to have in order to succeed as a technical writer. These include the following: