2022 Career Outlook For Technical Writers: What You Need to Know
No matter how talented or experienced you are, you cannot do the entire job alone. That’s why all industries rely on communication between employees and B2B collaboration to empower their products, services, and internal operations.
So what happens when a business operating in a heavily specialized field like pharmaceuticals and medical devices must communicate with clients or partners who can’t understand any of the technical language involved? It hires technical writers to act as the glue between the engineers and the general public.
What are the career outlooks in the 2022 year for professionals with a technical writing certification? Read on to find out why
the job outlook for technical writing is growing at a “faster than average” rate of 12% in the coming decade according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Why Is Technical Writing So Popular?
The demand for technical writing stems from the need to communicate complicated, specialized topics and concepts to “laymen” users such as customers, employees, shareholders, and other partners.
New technologies, medicines, machines, and innovations will always be made. Consequently, there will never be a shortage of complex topics to talk about. The businesses operating in these industries will always have to convey vital information to the public in some capacity.
While it’s true that most writers operate in the computer industry, the prospects for a technical writing career extend beyond the technology sector. From finance, insurance companies, to medical, any industry that deals with complex jargon must be able to simplify its communications so that its readers can understand it clearly.
Use Cases For a Technical Writer Certification
What career paths call for a technical writer’s skill? We’ve already mentioned that a wide variety of industries need it, but let’s go into detail about the occupations you’ll probably be taking on.
Business Reports
Whether we’re talking about news reports, academic papers for universities, or other corporate documentation, reporting writing involves collaboration with multiple business departments and plenty of observation and research to get all the data together.
Case Studies
Customers love being shown real-world examples of how a product or service works. That’s why company websites have entire sections and pages dedicated to case studies, which point out the problems and pain points and how the solution addresses them.
These pieces are designed to build trust and authenticity for the brand. Important details to include are the original problem the client was facing, exactly what actions the company made, and the results at the end.
Copywriting
A technical copywriter is tasked with helping the marketing team gain revenue. These writers craft content for:
- Advertising emails
- Website copy
- Catalogs
- Brochures
These publications intend to not only inform customers of the brand’s offerings but also encourage sales through persuasive language and call-to-actions.
User Experience
The customer experience is the top priority for customer-facing organizations. UX refers to what a company is like to interact with, and it’s a vital component of customer satisfaction. A company can easily step over the competition by offering a superior UX.
UX can be the experience of using a website layout or the interface on a software program. Either way, UX writers are in high demand to close the gap between the buyer and the company. They are responsible for thoroughly researching the target audience and developing powerful prototypes of apps and websites.
How Do You Become a Technical Writer?
Some people start out as engineers who transition into writing responsibilities within their own companies; others begin by taking technical writer courses first and choosing an industry later. Either way, there are many career paths to technical writing, though some best practices to start with are:
- Brushing up on your writing skills: The literature essays you wrote in high school probably won’t cut it here. Being able to write not only understandable but also engaging content takes some practice. Simply publishing articles, even if they’re just about general topics, helps immensely to build job-ready skills. Of course, you should always prime yourself on the rules of English grammar while you’re at it.
- Gaining experience: Many writers keep a portfolio of their previous projects. It can be an invaluable resource for showing employers that you’re serious about this field.
- Finding a niche: What differentiates standard writers from writers with technical skills is their ability to cover specialized fields rather than just general-purpose content. Finding a niche like in medical writing or finance is key to differentiating yourself in the market. It also tends to pay a lot more.
Of course, the skill sets of writing a technical piece require some practices and tactics that don’t necessarily apply in other forms of writing.
What Should a Technical Piece Look Like?
The ideal style that businesses ask for in technical pieces differs from company to company, though most pieces share these common features:
- Little to no jargon: Unlike the documentation traded between engineers and developers, the content in technical writing is a lot more succinct. You want to avoid specialized industry terms as well as casual language like idioms. Remember that technical pieces are designed to inform or persuade more than anything else.
- A focus on the target audience: Not all readers will have the same level of technical knowledge. While you might need to simplify the language a lot for, say, a casual reader, you probably can afford a few technical terms in a piece for an industry conference.
- Consistent structures: Have a few templates ready for individual projects so that you can get started writing more quickly and ensure a consistent structure for every organization you work for.
- SEO optimization: The publications made on the marketing side of things ultimately must rely on search engine optimization tactics. Learn more about how businesses rank themselves highly in search engines.
And don’t be afraid to pick up on new tactics the more you work with certain clients. For instance, you’re likely going to be asked to use the active voice more often than the passive voice. Or a client might call for sub-headings, bullet lists, and quotations to break up the monotony of plain paragraphs.
Is There a Technical Writing Certification?
Did you know that it’s possible to get a technical writing certification online? For instance, if you’re interested in the medical writing profession, consider getting a certification specific to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries from CfPIE. A certificate opens up new career opportunities and shows potential employers that you have a strong understanding of essential industry topics, including skills in ethics, communication, and a knowledge of regulatory compliance.
Industries like medical, biotech, and the overall pharmaceutical industry demand thorough skill and experience in their respective fields.
Individuals looking to access this lucrative occupation need the right type of training from qualified instructions.
CfPIE is ready to provide aspiring medical technical writers with everything they need.
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