5 easy steps you can take to explore a career in tech writing
#1 research existing jobs
As you may already know, many writers call themselves “copywriters, web content writers, content writers, freelance writers,” etc. Tech writers also have many job titles in today’s market.
I’ve listed the hottest roles that are rapidly growing to give you a head start on your research below.
- Use this worksheet to identify what type of work tech writers do. Don’t be alarmed if you see overlap in responsibilities, it’s just the nature of this career.
- Which job title best fits you?
– Technical Writer
– UX/UI Writer
– Content Strategist
#2 Identify what skills you need
This goes without saying, but you definitely need to learn how to write technical content. Your job is to break down complex subjects so that they are easy to understand. The product or audience you write for may vary. For example, you could be writing instructions for developers or you could be creating tutorials for finance professionals.
Shameless plug: I share my 5-step process to creating technical content in module 1 of Get Paid to Write in Tech.
Want to learn more about becoming a writer in Tech? Sign up for my FREE 5-Day course where I share tips and strategies to break into this awesome industry.
- Read the job descriptions to find out their style of work and who you will be working with. Are they looking for someone to work with the marketing team? IT team? Or on the Product side with engineers and designers?
- Brush up on your grammar skills. These are my favorite go-to books:
– Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
– The Elements of Style
#3 Remember your existing skills and resources
Collect what you’ve written. Have you written instructional content before? Maybe at your job you wrote a user manual or a tutorial for a friend who’s not so tech-savvy, maybe you’ve written course content or how-to articles for your blog, etc. Use this worksheet to help you figure out if you already have the elements of a portfolio.
Review job requirements. How many of the job requirements do you already meet? After you’ve filled out the worksheet from step #1, take a look at the skills you already have and software you’re already familiar with.
#4 Create a tech portfolio
- Include existing content from #3 in your portfolio (if applicable)
- Write instructional content for your favorite website or app. Here are some examples to get your creative juices flowing.
– Freshbooks
– JetBlue
– Evernote
– Uber/Lyft
– Google maps
– WhatsApp - Watch this short video I created just for you – Power of the P…as in PORTFOLIO
#5Learn What Tech Writers Do
I share more insider tips and training like how to work with recruiters and update your online profiles to increase your chances of getting job offers in my course.
Ready to invest in your skills and have an experienced tech writer (ahem – yours truly) mentor and walk you through the process? Registration for my course is open! Sign up ASAP to take advantage of the beta pricing.
