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Careers in Technical Communication for English Majors

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Cindy Pao
Cindy Pao

The document summarizes careers in technical communication for English majors. It outlines the skills needed for technical communication jobs, common disciplines and career opportunities. It also describes the benefits of joining the Society for Technical Communication, including networking, professional development and discounted conferences/certification. Technical communication offers a growing job market with competitive salaries.

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RACHEL HOUGHTON AND BETHANY BOWLES Careers in Technical Communication for English Majors Presentation for the Sigma Tau Delta International Conference March 21, 2013
Agenda  Technical communication  Skills  Disciplines  Career opportunities  Paths to careers in tech comm  Society for Technical Communication  Values  Benefits of membership
Technical Communication is … • Communicating about technical or specialized topics in terms the layperson can understand • Communicating by using technology, including emerging new media • Providing instructions about how to do something
Skills • Core skills in writing and editing • Creative page design • Photography and videography • Technical illustration • International communication: “Global English” for non- native-English speakers and for translation • Training and education • Web and IT skills
Creativity  Visual design  Photo  Video  Technical illustration
Writing “Tech writing? Yccch! Bor-r-r-r- ing!” “Not so. The days of ‘Tina the Brittle Technical Communicator’ in Dilbert are gone! New technologies bring new excitement in exercising traditional skills.”
Linguistics and International Communication Source: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec12/LinguisticsOutreach.html
Education and Training  Training is much more than manuals!  Online rhetoric  Tutorials  Web-based instruction  Textbooks  New media
Rhetorical (Audience) Analysis • The basic principles of rhetoric apply to business communication as well as to literature and the arts: o Research your market o Know your readers/viewers
Collaboration • Teamwork is critical in technical communication • Collaborative writing is the norm in the field • Your communication skills also posture you well for leadership in collaborative teams in the workplace
Web/IT Skills  Opportunities for both analytical and creative technical writing and marketing communication  Web site content and design  Blogs  Wikis  Social media  IT expertise for collaborative writing environments
Disciplines • Technical writing and editing • Hardware and software documentation • Technical marketing communication (e.g., proposals, brochures) • Scientific writing (and “ghost writing”) • Medical writing • Grant proposals • Web design • Usability and accessibility • Indexing • Information/knowledge management • Instructional design
Interdisciplinary Approach An interdisciplinary approach is essential to successful technical communication, because the profession spans so many disciplines.
Tech Writing/Editing  Hardware and software documentation  Policies and procedures  Textbooks  Proposals  Marketing collateral  Video scripts  Magazine articles  Copy editing for publishers
Traditional Tech Writing  Instructions for installing, maintaining, and repairing hardware  Instructions on how to properly use software  Detailed manufacturing process plans  User manuals for everything from toasters to automobiles  Medical reports and research articles
Research  Pure  Applied  Research and writing within the field of technical communication  Collaborative writing with SMEs researching within their specialty
Aerospace & Industry  Proposals to capture new business  Technical reports and presentations  Marketing collateral to attract new customers  Multi-media presentations  Web site content and design  Internal policies and procedures  Employee communications  Media relations  Community relations
Advertising & Marketing Communications  Advertising across multiple media  Print  Radio  TV  Billboards  Web sites  Social media  Diverse marketing collateral  Brochures  Flyers  Fact sheets  Trade show graphics  Narrated video  Web sites
Writing for Non-Profits  Grant proposals  Fund-raising collaterals  Literature for those who are served by the non- profits  Web site design, content, and maintenance  Empathy and commitment
Healthcare  Editing or ghost-writing articles by physicians for medical journals  Patient-oriented web sites  Flyers describing illnesses and treatments, for doctors’ offices  Medical transcription  Instructions for prescription medication  Marketing collaterals and web sites for for-profit hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, etc.
Gaming  Game designers  Documentation writers and designers  Strategy guide writers  Promotional writers Excellent article in STC’s intercom magazine: http://intdev.stc.org/2012/01/its-all-in-the-game- technical-communications-role-in-game- documentation/
Career Opportunities • Technical communication spans many disciplines  the job market is huge • Unless technology stands still, it will always be a growth market • Companies are beginning to realize that poor writing and poor communication hurt their bottom line • Solving that problem taps into your core skills as English majors
Tap Core Skills  Writing accurately  Writing clearly  Writing concisely  Writing coherently  Writing creatively  Tapping diverse media  Crossing boundaries and cultures
Growing Job Market There are 45,000+ technical writers in the U.S.! Geographical Distribution of Jobs in Technical Communication
Competitive Compensation State Technical Writers Reporters, Correspondents Public Relations Specialists Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Oregon 570 69.6K 74.5K 580 38.5K 32.4K 2,180 55.6K 52.2K Maryland 2,000 70.0K 69.7K 600 39.0K 30.7K 2,900 70.7K 62.1K New Hampshire 180 71.1K 65.3K 190 43.8K 38.6K 870 60.5K 55.2K New Jersey 1,530 71.5K 67.7K 860 47.3K 42.9K 3,820 64.6K 58.2K Connecticut 910 71.7K 72.2K 570 40.8K 34.6K 990 59.4K 56.6K Virginia 2,880 76.3K 72.9K 960 41.9K 35.0K 7,300 69.3K 62.6K Washington 1,610 79.5K 79.7K 740 44.4K 34.4K 4,990 59.3K 56.2K Massachusetts 1,960 82.1K 81.5K 1,170 64.1K 52.4K 8,650 62.1K 56.7K California 5,910 84.4K 80.1K 4,010 48.5K 38.7K 22,920 71.0K 62.6K U.S. 45,120 67.3K 64.6K 45,270 43.6K 34.9K 212,510 60.4K 52.4K Salary Comparison Table, Part 1 Data is shown for the 9 states with the highest salaries in technical writing, plus the national average.
Competitive Compensation (Cont.) State Technical Writers Editors Writers and Authors Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Oregon 570 69.6K 74.5K 1,050 52.8K 52.2K 630 56.4K 52.7K Maryland 2,000 70.0K 69.7K 2,150 59.2K 55.2K 900 73.5K 66.6K New Hampshire 180 71.1K 65.3K 330 51.0K 46.4K 240 51.3K 48.1K New Jersey 1,530 71.5K 67.7K 3,450 64.6K 58.2K 1,070 57.5k 53.3k Connecticut 910 71.7K 72.2K 990 59.4K 56.6K 380 63.8K 62.2K Virginia 2,880 76.3K 72.9K 3,190 59.8K 55.2K 1,640 62.4K 57.0K Washington 1,610 79.5K 79.7K 2,580 64.0K 55.5K 870 70.7K 66.3K Massachusetts 1,960 82.1K 81.5K 3,860 65.8K 58.2K 960 65.9K 58.7K California 5,910 84.4K 80.1K 10,930 60.3K 52.9K 6,500 93.7K 65.2K U.S. 45,120 67.3K 64.6K 98,990 60.5K 52.4K 40,930 68.1K 55.9K Salary Comparison Table, Part 2 The mean and median salaries for tech writers are much closer than for other writers, reflecting dependable income.
Tech Writing Salaries Around the U.S. Tech Writing Salaries in Major Metropolitan Areas The higher the concentration of technology and industry, the higher the salaries.
Paths to Careers in Tech Comm
On-the-Job Training Before tech writing programs appeared in universities, “OJT” was the only path to a career in technical communication
Degree Programs  B.A. in tech comm  M.A. in tech comm  Ph.D. in tech comm  Undergraduate minor in tech comm  A certificate based on a given number of courses in tech comm
Professional Certification  STC-developed professional certification program  Portfolio-based, not test- based  Candidates submit work samples demonstrating core competencies  Faster and cheaper than degrees or certificates
STC Membership
Society for Technical Communication  Largest and oldest professional association dedicated to the advancement of technical communication  Sets the global standards for technical communication  Members reach across every industry and continent  Produces a wide array of educational events  Publishes award-winning publications: intercom and Technical Communication (a quarterly peer-reviewed journal)  Maintains a comprehensive website including an extensive archive of webinars  World’s largest technical communication conference
Values Behaviors  Innovation  Integrity  Professionalism  Respect  Commitment  Transparency  Open communication  Inclusion  Leadership Values and Behaviors
Benefits of Membership • Affiliation (geographic or virtual) with an STC student chapter • Affiliation (geographic or virtual) with an STC geographic chapter • Affiliation with one STC special interest group (SIG) in a technical communication discipline of particular interest to you • Access to salary scales, job listings, and other valuable intellectual property on the international STC web site
Benefits of Membership (Cont.)  Eligibility for STC student mentoring programs  Professional networking  E-access to industry- leading professional publications  Reduced rates for STC conferences, webinars (plus free webinars), and certification in technical communication
Career Growth Networking within your Affiliated STC Communities Job Search and Placement Career Advancement Professional Development
Mentoring Student Mentoring Programs: The Why’s, How’s, and More Bethany Bowles and Rachel Houghton Presentation to Sigma Tau Delta International Conference March 21, 2013
Joining STC
Membership Levels Student Membership New Technical Communicator Classic Membership
Special for Sigma Tau Delta Members •50% discount on membership for the rest of 2013 (save $37.50) •Eligible for 33% discount on student renewal for 2014 (save $25.00)* • Sign up at the conference • Call 1-571-366-1909 • barbra.sanders@stc.org Offer Ends April 30! * Renew by Dec 31, 2013.
Questions? Come See Us! •SMEs from STC for questions and answers •Materials on the benefits of STC membership •Materials on the various disciplines within technical communication •Materials on careers in technical communication •Materials on core skills for technical communicators •Typical salary scales for jobs in technical communication •“Toolkit” (printed book and accompanying DVD) on how to establish and sustain a student mentoring program •Discounted STC student memberships! •Free giveaways!
Better Together! The Society for Technical Communication
Thank you for Coming! Feel free to contact us!  Rachel Houghton  rjhoughton@gmail.com  Twitter rjhoughton  Bethany Bowles  bethanybowles@gmail.com  Dan Voss*  daniel.w.voss@lmco.com *Co-developer of presentation.

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Careers in Technical Communication for English Majors

  • 1. RACHEL HOUGHTON AND BETHANY BOWLES Careers in Technical Communication for English Majors Presentation for the Sigma Tau Delta International Conference March 21, 2013
  • 2. Agenda  Technical communication  Skills  Disciplines  Career opportunities  Paths to careers in tech comm  Society for Technical Communication  Values  Benefits of membership
  • 3. Technical Communication is … • Communicating about technical or specialized topics in terms the layperson can understand • Communicating by using technology, including emerging new media • Providing instructions about how to do something
  • 4. Skills • Core skills in writing and editing • Creative page design • Photography and videography • Technical illustration • International communication: “Global English” for non- native-English speakers and for translation • Training and education • Web and IT skills
  • 5. Creativity  Visual design  Photo  Video  Technical illustration
  • 6. Writing “Tech writing? Yccch! Bor-r-r-r- ing!” “Not so. The days of ‘Tina the Brittle Technical Communicator’ in Dilbert are gone! New technologies bring new excitement in exercising traditional skills.”
  • 7. Linguistics and International Communication Source: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec12/LinguisticsOutreach.html
  • 8. Education and Training  Training is much more than manuals!  Online rhetoric  Tutorials  Web-based instruction  Textbooks  New media
  • 9. Rhetorical (Audience) Analysis • The basic principles of rhetoric apply to business communication as well as to literature and the arts: o Research your market o Know your readers/viewers
  • 10. Collaboration • Teamwork is critical in technical communication • Collaborative writing is the norm in the field • Your communication skills also posture you well for leadership in collaborative teams in the workplace
  • 11. Web/IT Skills  Opportunities for both analytical and creative technical writing and marketing communication  Web site content and design  Blogs  Wikis  Social media  IT expertise for collaborative writing environments
  • 12. Disciplines • Technical writing and editing • Hardware and software documentation • Technical marketing communication (e.g., proposals, brochures) • Scientific writing (and “ghost writing”) • Medical writing • Grant proposals • Web design • Usability and accessibility • Indexing • Information/knowledge management • Instructional design
  • 13. Interdisciplinary Approach An interdisciplinary approach is essential to successful technical communication, because the profession spans so many disciplines.
  • 14. Tech Writing/Editing  Hardware and software documentation  Policies and procedures  Textbooks  Proposals  Marketing collateral  Video scripts  Magazine articles  Copy editing for publishers
  • 15. Traditional Tech Writing  Instructions for installing, maintaining, and repairing hardware  Instructions on how to properly use software  Detailed manufacturing process plans  User manuals for everything from toasters to automobiles  Medical reports and research articles
  • 16. Research  Pure  Applied  Research and writing within the field of technical communication  Collaborative writing with SMEs researching within their specialty
  • 17. Aerospace & Industry  Proposals to capture new business  Technical reports and presentations  Marketing collateral to attract new customers  Multi-media presentations  Web site content and design  Internal policies and procedures  Employee communications  Media relations  Community relations
  • 18. Advertising & Marketing Communications  Advertising across multiple media  Print  Radio  TV  Billboards  Web sites  Social media  Diverse marketing collateral  Brochures  Flyers  Fact sheets  Trade show graphics  Narrated video  Web sites
  • 19. Writing for Non-Profits  Grant proposals  Fund-raising collaterals  Literature for those who are served by the non- profits  Web site design, content, and maintenance  Empathy and commitment
  • 20. Healthcare  Editing or ghost-writing articles by physicians for medical journals  Patient-oriented web sites  Flyers describing illnesses and treatments, for doctors’ offices  Medical transcription  Instructions for prescription medication  Marketing collaterals and web sites for for-profit hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, etc.
  • 21. Gaming  Game designers  Documentation writers and designers  Strategy guide writers  Promotional writers Excellent article in STC’s intercom magazine: http://intdev.stc.org/2012/01/its-all-in-the-game- technical-communications-role-in-game- documentation/
  • 22. Career Opportunities • Technical communication spans many disciplines  the job market is huge • Unless technology stands still, it will always be a growth market • Companies are beginning to realize that poor writing and poor communication hurt their bottom line • Solving that problem taps into your core skills as English majors
  • 23. Tap Core Skills  Writing accurately  Writing clearly  Writing concisely  Writing coherently  Writing creatively  Tapping diverse media  Crossing boundaries and cultures
  • 24. Growing Job Market There are 45,000+ technical writers in the U.S.! Geographical Distribution of Jobs in Technical Communication
  • 25. Competitive Compensation State Technical Writers Reporters, Correspondents Public Relations Specialists Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Oregon 570 69.6K 74.5K 580 38.5K 32.4K 2,180 55.6K 52.2K Maryland 2,000 70.0K 69.7K 600 39.0K 30.7K 2,900 70.7K 62.1K New Hampshire 180 71.1K 65.3K 190 43.8K 38.6K 870 60.5K 55.2K New Jersey 1,530 71.5K 67.7K 860 47.3K 42.9K 3,820 64.6K 58.2K Connecticut 910 71.7K 72.2K 570 40.8K 34.6K 990 59.4K 56.6K Virginia 2,880 76.3K 72.9K 960 41.9K 35.0K 7,300 69.3K 62.6K Washington 1,610 79.5K 79.7K 740 44.4K 34.4K 4,990 59.3K 56.2K Massachusetts 1,960 82.1K 81.5K 1,170 64.1K 52.4K 8,650 62.1K 56.7K California 5,910 84.4K 80.1K 4,010 48.5K 38.7K 22,920 71.0K 62.6K U.S. 45,120 67.3K 64.6K 45,270 43.6K 34.9K 212,510 60.4K 52.4K Salary Comparison Table, Part 1 Data is shown for the 9 states with the highest salaries in technical writing, plus the national average.
  • 26. Competitive Compensation (Cont.) State Technical Writers Editors Writers and Authors Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Employed Mean $/y Median $/y Oregon 570 69.6K 74.5K 1,050 52.8K 52.2K 630 56.4K 52.7K Maryland 2,000 70.0K 69.7K 2,150 59.2K 55.2K 900 73.5K 66.6K New Hampshire 180 71.1K 65.3K 330 51.0K 46.4K 240 51.3K 48.1K New Jersey 1,530 71.5K 67.7K 3,450 64.6K 58.2K 1,070 57.5k 53.3k Connecticut 910 71.7K 72.2K 990 59.4K 56.6K 380 63.8K 62.2K Virginia 2,880 76.3K 72.9K 3,190 59.8K 55.2K 1,640 62.4K 57.0K Washington 1,610 79.5K 79.7K 2,580 64.0K 55.5K 870 70.7K 66.3K Massachusetts 1,960 82.1K 81.5K 3,860 65.8K 58.2K 960 65.9K 58.7K California 5,910 84.4K 80.1K 10,930 60.3K 52.9K 6,500 93.7K 65.2K U.S. 45,120 67.3K 64.6K 98,990 60.5K 52.4K 40,930 68.1K 55.9K Salary Comparison Table, Part 2 The mean and median salaries for tech writers are much closer than for other writers, reflecting dependable income.
  • 27. Tech Writing Salaries Around the U.S. Tech Writing Salaries in Major Metropolitan Areas The higher the concentration of technology and industry, the higher the salaries.
  • 28. Paths to Careers in Tech Comm
  • 29. On-the-Job Training Before tech writing programs appeared in universities, “OJT” was the only path to a career in technical communication
  • 30. Degree Programs  B.A. in tech comm  M.A. in tech comm  Ph.D. in tech comm  Undergraduate minor in tech comm  A certificate based on a given number of courses in tech comm
  • 31. Professional Certification  STC-developed professional certification program  Portfolio-based, not test- based  Candidates submit work samples demonstrating core competencies  Faster and cheaper than degrees or certificates
  • 33. Society for Technical Communication  Largest and oldest professional association dedicated to the advancement of technical communication  Sets the global standards for technical communication  Members reach across every industry and continent  Produces a wide array of educational events  Publishes award-winning publications: intercom and Technical Communication (a quarterly peer-reviewed journal)  Maintains a comprehensive website including an extensive archive of webinars  World’s largest technical communication conference
  • 34. Values Behaviors  Innovation  Integrity  Professionalism  Respect  Commitment  Transparency  Open communication  Inclusion  Leadership Values and Behaviors
  • 35. Benefits of Membership • Affiliation (geographic or virtual) with an STC student chapter • Affiliation (geographic or virtual) with an STC geographic chapter • Affiliation with one STC special interest group (SIG) in a technical communication discipline of particular interest to you • Access to salary scales, job listings, and other valuable intellectual property on the international STC web site
  • 36. Benefits of Membership (Cont.)  Eligibility for STC student mentoring programs  Professional networking  E-access to industry- leading professional publications  Reduced rates for STC conferences, webinars (plus free webinars), and certification in technical communication
  • 37. Career Growth Networking within your Affiliated STC Communities Job Search and Placement Career Advancement Professional Development
  • 38. Mentoring Student Mentoring Programs: The Why’s, How’s, and More Bethany Bowles and Rachel Houghton Presentation to Sigma Tau Delta International Conference March 21, 2013
  • 41. Special for Sigma Tau Delta Members •50% discount on membership for the rest of 2013 (save $37.50) •Eligible for 33% discount on student renewal for 2014 (save $25.00)* • Sign up at the conference • Call 1-571-366-1909 • barbra.sanders@stc.org Offer Ends April 30! * Renew by Dec 31, 2013.
  • 42. Questions? Come See Us! •SMEs from STC for questions and answers •Materials on the benefits of STC membership •Materials on the various disciplines within technical communication •Materials on careers in technical communication •Materials on core skills for technical communicators •Typical salary scales for jobs in technical communication •“Toolkit” (printed book and accompanying DVD) on how to establish and sustain a student mentoring program •Discounted STC student memberships! •Free giveaways!
  • 43. Better Together! The Society for Technical Communication
  • 44. Thank you for Coming! Feel free to contact us!  Rachel Houghton  rjhoughton@gmail.com  Twitter rjhoughton  Bethany Bowles  bethanybowles@gmail.com  Dan Voss*  daniel.w.voss@lmco.com *Co-developer of presentation.