Technical Writers: Career & Application Guide

What do technical writers do?

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.
Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.
Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.
Confer with customer representatives, vendors, plant executives, or publisher to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed for publication.
Assist in laying out material for publication.

Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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