Becoming a Technical Writer

Technical writing can be a very enjoyable field. More importantly, it pays well, probably better than most writing fields. With the technology industry growing, the need for quality writers is growing as well. If you are interested in technical writing, you may be thinking "how do I become a technical writer?" The following article provides some hints to becoming a technical writer.

The best way to become a technical writer is to go to school. Almost all employers require some form of degree. The most common degrees that I've seen required on job boards are English, Communications, Journalism or some form of engineering degree. Very few of the technical writers whom I've met actually have a degree in technical writing. That doesn't mean that there aren't degrees out there. Check out your local university or community college. They may have degree or certificate programs in technical writing that will give you a leg up in this competitive field.

Other than a degree, there are a few things you can do to sharpen your technical writing skills and gain a better chance at becoming a technical writer.

Read, read and read some more. There are lots of books about technical writing out there. I have a few books I found useful in my bookstore. These books can give you a good understanding of how to produce documentation.
Join organizations like the Society for Technical Communications (STC). Joining an organization can introduce you to the field and give you a chance to meet other technical writers in your area. The STC also offers magazines devoted to technical writing.
Find a mentor. Latching onto someone and sucking all their skill and knowledge from them can do wonders for your career. Just make sure you hide the dried up husk when you're done!! :-) Gaining a mentor can also give you inroads to a field you normally would not have known about or had access to. The best way to find a mentor is to join an organization like the STC. You can also go to Techwr-l and sign up for their mentor program (I'm not sure how fruitful the latter is).
Learn software. You can pick up "dummies" books or other how-to books for just about any piece of software. Check to make sure the book comes with a demo copy of the software. If it does, you're in luck. You'll be able to familiarize yourself with the software without having to dump hundreds, or in some cases a couple thousand, dollars on it. Many companies provide evaluation copies of their software (usually with a 30 day evaluation period). You can use these evaluation copies to learn the software and gain some practical experience with it.
Jump in head first. I stumbled into the field. Employers seem to snag people with a background in English or engineering, but not always. You can always pick up the skills you need as you need them. Companies usually don't mind spending a little money to increase the skill sets of their employees. There's nothing like on the job training!!!
Remember, never underestimate your worth to an employer (but don't overestimate it either). When you go in for your interview, be energetic, positive and enthusiastic! Above all, be professional. Slouching or picking your nose during the interview is out. Bossing around your interviewers is definitely out.