Re: Getting Starting in Tech Writing

[George Mena <George -dot- Mena -at- ESSTECH -dot- COM>]

First and foremost, it's important to remember that there's more to tech
writing than just having experience with software.  Many people work as
technical writers in other industries besides the software world.  And
having a degree in English, Journalism, Technical Writing or some kind
of engineering degree is preferred if you want to be taken seriously as
a technical writer.

Being a technical writer for Visa, for example, means having some
exposure to the banking industry, as Federal Reserve Bank issues have to
be addressed occasionally.  Being a technical writer in the
semiconductor industry means having at least something of a basic
understanding of analog and digital electronics and semiconductor
fabrication.  Being a technical writer in the aerospace/defense
environment means having at least something in the way of a basic
understanding of mechanical aptitude or mechanical engineering, plus a
basic understanding of analog and digital electronics.  Candidates in
this realm ideally also have hands-on experience working with defense
products while serving the country in the branch of military service of
their choice, as military technical training from such organizations as
the US Army Signal Corps is among the best applied technical training in
the world.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ginny Lee [SMTP:ginny-lee -at- WORLDNET -dot- ATT -dot- NET]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 1998 10:35 AM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Getting Starting in Tech Writing
>
> Hello All,
>
> How would one land a job as a tech writer?  Is it really necessary to
> have a
> degree if a person has a lot of experience working with software?
>