Practical models for technical communication - Shannon Kelley 2021

Types of communicators
Make technical communication work for you

The following sections describe the different kinds of work that require technical communication skills. Not everyone who studies technical communication will become a technical writer, but most people will benefit from knowing how to communicate clear, accurate, and precise information to a specific audience.

Technical Communicator

Technical communicator is a specific job that clearly uses the skills from this textbook, along with those you might learn if you major in technical writing. But the places in which you can expect to use technical communication daily might surprise you. Technical communicators are people working in fields where they communicate specialized knowledge. Most did not major in writing or communications, but all use those skills in their fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the highest-paying postsecondary certificate careers require professional-level communication skills, including the following positions:

” Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

” First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

” Insurance appraisers, auto damage

” Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

This list shows some of the higher-paying careers you can enter by earning the appropriate certificate. The job posting in figure 12.1 requires technical communication skills, even though the job involves repair of electronic equipment.

The following list is, according to BLS, associate’s degree-level careers with median wages above $70,000 per year, all of which include communication skills as a requirement:

” Dental hygienists

” Radiation therapists

” Diagnostic medical sonographers

The following six-figure careers typically require a bachelor’s (or higher) and, you guessed it, require excellent communication skills and, in some cases, the ability to write and publish research:

” Computer and information systems managers

” Architectural and engineering managers

” Petroleum engineers

” Nurse practitioners

” Physician assistants

” Nurse anesthetists

” Psychiatrists

Figure 12.1. Technical Communication Skills Required. Even though “technical communicator” is nowhere near the job title, notice how communication and technical skills are part of the job’s requirements.

Technical Writer

A technical writer is someone who creates instruction manuals, informational reports, and other documents communicating complicated technical information to specific audiences. These are people who have chosen to use their writing skills as technical writers. Most majored in related fields like English, media, or communications. However, enterprising engineering students have learned to minor in technical writing as a strategy to stand out in competitive fields.

You can also choose to major in technical writing itself, with a minor in science, engineering, or other technical fields. Whether or not a technical writer majors (or minors) in a technical field, they mostly write for engineering and computer industries and need to be familiar with these industries. This is where collaboration plays a part. It takes a team of professionals to create a balanced, useful document.

In this next job posting, notice all the highlighted areas that align with principles from this textbook (figure 12.2). What other connections do you see with the course material?

Freelancer/Contractor

One of the realities of living in the twenty-first century is the rise of the “gig” economy. Gigs come in all shapes and sizes, from ridesharing jobs to listing how much work you’d do for $5. But there is one commonality among these jobs: they are all freelance/contract work. Freelancers, sometimes called contractors, are self-employed individuals who perform duties defined in a contract with an employer or client.

Temporary, contract, and freelance labor is attractive to organizations because the people filling these posts are less expensive than full-time, permanent workers. These temporary workers aren’t considered employees in the traditional sense, and this means they often work from a home office or other rented space. While this type of work seldom comes with benefits like health insurance, some people like this style of employment for the flexibility and the chance to work in a range of fields.

Figure 12.2. Most Jobs Require Communication Skills. Scan this job description, paying special attention to the highlighted portions. Notice how the requirements of this position align with the content covered in this textbook.

Contract or freelance work can be exciting, but this type of work comes with many feast or famine cycles. A successful freelancer knows how to save their money for the inevitable slow period between gigs. Inconsistent employment is the norm for freelancers. Another major factor to consider is that most freelance work requires self-motivation and discipline to find contracts and then to do the work. The ability to realistically assess and communicate the scope of a project is vital to successful freelancing.

Freelancing often makes it possible for people to work who might not otherwise be able to work because of personal circumstances or to supplement their incomes from traditional employment. According to “Freelancing in America: 2019,” a comprehensive measure of independent workers, 57 million Americans freelanced in 2019, which represents about 35 percent of the U. S. workforce. You may hear varying reports about whether the gig economy is growing or shrinking because it’s hard to accurately track freelancers and contractors. Additionally, many positions come with a variety of job titles that confuse data collection. For example, your “professor” (a specific job title) might actually be an “adjunct” who is officially titled as “part-time instructor,” which is actually a temporary contract position that renews every quarter or semester. On paper, it may look like the college hires a bunch of permanent part-time faculty, but the reality is completely different.

According to BLS, the following types of freelance gigs are more common:

” Arts and design (ranging from graphic design to crafts and fine arts)

” Computer and information technology (web and software designers, programmers)

” Construction and home repair

” Media and communications (tech writers, interpreters, translators, and photographers)

” Transportation (ride-sharing drivers, delivery drivers)

Even if you decide that freelancing full-time is not for you, short-term contracts and freelance assignments can bring in extra money. The following example is for a graphic design freelance position at a regional radio station (figure 12.3). Sometimes people are surprised at how much technical communication is expected as part of “non-writing” careers.

Figure 12.3. Job Description for Technical Communicator. Notice how this graphic design job positing requires many of the skills you’ve learned in this textbook, and not just in visual design principles.