Tech Comm Student

There are many potential niches to enter into or to begin a career with for those acquiring a tech comm background.  Related most directly to the field of technical communication, I have listed just a few job titles with accompanying descriptions.  Hopefully this may serve to grant you a better perspective of some important, and well demanded areas.

Technical Writer

An experienced writer who may work in any one of the dozens of industries that employ these professional.  The largest number are concentrated in computers, software, science, and health care, as well as in electronics manufacturing.  Technical writers are the company communicators of complex information.  In many cases, they will interview the subject matter experts of a project, product, behavior, or service, and then translate technical information into language that is easily understandable to the end-users.  Frequent responsibilities include creating product manuals, help guides, brochures, and press releases.  Most tech writers also possess skills in multimedia creation, increasingly taking on the role of the graphics and web designer.

Technical Illustrator

Similar to a graphics designer, these technical communicators focus their attention on providing a clear understanding of technical information through the use of visuals.  Designing pamphlets, brochures, flow charts, and product illustrations, technical illustrators often have an educational background emphasizing art rather than English.

Information Architect

The primary role of the information architect is to ask questions relevant to the company, its customers, and its employees.  While a technical writer will translate written language, and the illustrator will design visuals, the architect will examine how these processes interact and support the company agenda.  Is there a better way to do something?  What effect will this action have on our users?  Does this decision help the customer, or reduce the quality of their experience?  These questions may be applied to a wide range of technical activities, including web, database and software design, content management systems, and the functioning of entire departments.  The activities of the IA can be described as similar to that of a business analyst.

Usability Expert

These analytical employees primarily examine the effectiveness of a company’s virtual user interfaces.  They use their creativity to imagine an improved system, a system which motivates customers towards positive action, and is easily understood.  Like the information architect, the usability expert will ask a good number of questions.  Should this help button be placed up here, or down there?  Will the user be able to find the most important information without becoming frustrated?  What about web page load times?  How long must the user wait, and is this acceptable?  How might someone from a different culture interpret this?

User Interface Designer

A UID is a developer of a menu-like system that allows users to interact with the company.  Almost all larger companies today have both internal user interfaces for employees, in addition to external interfaces that are presented to everyone else, including clients and business partners.  The interface designer needs to think carefully about how to grant its users the best experience available while still allowing all of the desired functions of the interface.  For example, if Amazon.com were to remove their shopping cart link from the storefront and place it buried deep within a series of pages, how many sales do you think they would lose out of customer frustration?  Often acting as a usability expert, the designer must possess strong critical thinking skills.

Web Designer

Combing the analytical skills of the user interface designer with some of the artistic skills possessed by a graphics designer, the web designer is in interesting blend of general technical communication skills.  Add to this the responsibilities of updating the website with press releases, editorials, or tutorials, and we now accept a role encompassing at least three primary areas within technical communication.  Like with the API writer, programming and web scripting skills are often important to a successful web designer.

Technical Trainer

Besides holding the advanced writing skills typifying a technical communicator, they frequently also have the ability to verbally explain themselves in ways beneficial to instructing others.  Working beside other human resources employees, the technical trainer often might specialize in the training of scientists, engineers, and computer professionals.

Technical Translator

Ordinarily well experienced with the information they work with, translators take a piece of profession-specific material and lower its complexity, reducing or eliminating unnecessary terminology that would be foreign to the reader.  Since accuracy in translation is so important, technical translators will frequently supplement their knowledge with additional research as they work on their project.

API Writer

With a programming background and an ability to understand new concepts quickly, an API (application programming interface) writer will develop the references that other technical people rely on to complete their job.  Therefore, the API writer needs to be certain that they understand how a particular application or programming language/environment functions.  As new and improved software is regularly turning out to developers, technical API writers continue to serve an important role.

Project Manager

Understanding effective communication and having the ability to carefully think about the effects a decision could bring, many experienced technical communicators should be able to naturally step into a project management role within departments dealing heavily with technical information.

Sources:
http://www.bls.gov
http://www.uxbooth.com
http://www.usabilityfirst.com
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://www.jobprofiles.org