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Technical Writer

Average Salary
£26,000
Job Forecast
+1%
Currently Employed in Scotland
4,781
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What is a Technical Writer

It's a Technical Writer’s responsibility to take specialist information and explain it clearly to the general public.

You could be testing and writing about a new phone to produce a guide for customers or learning about breakthrough medicines to educate a wider audience about their potential benefits.

Top 3 job tasks:

  • Talking to industry experts to become an authority on a specific topic.
  • Creating user manuals that simply explain how to use a product.
  • Writing concise and easy-to-understand reports aimed at general audiences.

Getting in and Qualifications

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Some Technical Writers have qualifications that allow them to specialise in a certain field whereas others have chosen writing-focused courses.

Relevant HNC/HND and degree courses include:

  • Communications
  • Technical Writing
  • Computer Science
  • Manufacturing
  • Specialist Sciences

 

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One alternative pathway to becoming a successful Technical Writer is to apply for entry-level writing roles or roles in a specific industry that requires technical writing. These jobs can provide a foundation of understanding about writing techniques and specialist topics which can stand out on a CV and increase the likelihood of securing a job as a Technical Writer in the future.

Membership of an industry organisation can also be a valuable way to build contacts within the industry and land a suitable role.

The membership organisation for Technical Writers is the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators.

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you will need.