June 19, 2017

Get Paid to Write (Not Code) in Tech

Writing code is not the only way to break into Tech. However, you can get paid to write in Tech. I work with engineers daily and trust me, if it wasn’t for us tech writers, a lot of the websites and apps you use every day would be a tad difficult to use and understand.

So you may be asking, what does a tech writer do anyway?

So glad you asked. The short version – we write instructions. The slightly more interesting version, we tell people what to do. Ok, jokes aside, the most prominent type of documentation we create include help center articles, product specifications, and manuals.

However, this career path has evolved so much over the years that we mostly write web and app copy. For example, when you open up your Google maps app, the first call-to-action (CTA) is to “Search here.” It’s short, sweet, and direct. Once you tap, you have the option to enter a particular destination, narrow your search by restaurant, gas stations, ATMs, and more, or you can choose from your most recent search history.

A tech writer often crafts all of the text you see on the screen [aka user-interface/UI] text. We work closely with UI designers to help improve the user experience so that, in this case, it is straightforward to find a location. See more real-world examples here.

Why NOW is the time to become a tech writer

The demand is super high for tech writers because software products, the web and mobile apps, and new technologies are on the rise. Before 2014, I never even heard of UX/UI [user experience/user interface] writers. Now, new roles and specialties are popping up in every sector.

I give you the scoop on some of the most popular tech writing roles available today, what the average salary is for those starting out, and more in my free

I give you the scoop on some of the most popular tech writing roles available today, what the average salary is for those starting out, and more in my free 5-day email course.

However, the key thing to note is that no matter how robust and complex the products and apps are and continue to become (i.e. data analysis and artificial intelligence), the need to break things down to layman’s terms will ALWAYS be there.

Who should become a tech writer?

If you have a knack for translating complex subjects and making things easier to understand, then technology writing may be the career for you. Want to test your skills? Try explaining how you would warn a customer about a $50 late fee for an $8 purchase.

It goes without saying, but you should enjoy writing. This type of writing is different from say writing a novel or blog post though. Your style of writing as a tech writer is very instructional. These are skills you can work on, and I break it down for you in my training course – Get Paid to Write in Tech.

How to get started as a tech writer?

You have to show and prove that you have the skills to be considered a viable candidate for any position in tech. The best way to do so is by building up your portfolio.

Start writing how-tos and tutorials for your favorite website or app. Here are some examples to get your creative juices flowing.

    • Chase
    • JetBlue
    • Evernote
    • Uber/Lyft
    • Google maps
    • WhatsApp

To get more tips like this and training exercises to help you land a tech writing job, sign up for my free video series.


Picture from #wocintechchat

 

Kimmoy Matthews

Kimmoy is an engineer turned content strategist and tech writer who is passionate about traveling and dancing. She dreams of salsa dancing in Colombia, but for now, she’s found her happy “work” place in the world of Tech, writing for cool apps every day and training others to become tech writers. To get more tips like this and training exercises to help you land a tech writing job, sign up for her free video series.

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