Technical Writing as a Career Option

Technical Writing also known as Technical Communication is all about communicating an idea to readers in an easily understandable way. A technical writer’s job is to gather information about a product from various sources, comprehend the technology, and put it in simple and easy-to-understand language.

According to a Nasscom-McKinsey report of 1999, India needs to have at least 2.2 million knowledge workers in IT software and services related areas by 2008. Technical Writers are a part of these knowledge professionals and companies have started realizing the importance of hiring professional Technical Writers.

Technical Writing not only applies to the field of Information Technology, but also extends to other fields like Pharmaceuticals, Aeronautics, Automobile, Mechanical, Chemical, and others.

What do Technical Writers do?

Technical writer create documents such as:

• User Manuals § Installation Guides
• Troubleshooting Guides § Online Help
• Instruction Booklets
• Quick Reference Guides
• Process documents
• Online help files
• Reports and Brochures
• Business proposals
• Memorandum and Minutes
• Feature modules
• Release notes
• Context-sensitive help for CSRs
• Reports § Policy Manuals
• Process Documentation
• White Papers and Case Studies

What should be the educational qualification of a technical writer?

There is no formal education in the field of technical writing. A person with a degree preferably post graduation or a diploma holder preferably in Journalism and mass communication, English literature, science or IT with good written communication skills can become a technical writer.

Good technical writers can also be

• Graduates or Engineer
• Medical Transcriptionists
• Call Center Executives
• Software Engineers
• No age limit in this criteria
• Lecturers, Teachers, Professors
• Research Scholars

Who can be a successful Technical Writer?

Anyone with a

• Good Communication skills
• Flair for writing (Simple but good English)
• An inclination to learn new technologies
• Working knowledge of computers

Designations
Technical Writer is the most commonly used job title for this occupation. Other titles used include Communications Specialist, Policy and Procedure Writer, Proposal Writer, Publications Specialist, Documentation Specialist, Information Developer, Technical Editor, Web Editor, and Information Designer.

Pay Package

A junior technical writer today can start with an average salary of about Rs 10,000-14,000 per month and earn up to Rs 35,000 in 2-3 years.

Where can this job lead?

Technical Writers can advance to Information Designer, Senior Technical Writer, or Project Manager positions. In larger organizations, Technical Writers can advance to Information Designer, Senior Technical Writer, or Project Manager Positions and even System Architect. Promotion often takes the form of increased responsibility and pay rises.

With so much in offering, the future surely looks bright for the technical writers. Now the time is ripe to take positive steps, in order to work towards give due status to this unrecognized sector.

Some Institutes offering courses in Technical Writing

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The Writers Block

# 421, B Wing 4th floor, Carlton tower, Airport Road,

Bangalore -560008

http://www.twb.in

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System Domain

174/40, 402, 4th Floor, Lucky Paradise, 22nd Cross,

8th ‘F’ Main Road, 3rd Block, Jayanagar,

Bangalore – 560 011

Phone: 91 80 41210358 / 91 80 26538482

Email: sdjn@systemdomain.net

http://www.systemdomain.net/

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Triumph India Software Services Pvt. Ltd.
#22, D Rajgopal Road, Sanjay Nagar,
Bangalore – 560094
Phone: 080- 40239261/ 23519720

Email: training@triumphinida.com

Website: http://www.triumphindia.com

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Documentation Research and Training Center (DRTC) Bangalore
Indian Statistical Institute
8th Mile Mysore Road, RVCE Post, Bangalore 560 059
http://www.infolibrarian.com/asso.htm

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IISc Proficience Continuing Education Program, Bangalore
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore 560 012
Tel: 91-80-3600411
http://www.iisc.ernet.in/

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Technopoint

No. 1657, First Floor, 10th Main, JB Nagar,

HAL 3rd Stage, Bangalore – 75

Phone: 080-25288086 / 9845316974

http://www.technopointindia.net

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Integrated Quality Training Institute
M-17, Sector X, HAL 3rd Stage,
6th Main, Jeevan Bhima Nagar, Bangalore -560075
Phone: 25285476/ 9844172104/ 9845025795
Email: info@iqtiedu.com

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Surabhi Technologies,
124 80 ft road, SBM colony BSK 1st Stage,

Opp. New Sagar Fast food, Bangalore-560050.

Phone: 9448782775

Email: surabhi.technologies@gmail.com

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Athiya Organizational Competencies (P) Limited

Casa Capitol, 17, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar,

1st floor, Bangalore, 560 025

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Trinity Infosolutions,

No.2A, Robby Arcade (Second Floor),

Above Cofee day, No.537,CMH Road, Bangalore

http://www.trinityinfosolutions.net

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Trinity Info Solutions

No.7, Vijaya Bank Colony, (above Anand laboratory),

100 Feet Ring Road, BTM II stage, Bangalore 560038

Phone: 9611107622

http://www.trinityinfosolutions.net

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WinProTech

# 160/1,36th cross,9th Main,
Jayanagar 5th Block, Bangalore-560041
Phone: 80 4166 4222/099

http://www.winprotech.com/

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Four-C Content Experts

8/37, I Cross, Banashakari III Stage, Bangalore-560 085

Phone: 080 – 2678 435 /  98800 04727

Email: prabhat@contentxperts.in

http://www.contentxperts.in/

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Technowrites Pvt. Ltd.
24, Chitradurga, Kshipra Society,
Karvenagar, Pune – 411052
Phone: +91 20 6500 6830/31

Home

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Guardian Training Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
# 8, IInd & IVth Floor,
Wonder City Commercial, Katraj, Pune – 411046,

Phone: + 91 98811 02589

Email: g.garg@guardian-india.com

http://www.guardian-india.com/

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S.A.International Limited,
27, 7th Avenue, Ashok Nagar,

Chennai-600 083.

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KBuffer

Trivergence Infonetics Pvt. Ltd.
10/3, Second Floor, Ragaviah Road,
Opp. Ragavendra Mutt, T. Nagar, Chennai – 600 017.
Phone: 044 42125152

E-Mail – gms@kbufferonline.com

http://www.kbufferonline.com

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KBuffer

Super Graphics
4C, Saravana Apartments,
No.16, Saint Mary’s Road, Mandaveli, Chennai – 600 028
Phone: 044 42106667

E-Mail – gms@kbufferonline.com

http://www.kbufferonline.com

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K3 Infotech

20, Saraswati, Triveni CHS,
Rajaji Road, Ramnagar, Dombivli (East) Mumbai -421201.

Phone:-91-9920314502

Email: tw-k3i@k3infotech.com

http://www.k3infotech.com

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Confai Solutions Pvt Ltd

145, Street-3, Avenue-4, Rd 10, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500034

Phone: 91-040-65161889, 09849016026, 09347053544

Email: info@confai.com

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University of Calicut,

Calicut University P.O., Kerala, 673 635.

Phone: +91 494 2401144 – 48, 50-52, 2401665 – 72

http://www.universityofcalicut.info/

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