Give it to me straight: Is technical writing a good fit for me?
I've hopped around a few jobs since graduating and have never really found one that "stuck" or that felt like it was the right fit. I recently discovered technical writing and things just started to feel like they were clicking into place. However, I want some feedback before I go all-in on a new career path and would love some perspectives on whether this is a smart choice.
My background/education:
- 26 years old
- Two degrees in English and Communications Studies
- Basic beginner continuing education courses in Adobe Photoshop and HTML/CSS (I'll definitely need to brush up on these, but I know I'm capable of at least the basics)
My work experience:
- Program Coordinator/Manager: I support the implementation and administration of various student programs at a post-secondary institution, which essentially means a little bit of everything. Recently, I've taken on more of a project management role in my team due to short staffing.
- Communications and Events Coordinator: I previously worked at a non-profit doing all the communications and events for the organization. I've received feedback in this role that I'm talented at event planning due to my high levels of organization, but event planning is a little too stressful for me to consider it my full-time career.
Why I think technical writing is for me:
- I love drafting and formatting communications - emails, reports, documentation, etc. I enjoy thinking from my audience's perspective - when is the all-important deadline? What are the next steps? Who can they contact for support? I even love figuring out the best way to format emails so they're easy to understand. My team members often connect with me if they want someone to edit/proofread an email or to finesse outgoing communications.
- I really enjoy developing job aids/manuals/instructions/FAQs. I support a complex application system, and I've developed documents with clear technical instructions for different roles (ex. "Click the 'Save' button..."). I have received feedback that a document I developed is super clear for new system users.
- Project management (at least in a university setting) is actually fun for me. I like managing my tasks, figuring out what's next, creating timelines, and connecting with others.
- I love developing process and streamlining existing processes. One of my favourite things I've done is create a flowchart that helps people understand where they are in the complex application process.
- I enjoy learning new things - I tend to get bored in jobs quickly if it's the same or similar activity cycle each year.
Why I'm worried technical writing isn't for me:
- The technical know-how. Every job posting I see requires 5-7 years of experience and knowledge in specific industries I have zero background in. I'm willing to learn, but this is evidently a barrier.
- Fear of not finding a position or enough work. There aren't a ton of tech writing positions in my area (I live in Canada and not in Vancouver or Toronto). I wouldn't mind contract/freelance remote work, but I'm worried there aren't enough opportunities for it to be sustainable - especially because tech writing can be industry-specific.
This is already longer than I'd like, so thank you for reading if you made it this far! I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether tech writing is a good fit for me. I've already signed up for a tech writing continuing education certificate at a local university, but any recommendations for courses or other learning opportunities would be incredibly helpful.