The Journalists Are Coming for Technical Writer Jobs
Technical writer jobs - Empty newsroom
More proof that indeed, the journalists are coming to take technical writer jobs.
Here is an article published on Aug 5, 2009 called – Taking Journalism Skills to New Industries that describes just what I’ve been talking about. The writer answers a question from a young journalist who is frustrated with the lack of opportunity in that market and is trying to find a way to use his journalistic skills and experience in another, more profitable, way.
Q: “I still want to use my journalism skills, but in a different way…. How can I convince employers that my skills are transferable?”
A: “Look for all kinds of writing jobs: technical, grants, internal communications and public relations. Look for jobs where investigations, information gathering, analysis and synthesis are in demand.”
Of course the obvious answer is to look to other, more stable industries. Jobs in technical writing must seem very attractive at this point.
So expect more of this kind of competition as the year goes on. Journalists are used to a lower pay scale than technical writers as well so this will likely put downaward pressure on pay rates, at least at the lower end of the scale.
Just another reason to think about really specializing, taking your technical writer job skills to the Web, or going freelance.
