Technical Writing
What is technical writing?
Technical writing comprises the preparation of technical content for books, help manuals, online/classroom courses and product documentation, etc. This material may be about software packages/programs or about hardware products – their specifications, properties, usage requirements, technical details, etc.
The purpose of creating the technical content is to facilitate learning either through an instructor or in a self-help mode. These materials are used both in classrooms and as online content on distributable media or over the Web.
The online form of technical materials is also commonly known in the industry by terms such as e-learning, Computer-based training (CBT) or Web-based training (WBT) courses and virtual classrooms.
A large number of these online modes adopt a multimedia approach to learning, making the learning process interactive and self-paced.
Where can one get trained or where are these courses available?
Enlisted below are a few institutions offering courses in technical writing. However, this information is subject to change, owing to institutions policy.
1. Course Name: Certificate course in Technical Writing
Institute: Technowrites Private Limited
Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline, Good command over English, Knowledge of Windows & MS Office.
Number of seats: Four in one year course
Duration: Varies from three days certificate course to one year on the job training.
Course Fees: Varies from Rupees 10,000/- to Rupees 70,000/- (depending upon the course) *[subject to change]
Contact details: Technowrites Private Limited
24, Kshipra Sahaniwas
Karvenagar
Pune 411052
Maharashtra
Phone: +91-20-544 2026/5447371
Fax: +91-20-2544 7371
E-mail:
Website:
2. Institute: TechnoPoint
Duration: One and half months
Course Fees: Rupees 15,000/- *(subject to change)
Contact details: TechnoPoint
657, 10th Main
HAL 3 Stage
Bangalore 560075
Phone: +91-80-25288086
Mobile: 98453 16974
Website:
3. Course Name: Technical Writing Training Program
Institute: S. A. International Limited (SAI) in association with Simon Fraser University (S.F.U.), Vancouver, Canada
Eligibility:
• Graduate/Diploma in any discipline. Final year students of Degree/Diploma can also join.
• Basic knowledge of computer operations is necessary (MS-Word).
• All registered candidates have to qualify through an entrance test in general English for admission. Outstation candidates are evaluated by a write-up sent by them along with the completed application form, in-lieu of the entrance test.
More information: S.A. International offers this course at three states, namely: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
Duration: 8 weeks (in weekdays) , 12 weeks (on weekends) and 24 weeks (on Sundays)
Course Fees: Rupees 20,100/- * (subject to change)
Contact details: S. A. International Limited (SAI)
57, 7th Avenue
Ashok Nagar
Chennai 600 083
Tamil Nadu
Phone: +91-44-2489 6953 to 54/23712287 to 90
E-mail:
Website:
4. Course Name: Technical Writing
Institute: University of Pune, Department of Communication and Journalism
Duration: Two years
Contact details: Head, Department of Communication and Journalism
Department of Communication & Journalism
University of Pune
F C Road
Pune 411004
Maharashtra
Phone: +91-20-25654069, 25673188
What is the eligibility criterion?
• Graduate with preferably science background (this is not a big barrier though).
• Good writing skills.
• Good command of the English language.
• Proficiency in using computer.
The following skills are desirable:
• An aptitude for exploring everything technical.
• An eye for detail.
• Ability to learn quickly.
What is the scope of this career?
In a company producing hardware/software products, a team of technical writers is associated to a product team. The technical writer obtains the information required to be included in the content from the technical team working on creating the product and collates it down in the form of help manuals and training courses.
This career option, offers wide scope, as in:
• Job opportunities are widely available in product companies and in companies producing technical content and technical publications.
• People can grow into generalist managers or specialise in instructional design or language.
Besides, this field is highly competitive and offers performance -driven growth opportunities. Remunerations are very good at all levels, comparable to those in software development. First hand account of this profession: a blind person’s perspective.
Manish Agrawal, a qualified commerce graduate from Delhi University, with Diploma In Advanced Computing, CDAC, and a Masters in Computer Applications from IGNOU started his career in the technical writing domain with the Learning Technology Business division of NIIT, in 1998 as the editor for American English. He is also blind.
Manish had to clear the regular hiring procedure of NIIT, consisting of a written exam for English language, an aptitude test, and several rounds of interviews.
Initially, NIIT was apprehensive about Manish’s capability to cope with the tough work regimen. Moreover, the company was not aware of the accessibility softwares that he used. He thus started off on a contractual basis.
Manish underwent a two-months training as editor and also went through a certification process instituted by the clients of NIIT. During the training process, he created a large number of ‘Window Eyes’ set files, for efficiently accessing all the formats in which the content was produced by the various teams.
All this hard work did pay in the end as he was made a permanent employee.
Manish says, "starting as an editor was easier than starting off as a technical writer.” Production of online courses required technical writers to handle a lot of graphics and other software, which were not accessible to him.
As an editor, he mostly worked on MS-Word, some dictionary software, and proprietory software, which were all compatible with a screen reader. Apparently, an editors’ post is a specialist position and its entry level English exam is much more difficult than that required for a technical writer.
Later, for a brief period, he worked as a technical writer as well. He managed the work by delegating work that involved graphics to team members.
Manish feels that the role of an ‘Instructional Designer’ is easily accessible to a visually impaired person.
At present, with more than seven years of experience in this genre, he has moved on to software development as senior ‘Software Engineer’ with Sapient Corporation, a multi- national IT consulting company.
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