Technical Wronging

Recently I’ve noticed a reemergence of people asking about technical writing courses and the advisability of investing in such a career.  The people asking almost inevitably have one thing in common – they’re not cut out for technical writing!  Why do I say this? Simple…because the Israeli market is so glutted both with experienced unemployed hitech people (especially technial writers) from the days of the dot com bubble, and inexperienced holders of the same technical writing certificate these questioners are only now considering investing in, that there’s less than no room out there for new technical writers. 

Now forget about having missed the boat (which sailed in the late 90s). At this point the questioner’s essentially considering whether to invest thousands in learning how to sail for the privilege of someday being able to stand on the dock already filled with unemployed sailors hoping that if an ocassional sailboat wanders by that he’ll be the one of hundreds that they’ll hire!  The only exception might be people with a strong technical background and exceptional writing skills.  But for the most part those people already know technical writers personally and understand what they do (having worked with them from the technical side in their places of employment) and go to them directly for advice or search on technical or professional lists for such rather than grope around on general information lists looking for information.

Now don’t misunderstand me.  I’m not blaming or making fun of these people.  I sympathize with them.  After all, these schools, which sprang up like mushrooms during the dot com bubble era, have been trying to sell people for years on the idea that “if you know English you can be a technical writer and earn a nice fat salary check.”  As a result, the market is glutted with technical writing students, both with and without talent, whose main qualification was that their check to pay for the course didn’t bounce.  Once you’ve reached the end of these courses, however, you discover there really aren’t that many jobs available.  I recently saw an ad in which they offered people internships for which you’re expected to pay to work for them!  

I studied at one of these schools, and as a top student (i.e. one of the ones who actually DID get sent to job interviews afterwards which, as I found out, they only do with those students who they feel will best reflect on the school for use in furthering the school’s reputation in the hi-tech world) was even invited to teach at the school afterwards, which I did for a number of months, so I’ve seen the inside of such a school and how it works from the point of view of both student and teacher  

The fact is, most of the people taken by these schools should never have been accepted into the courses in the first place.  The schools take them because it’s big money (and no extra expense to them) for each student they add to a class.  The hi-tech companies (who are glutted as it is and already were when I did the course back during the dot com bubble when there were jobs everywhere relatively) know that’s the case and as a result don’t really want to waste their time on what 9 out of 10 times are people who are barely technically savvy. They’d rather pay more money and get someone with proven experience which is why you’ll see all the ads out there looking for a minimum of 2-3 years experience as a technical writer while no one is offering to give said experience.  Meanwhile there are a few companies who take advantage of this fact and knowing that new techwriters are at the mercy of anyone who’ll give them a chance they take newbies at bottom of the barrel wages and cram them with work knowing the newbies don’t have much choice.  True those people will leave them after 2 years, but as PT Barnum said “there’s a sucker born every minute” and they know they can get more humanities majors who fancy themselves working at hi-tech salaries.  These schools are more than happy to sell the dream to people who don’t know what else to do to make money with their English.

Now I’m sure there are many perfectly nice people out there in the qualify quickly computer school world and I’ve no doubt that most of the schools will at least give you basic technical writing skills and tools.

But if they don’t demand you take a rigid entrance exam to get into the course – beware!

If they tell you that there are lots of jobs out there and we have good connections – beware! 

If they tell you “there’s potentially good money in this field down the road but it will be hell at first and if you’re not tech savvy then don’t think you can make it in the field on your skills in English 101 alone – the country’s full of unemployed experienced techwriters let alone English Majors with techwriting certificates,” that may be a school to consider.

If you already have a technical background you may be able to find yourself a niche, but if not then it’s a caveat emptor period in this field!  If you’re truly convinced this is the field for you, then go for it after first checking out the schools references very carefully.  But if you’re in it because you’re looking at it as a quick easy way to big money don’t bother.  In either case tread carefully, and best of luck to you!