Texas Tech University Chapter
Career Pathways
Here are some possible career paths for a technical communication degree...
Technical Writer
Description
Duties
Technical writers, also called technical communicators, prepare instruction manuals, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. They also develop, gather, and disseminate technical information among customers, designers, and manufacturers.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Determine the needs of end users of technical documentation
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Study product samples and talk with product designers and developers
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Work with technical staff to make products easier to use and thus need fewer instructions
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Organize and write supporting documents for products
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Use photographs, drawings, diagrams, animation, and charts that increase users’ understanding
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Select appropriate medium for message or audience, such as manuals or online videos
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Standardize content across platforms and media
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Gather usability feedback from customers, designers, and manufacturers
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Revise documents as new issues arise
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Furthermore, technical writers must possess both writing and technical abilities. Often, technical writers have an understanding of diverse fields, as they must be experts in using language and have a very specific technical knowledge of whatever kind of document they are working on.
Applying their knowledge of the user of the product, technical writers may serve as part of a team conducting usability studies to help improve the design of a product that is in the prototype stage. Some technical writers help write grant proposals for research scientists and institutions.
Content Manager
Duties
Description
Content managers are responsible for a website’s content. A content manager’s responsibilities include the strategic planning and creation of digital content as well as updating content in a content management system (CMS). Content managers ensure the right content will appear at the right time at the right place on the site they supervise. The job includes editing text and images so that they appear on the website at the optimum size and quality.
Using content management software, such as Typo3, WordPress or Drupal, is central to the tasks a content manager must complete. In each case, the application’s primary function is the preparation and uploading of digital content to the Internet in the form of text, graphics or videos.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Developing a content strategy
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Planning and coordinating content
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Creating content
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Updating CMS content
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Monitoring and controlling content
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Optimizing content
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These tasks have a lot in common with the work of editors and digital media designers.
Alongside editorial experience, a content manager should have at least basic HTML knowledge, an understanding of image and video processing, plus SEO and marketing expertise and a familiarity with social media channels.
Copy Editor
Description
Duties
Copy editors are often much more involved in the research process than their title allows. In general, they are expected to be both skilled researchers and writers. Overall, the main goal of copy editors is “to remove any obstacles between the reader and what the author wants to convey,” (Butcher 2). This means that the gifted copy editor is a perfectionist who will check and re-check small details to ensure accuracy while also keeping a non-antagonistic relationship with the author or reporter.
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While it may seem that a copy editor must be an expert in whatever topic is being edited, it is more helpful if the copy editor is as informed as the general public, to ensure that the writing will make sense to all readers. Copy editors are skilled researchers and writers who are the last line between the text and publication.
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Copy editors usually work on company publication projects, such as ads, annual reports, books, brochures, grant proposals, Internet content, journal abstracts and articles, magazine and newspaper articles, newsletters, patient education materials, posters, press releases, regulatory documents, scripts, and training materials
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Serve as writers, editors, proofreaders, or project managers for publications
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Conduct research, statistical analysis, and fact-checking work and research done by subject matter experts
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Create publication layout and designs based on successful visual rhetoric techniques and methods
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Change word choices, abbreviations, and punctuation to indicate the meaning the author intents
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Check that no quotes or illustrations infringe upon copyrights
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Ensure that illustrations, tables, and the bibliography are correctly referenced within the document
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Fact checking can play a role in copy editing, but checking facts is typically a separate job (Walsh). The normal tasks of copy editors include remedying grammatical errors, checking basic facts, setting proper typesetting codes, and rewriting pieces of the editorial.
Graphic Designer
Description
Duties
Graphic designers are hired by clients who wish to portray themselves, their company, or their products through visual communication. They design everything from fliers to magazine layouts to entire websites. It is essential for graphic designers to know how to manipulate color and the basic principles of design in order to appeal to the audience. Graphic designers must also be proficient in computer technology and the latest software.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Prepares work to be accomplished by gathering information and materials.
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Plans concept by studying information and materials.
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Illustrates concept by designing rough layout of art and copy regarding arrangement, size, type size and style, and related aesthetic concepts.
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Obtains approval of concept by submitting rough layout for approval.
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Prepares finished copy and art by operating typesetting, printing, and similar equipment; and purchasing from vendors.
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Prepares final layout by marking and pasting up finished copy and art.
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Completes projects by coordinating with outside agencies, art services, printers, etc.
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Maintains technical knowledge by attending design workshops; reviewing professional publications; and participating in professional societies.
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Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
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It is essential to be up to date with the latest graphic design software; however, this technology changes constantly. You must have the ability to adapt quickly to new technologies. This ability is essential, since software companies frequently update their packages, and new software emerges all the time.
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Content Marketer
Description
Duties
The Content Marketer is an individual who has a deep passion for telling the business brand’s story in order to educate the business’s audiences across a breadth of media and content forms.The role of the Content Marketer requires a person who is able to work in, and thrive, in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
The Content Marketer also has a high level of creativity blended with a passion for driving change in the business through technology. The Content Marketer is also highly familiar with the best trends and practices in SEO, site development, and social media marketing. The role of the Content Marketer is also occupied by a person with a high level of creativity, project management skills, and attention to detail.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Build and manage a rich content/editorial calendarthat attracts a qualified audience to our owned properties (including blog posts, whitepapers, ebooks, reports, infographics, etc.).
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Grow new leads, including marketing-qualified leads, by converting site traffic through calls-to-action, landing pages, and lead generation content (including offers).
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Optimize marketing automation and lead nurturing processes through email, content, and social channels.
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Establish closed-loop analytics with sales to understand how our inbound marketing activity turns into customers, and continually refine our process to convert customers.
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Alongside SEO and marketing expertise and a familiarity with social media channels, the Content Marketer also collaborates with the Content Editors and the Marketing team in defining and creating resources and new content that supports segment specific marketing programs and enhances the business/product’s market awareness for the purpose of driving sales leads, and ultimately helping in sales growth.
Media Specialist
Description
Duties
Media specialists assist schools, libraries, and businesses with educational and training presentations. They help teachers and administrators use visual and audio techniques to enhance a class curriculum or business deliverable, and are accomplished at leveraging films, video and audiotapes, photographs, and software programs.
Media specialists help users with cameras, camcorders, film projectors, slide projectors, recording equipment, and VCR/DVD/CD/cassette players. Regardless of the institution or technology used, media specialists keep current on developments in media and learning methods. They regularly attend conventions and conferences to learn about the newest software and advancements, and are very adaptable to change.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Develop policies about media use help teachers plan programs for classes
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Conduct workshops on the use of media in the classroom serve as a resource for understanding the various types of equipment and availability throughout the organization
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Perform basic equipment maintenance
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In the business field, media specialists train workers and know how best to distribute information to designated audiences (internal and external), such as a public service announcement.
User Experience Designer
Description
Duties
A UX designer’s role is directly involved in the process of making a product useful, usable and enjoyable for its users. As a UX designer, you should consider the Why, What and How of product use. The Why involves the users’ motivations for adopting a product, whether they relate to a task they wish to perform with it or to values and views which users associate with the ownership and use of the product. The What addresses the things people can do with a product—its functionality. Finally, the How relates to the design of functionality in an accessible and aesthetically pleasant way. UX designers start with the Why before determining the What and then, finally, the How in order to create products that users can form meaningful experiences with. In software designs, you will need to ensure the product’s “substance” comes through an existing device and offers a seamless, fluid experience.
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It would be the UX designer’s role to combine desk-based and field research to get a full picture of who they are designing for. This might include reviewing what the current website or product has to offer, interviewing existing users to look for opportunities and pain points, and doing competitor research to see what else is out there.
These tasks will enable the UX designer to pinpoint the core features needed for the Minimum Viable Product and start drafting some initial personas. For example, with foodies the core features might be a menu, ability to make online reservations and a branch finder.
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A UX designer’s responsibilities can vary dramatically from company to company and sometimes even from project to project within one company.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Product Research
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Creating Personas and Scenarios
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Information Architecture (IA)
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Creating Wireframes
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Prototyping
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Product Testing
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Besides technical and design skills like wireframing, prototyping and interpreting data and feedback, UX designers also need certain “soft” skills. Skills such as adaptability, communication, problem-solving and teamwork are all essential soft skills.
As a UX designer, it’s important that you can collaborate effectively with those around you — from clients and stakeholders to developers and fellow designers, all the way through to the end user.
Public Relations Specialist
Description
Duties
A Public Relations (PR) Specialist spreads information via media (TV, radio, internet, newspapers, etc). Their purpose is to create and maintain a favorable public image for their employer or client. They write material for media releases, plan and direct public relations programs, and raise funds for their organizations.
A PR Specialist might also spend time writing newsletters to keep past and present customers in the loop of a company's activities. Planning special events is another strategy used to target an audience that a business wants to speak to.
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People in the public relations field analyze the public perception of a company and decipher how it might positively or negatively impact the company. Those who work in the public relations field deal with a company's policy decisions, their courses of communication and action, and consider public scrutiny and the company’s social or citizenship responsibilities.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Leading and growing high-profile social media initiatives
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Drafting press releases, media alerts, and ongoing client correspondence
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Outstanding written skills with significant experience in writing news releases, media talking points, scripts, press statements, etc.
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Capability to create multi-media presentations that tell a persuasive story
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Strategic and problem solving ability; can identify the source of problem, impact of the problem as it relates to other functions, its impact on stakeholders, options for resolutions etc.
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Strong client-service mentality and ability to anticipate, set and manage expectations
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Strong understanding of news media
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Alongside the duties listed above, in PR, it is imperative to establish and nurture strong relationships with key media outlets.
Acquisitions Editor
Description
Duties
Also known as acquiring or commissioning editors, acquisitions editors are responsible for reviewing manuscripts, commissioning authors for specific publications, and deciding whether a manuscript is marketable. They are the headhunters of the literary world.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Recruit new, independent, or already established authors to work with the company.
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Work with the publishing house to acquire new material for publication
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Creating content.
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Pitch the prospective works to the rest of the editorial staff for approval to advance the editing process.
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Solicit i.e. bring in submissions to be evaluated.
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Evaluate i.e. Reading manuscripts and deciding which ones would be viable publishing options.
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Purchase i.e. Negotiating a deal with an agent, author, or author’s legal representation to purchase the rights to a book.
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Edit i.e. Work with the author to correct the manuscript, and make suggestions to prepare a book for release.
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Acquisitions editors' skills can be learned, but truly successful editors have an intuition that separates them from average editors. Intuition is the ability to not only discern what is popular in the market, but to foresee what the next big thing is. This aspect is not something that can be learned.
Professor of Technical Communication
Description
Duties
A professor/Instructor of technical communication will have areas of expertise that might include usability and user-experience, data visualization and analysis, digital media, including web design, content development, game design, grant writing, or writing in technical and scientific disciplines.
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This type of occupation usually prefers that candidates have a PhD in English or a related field, preferably with a concentration in technical communication or rhetoric and composition.
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Typical responsibilities include:
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Developing and teaching courses in professional and technical communication for advanced undergraduate students and professional Master's students.
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Teaching courses in the Writing Program (which includes the first-year course, Writing at the Research University, and specialized writing in the disciplines courses).
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Teaching courses for other concentrations within major in English and Comparative Literature or Rhetoric.
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Other skills might include technical skills related to expertise (professional design tools, development platforms, etc.), and proficiency in a programming language (such as Python or R) is a plus.