If you are a journalist, engineer, teacher, software developer, or other working professional who may be thinking about a career move into technical writing, then here are SEVEN steps to help you get off to a fast start:

  1. “Functionalize” your resume to emphasize your communication experience–and make your career objective clear.
  2. Consider enrolling in a technical writing certificate program or individual writing course study (options include: University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State Mankato, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Normandale Community College, and Society for Technical Communication).
  3. Update your software skills immediately—start with the Adobe Suite (courses offered by Lynda.com, and Science Museum of Minnesota.
  4. Build a paper and on-line portfolio of samples of your past work.
  5. Join the STC (Society for Technical Communication), AMWA (American Medical Writer’s Association), and/or PEN (Professional Editors Network).
  6. Start attending networking events and job fairs, talking with professional peers-family-friends, researching on-line.
  7. Contact JPG for guidance and advice on careers in technical communication.