If you are new to the STC, then you have probably noticed that every member you speak to has a different description of what they do at work. So if you’re just starting out in the technical communications field, how will you ever figure out what basic skills potential employers are looking for? Take heart! There are key competencies that cut across all of the necessary skill sets, whether those of graphic artists, web designers, editors, or user-guide specialists.
Standard courses in technical writing are very good for teaching the basic skills you’ll need to function in most workplaces, but there are deeper core competencies that will give you a ticket into any world that interests you. Two of the most important ones are the abilities to communicate clearly and be creative within any situation in which you find yourself. Unfortunately, these are skills that are not easy to teach in the classroom, but that you must cultivate in your life until they become habit.
The single most important skill in technical communication is the ability to communicate clearly. Whether you are documenting a procedure for a rocket launch sequence or inking a cartoon about dental health, your readers need to understand the message. It follows that when you are looking for work, you must communicate clearly at all times throughout the interview process. After all, if you can’t communicate clearly at that point, why would an employer take a chance with you? And, if you are a strong communicator, you may not need much, or even any, specialized technical knowledge to your credit. A good interviewer will see that you know how to prepare to get your ideas across and you can communicate your knowledge effectively.
A second, very important skill in technical communications is the ability to respond creatively to new information and situations. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: change is the only constant, and the only available protection against change is to constantly generate new ideas. This ability in an employee can be the difference between the success and failure of a business. In technical communications, it’s especially important to be responsive to your curiosity and then respond creatively to the new information and situations in which you find yourself.
However, creativity is hard for an interviewer to quantify, and some don’t even try. Sometimes interviewers will tell you they are looking for tool skill sets, as though someone trained to swing a hammer will never be able to figure out how to sink a screw. The interviewer wearing these kinds of blinders won’t see beyond the whitespace on your resume, and you’ll be scratched from the candidate list — unless, of course, you take action and find a way to communicate creatively.
Begin by asking good questions that show you are genuinely curious about the work available, and then follow up with examples of your creative responses to new situations in the past. If you are light on previous experience at this stage in your career, offer creative ideas about how you might define and approach your first tasks. Show the interviewer that you can provide communications value, even in the interview!
If you do nothing else, carry on an engaging and creative conversation that shows you can communicate clearly and are curious about the world around you. Whether they articulate it or not, good interviewers are really looking for a type of person, regardless of any particular skill set. They are seeking that spark of clarity, intelligence, adaptability, and, most important, the ability to communicate clearly and creatively. They are looking for someone they believe will rise to the challenges that the work presents. These are qualities you can develop and demonstrate regardless of your technical background or skill set.
Good technical communicators are a valuable commodity. Any interviewer wants you to be the greatest hire they’ve ever made — so use the interview to show them that you will be!
