emerging roles and hot markets for tomorrow’s tech writers (7/2012)
DESCRIPTION
To command top dollar, Technical Writers need to stay current with trends in the tech industry. This presentation offers a recruiter's anecdotal insights into which industry sectors are creating most demand for (qualified) technical writers, and names sectors where it's more likely you'll earn a lot less or even see your job offshored. For context, this presentation was prepared and delivered in the Spring and Summer of 2012. Things change. As of 1/2013 (when I posted this to SlideShare and LinkedIn), demand from technology companies in the analytics and big data markets was even hotter than a year earlier, while mobile, social, and advertising seems to have cooled considerably. As always, I welcome feedback to the email address listed in the presentation itself.TRANSCRIPT
Emerging Roles and Hot Markets for Tomorrow’s Tech Writers
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Context and Disclaimers
I recruit content developers in Silicon Valley
What kinds of company need me?
Credibility is my motivator
Skills and experience are not enough
These are organized observations, not empirical research
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hot Industry Niches for SF Bay Area Content Developers
Data Analytics
IP Security
Big Data (Hadoop, MapReduce, NoSQL, etc)
Mobile/GIS (iOS, Android)
SaaS-ified apps
Data Center optimization/Virtualization/Cloud
Open Source
Social
Advertising
Games/Entertainment
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Tepid Niches
SQL/Data Warehousing/Business Intelligence
Enterprise applications (non-SaaS)
Search
Development Tools
Content Translation/Localization/Internationalization technology
Medical devices
Biotech/Pharma
Storage (SAN/NAS technology)
Networking (including videoconferencing) – non-cloud
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Not-so-Hot Niches, pt 1
Finance/Insurance
CRM
Semiconductors/EDA
PCs, tablets, smartphones (hardware)
Peripherals
Manufacturing (most)
Government
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Not-so-Hot Niches, pt 2
Healthcare
Law
Utilities
Infrastructure (transportation, etc)
Education
Publishing
Graphics (hardware, software)
Clean/green tech
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Desirable Intangible Skills/Experience
Understanding of business goals and model
Entrepreneurial experience
Understanding of audience’s context, needs, and priorities
Ability to visualize and design customized content deliverables
Understanding of translation/localization
Experience making a business case for content initiatives
Understanding of tools
Project management and consensus-building skills
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Desirable Empirical Skills/Experience
HTML5, EPUB3, or iBooks Author. IOW, eBooks conversion and delivery
XML, XSL, XSLT, XSL-FO, DITA, DocBook, structured authoring tools
Arbortext Editor (formerly "Epic") and XMetaL Author, and (to a much
lesser extent) Structured FrameMaker, Author-it, and MadCap Flare
Video production (iMovie, etc) and/or screencasting experience
(Captivate, Articulate, Camtasia, Presenter, etc.)
Wiki implementation experience
Interface/user-experience (UX) design, especially for mobile applications
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Technical Skills & Experience – what’s valuable?
Q: Is your role a money-maker?
Today’s most valuable skills generate profits
The rest are redundant or offshore-able, and often disrespected
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Consistently Hot TC Roles
Developer-oriented content creation (API references, developer tutorials)
Video (scripting, creation) – not just scriptwriting, podcasting, vlogging
UX Design
Structured Content Design/Migration (part of “Content Strategist” work)
Others?
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Not-so-Hot TC Roles
Publications Manager
Editor
Proofreader, Indexer, Formatter
End-user doc (for consumers and non-technical audiences)
System/Network administration doc
Proposal Writer
Business Analyst
Trainer (non-technical, but in recent years also the technical variant)
Instructional Designer (non-technical)
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
How to Get Hot (a One-Page Primer)
Avoid academe
Download (and immerse yourself in) trial versions of your niche’s tools
Participate in open-source projects
Build a portfolio online
Study how others do it, then emulate
Intern or sub-contract – or just volunteer (for a written reference)
Informational interviews (solicited via LinkedIn)
Sell your services to very young companies
Network!
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
“Upsold” Variants on Core TC Skills, pt 1
Content Strategist (cf Information Architect)
Content Marketer
Community Liaison
Corporate Storyteller
Toolsmith (for wikis, structured content authoring/migrations, mobile
content, content management, etc)
User Experience (UX) Designer (not UX Engineer)
Terminology Manager
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
“Upsold” Variants on Core TC Skills, pt 2
User Assistance (UA) expert
Content Manager (SharePoint administrator, process/workflow optimizer)
SEO expert
Niche Analyst/Blogger/Tech Gadfly/Content Curator
Conference Organizer
Ghost Tweeter
Demo Builder (involves scriptwriting, animation, and marketing)
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sample Successor Careers
Business Analyst
Project Manager
Program Manager
Engagement Manager
Marketing Communications Manager
Corporate Communications Manager
Localization Manager
Executive Communicator (speechwriting, spokesperson work)
Technical Sales (including recruiting)
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.
Wanna talk?
Andrew Davis, recruiter
408-395-8178 ext. 105
www.contentrules.com/jobs
© 2012. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.