Technical Writers

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Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

tasks jobzones knowledge skills abilities work_activities work_context interests work_styles work_values

Tasks

  • Review manufacturer's and trade catalogs, drawings and other data relative to operation, maintenance, and service of equipment.

  • Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.

  • Draw sketches to illustrate specified materials or assembly sequence.

  • Assist in laying out material for publication.

  • Arrange for typing, duplication, and distribution of material.

  • Observe production, developmental, and experimental activities to determine operating procedure and detail.

  • Interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods.

  • Study drawings, specifications, mockups, and product samples to integrate and delineate technology, operating procedure, and production sequence and detail.

  • Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.

  • Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.

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Job Zone

  • Name: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

  • Experience: A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

  • Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

  • Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

  • Svp range: (7.0 to < 8.0)

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Knowledge

Browse Knowledge

  • English Language
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Clerical
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

  • Education and Training
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • Computers and Electronics
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • Communications and Media
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • Engineering and Technology
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Administration and Management
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Sales and Marketing
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • Law and Government
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

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Skills

Browse Skills

  • Writing
    Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

  • Reading Comprehension
    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

  • Active Listening
    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Coordination
    Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

  • Active Learning
    Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

  • Speaking
    Talking to others to convey information effectively.

  • Learning Strategies
    Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

  • Critical Thinking
    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

  • Monitoring
    Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

  • Time Management
    Managing one's own time and the time of others.

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Abilities

Browse Abilities

  • Written Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

  • Written Comprehension
    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

  • Oral Comprehension
    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Oral Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Near Vision
    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

  • Information Ordering
    The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • Deductive Reasoning
    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

  • Inductive Reasoning
    The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

  • Fluency of Ideas
    The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

  • Category Flexibility
    The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

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Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Telephone
    How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

  • Electronic Mail
    How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

  • Face-to-Face Discussions
    How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

  • Spend Time Sitting
    How much does this job require sitting?

  • Freedom to Make Decisions
    How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
    How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

  • Coordinate or Lead Others
    How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?

  • Contact With Others
    How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

  • Work With Work Group or Team
    How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

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Interests

Browse Interests

  • Artistic
    Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

  • Investigative
    Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

  • Realistic
    Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

  • Enterprising
    Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • Conventional
    Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

  • Social
    Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

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Work Styles

  • Adaptability/Flexibility
    Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

  • Cooperation
    Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

  • Persistence
    Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

  • Stress Tolerance
    Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

  • Innovation
    Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

  • Independence
    Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

  • Initiative
    Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

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Work Values

Browse Work Values

  • Achievement-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

  • Ability Utilization
    Workers on this job make use of their individual abilities.

  • Achievement
    Workers on this job get a feeling of accomplishment.

  • Creativity
    Workers on this job try out their own ideas.

  • Responsibility
    Workers on this job make decisions on their own.

  • Working Conditions
    Workers on this job have good working conditions.

  • Independence-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

  • Company Policies and Practices
    Workers on this job are treated fairly by the company.

  • Activity
    Workers on this job are busy all the time.

  • Security
    Workers on this job have steady employment.

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