TECHNICAL WRITER

Job Definition:

• Information and communications technology professionals conduct research, plan, design, write, test, provide advice and improve information technology systems, hardware, software and related concepts for specific applications; develop associated documentation including principles, policies and procedures; and design, develop, control, maintain and support databases and other information systems to ensure optimal performance and data integrity and security.

Job Description:

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

Duties and Tasks:

• 1) Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
• 2) Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
• 3) Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
• 4) Confer with customer representatives, vendors, plant executives, or publisher to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed for publication.
• 5) Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.
• 6) Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.
• 7) Study drawings, specifications, mockups, and product samples to integrate and delineate technology, operating procedure, and production sequence and detail.
  8) Interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods.
• 9) Observe production, developmental, and experimental activities to determine operating procedure and detail.
• 10) Arrange for typing, duplication, and distribution of material.
• 11) Assist in laying out material for publication.
• 12) Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.
• 13) Review manufacturer’s and trade catalogs, drawings and other data relative to operation, maintenance, and service of equipment.
• 14) Draw sketches to illustrate specified materials or assembly sequence.

Activities:

• 1) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 2) Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• 3) Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• 4) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• 5) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• 6) Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• 7) Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• 8) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• 9) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• 10) Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• 11) Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• 12) Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• 13) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 14) Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• 15) Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• 16) Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Abilities:

• 1) Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• 2) Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• 3) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 4) Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 5) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• 6) Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• 7) 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).
• 8) Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• 9) Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

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.