Opinions On Online Tech Writing Courses

Q: I am considering taking one or more online technical writing courses. Here are my questions: 1. What is your opinion in general of the value of online tech writing courses? 2. Do you have any opinions/comments on the courses offered by the following: (a) http://www.techwriter-certification.com (b) http://www.online-learning.com 3. I have around 10 years of editorial, communications, and writing experience, but no specific education in tech writing (I have an English degree). In the past, I have found that people refuse to consider me for a tech writing position, even though I have years of very closely related education and work experience. Do you think a few online tech writing courses would help me overcome this? 4. Also: can anyone recommend any online courses specifically devoted to marketing communications writing?

A: First, people with 10 years or more of _tech writing_ experience are not being considered these days. There is a huge glut of talent on the market right now. Second, the best technical writers are as good at the "technical" part as they are at the "writing" part. From what I've seen of certificate programs (and this probably holds true for online as well as brick-and-mortar), they focus on how to write and edit technical material for audiences who need to find information, plus teaching how to use one or more industry-standard authoring tools. Failure to provide a solid grounding in the "technical" side of the discipline would be a significant shortcoming in any program. Certificate programs also tend to lack internship programs, which provide valuable field experience. Good writing is only the beginning. I was writing for more than 10 years, and doing it well without the benefit of any degree, before I even entered a Technical Communication degree program. I think hiring managers are getting more

focused; used to be few courses would get you hired not only as a technical writer, but as QA, a programmer, etc. Warm bodies were needed to fill intense demand. No more. Ask yourself if a "few online" courses would qualify you to ba a programmer, an architect, a stockbroker, a nurse, or any number of other fields that require a high level of training, sometimes in multiple areas, to do well. That's not to say it can't be done. But technical writing is a very different discipline than punching out a feature article for publication. It's a career, not a hobby. Use that thought to help drive your decison about what you want to do and how best to undertake it.