Re: What constitutes a senior tech writer and how to get there?

["Wing, Michael J" <mjwing -at- INGR -dot- COM>]

We have four classifications/levels of Technical Writers.  The levels differ
in ability, experience, work duties, pay range, and the amount of
supervision required.  The levels are as follows:

Technical Writer:  This is usually an entry-level writer.  However, I've
known a few writers who have not progressed past this level despite several
years of experience. The Technical Writer works under direct supervision.
Their work is usually assigned to them by a higher level writer.  Typically,
they work on a section of a single project or small parts of a few projects.


Senior Technical Writer:  This writer works under general supervision.  They
usually receive work assigned through management.  They occasionally confer
with vendors, technical, and marketing people.  This writer has some input
on document design, content, style, and so forth and may be assigned to
research these areas.  Typically, it requires 4 years experience plus proven
ability to reach this level.


Principal Technical Writer:  This writer works under limited supervision.
Their work is completed in compliance with deadlines negotiated with
management.  They frequently confer with vendors, technical, and marketing
people.  This level writer can assign tasks to lower level writers and has a
large say-so in document design, content, style, and so forth.  Typically,
it requires 8 to 12 years experience plus proven ability to reach this
level.

Staff Writer:  This writer works independently.  Their work is completed in
compliance with deadlines negotiated with management.  They regularly confer
with vendors, technical, and marketing people.  This level writer can assign
tasks to lower level writers.  Often, this writer is technical lead on
projects and has personnel assigned to them for their projects.  This may
include Illustrators, Trainers, Testers, Web Masters, along with other
writers.  Many times a writer of this level has to have additional
non-writing skills.  In my case, I can program.

A Staff Writer usually is given "carte blanc" to define a project, design
the document, determine the document medium, decide on tools, and so forth.
They can usually delete, add, and modify material that is to be covered
without management approval.  Typically, it requires greater than 12 years
experience plus proven ability to reach this level.

Mike


Michael Wing (mailto:mjwing -at- ingr -dot- com)
Staff Writer/ Web Applications Developer
Intergraph Corporation; Huntsville, Alabama
http://maps.intergraph.com


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