The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its newest Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) in December and “Technical Writer” has its own chapter for the very first time.

Technical Writer

One of my many hats includes being a technical writer, also called technical communicator, who puts technical information into easily understandable language or a graphic.

You can sometimes find me leading a team conducting usability studies to help improve the design of a product that is in the prototype stage.

But the best part of this type of work are the advances in laptop computers, video conferencing, Google Docs, and wireless communications permit me to work from home, an office, or on the road.

Many view me a communication guru, but I’m just your average – detail oriented, curious, persistent in solving problems, self-motivated, and able to understand complex material and explain it clearly – type of guy.

If this sounds like you too – consider looking for work as a technical writer – jobs are expected to grow 18 percent, or faster than the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018.