Favorite Parts of Being a Technical Writer at Global Software Company

My favorite part of my current role is working with people from all over the world. They speak many different native languages, and English as a second language. They are also all smart, perfectionistic, overachieving engineers in many different areas.

They are energetic people with so much to offer. You ask them one question, and they'll explore twelve scenarios. You might wonder what you even asked them, but they'll keep talking. Their minds don't stop. I really like being in places where many cultures work together to do something cool and impact the world. I like being a part of that and helping, as I feel that's where I can make an impact.

I also love to write, learn, and explore other languages and cultures. I'm always curious. I speak Italian, Spanish, and English, which I get to use daily, and it's really fun.

I love things I don't understand. When faced with something I have to write professionally and don't understand, it creates a sense of wonder. You might ask if you'll understand it, but the answer is always yes. You land on your feet when you have to, and it's really challenged me.

I also love that every day is different. I never write the same thing; it's always new subjects, and I'm always learning. This helps my life and trains my focus because writing requires long periods of concentration. You reach a deep focus that's hard to regain if interrupted. You can't just turn it on and off; it's a process to get there.

The more you write, the faster you can get there because words help guide you. You don't have to reimagine everything. That's what we try to help people do: keep things moving quickly so they don't have to reimagine what they've done. We write things down to reach deep thoughts faster.

This is a useful skill for everyday life. If I need to find my main water line, and I've written an article about it, I can reference it. It helps build life skills, perhaps more technical skills that aren't instinctive for me to know or figure out naturally. I can engage with difficult technical concepts in software and hardware and solve problems.

A big part of my job is problem-solving. If you shut down when faced with a problem in this role, you won't last. Every time you face a problem, you have to say, "I don't understand it, but I will." You'll use your resources, take your time, and try different angles until you see progress. Then you stick with it.

Sometimes, when I go through a product or application, I have a conversation with an engineer about something. I help with their design because I'm a new user. I might ask if there's an option for something, and they might say, "You know what, we should make that." That means more work for both of us, but it's a good idea. It's fine when you get involved in the design process.

Sometimes I discover defects. I'll say, "Wait, in this scenario, this happened," and a developer will say, "Oh no, I'll fix that right away." They'll fix it in previous versions too and send out a hotfix. That's cool and fun.

I'm a huge people person, and many are shocked I'm a tech writer because I talk a lot. I love people, and writing is notoriously an introverted thing. Gathering details and conducting interviews is easier if you're a little extroverted. However, I write with many introverted people who do a phenomenal job with different strategies.

Based on my personality type, this advice for tech writing might not be for everyone, but it's one perspective. For extroverts or energetic people who need to do a lot of writing and concentrating, you have to get all your energy out before and after the day so you can sit still. Before work, I usually run, and after work, I go rock climbing or to yoga. I'm a very active person, but to maintain my concentration, I have to do things in my extracurricular time to reach that place of deep focus. It doesn't just happen.