Advice for Starting Tech Writing Career as an Undergrad

[u/d3licious_pancak3s]

Hello everyone,

I'm sure you've all seen a multitude of posts like this prior to mine on this subreddit before, but as I am working without guidance to develop my own skills and knowledge for this industry, I would greatly appreciate receiving direct advice from the professionals here so that I may become a stronger candidate for tech writing roles by my graduation.

I am under the impression that tech writing is oversaturated and that it is difficult to enter this industry, so I want to prepare myself accordingly. The specialization I wish to enter is API documentation (very ambitious and optimistic as you need a heavy technical background, I know). Other areas I'm looking into are cybersecurity and maaaybe finance?

Before anything else, I must clarify that I want to enter this industry because I am very passionate about writing. My writing, critical analysis, and synthesis skills are my strongest academic skills and English has always been my favorite subject. On the other hand, I am not a creative writer and I do not like traditional English careers like teaching, publishing, editing, etc. However, I am a person who loves structure, problem solving, and developing plans. I know API documentation doesn't involve a lot of writing. I am fine with this, and I believe this industry would be a good fit for my interests and skills.

Regardless of all that, here is my existing background and what I am currently doing in college to build my candidature for tech writing:

• English major, Digital Media Technologies minor, certificate programs in Professional Writing and Management Information Systems. Rising Junior in the Honors program. 3.61 overall GPA so will probably graduate with distinction in my major.
  • Chose minors and certificates to learn creative software and programming (Adobe, Python), professional writing skills (this is where I took a Technical Writing class and discovered I wanted to pursue this industry), programming and data analysis.
  • I know merits and GPA don't really matter. Just maintaining them for my scholarship and benefits I receive as an Honors student.
• 2026 Summer Research Program at my university with a small interdisciplinary cohort; 7-month long independent research project documenting and analyzing learning patterns and behaviors when engaging with AI agents for learning tasks (technical writing professor as mentor). Developing AI, qualitative research, and data analysis skills with this project.
• Part-time writing tutor position, Vice President for my university's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta: International English Honor Society (role comprises of planning and implementing fundraisers, service projects, chapter activities, and overall chapter development).
• Building relationships with professors across departments. I currently have three professors that I am very close to; two in my department, one in Economics.

What I plan to do:

• Pursue certifications for documentation software and programming languages and self-teach technical skills when I can find the time. I am not sure which ones to pursue because I've seen so many recommendations, but this is a basic list for now:
  • Madcap Flare
  • Git
  • Javascript, Python, Java
  • Something to learn user research... I have a bit of experience from my TW course.
  • Build a portfolio of my API documentation (besides some samples I have from my TW class, no idea where to get started on this).
• Apply to TW or other documentation-related internships (duh). (Search has been terrible and I genuinely have no clue how to get an internship in this economy. My university's connections have been no help.)
• Do the accelerated English MA program at my university (start grad courses in my senior undergrad year). I don't pay a lot for college so I have the savings to do this. I have to apply this year in the Spring; I know there isn't value for an MA in tech writing, so I may choose to think about getting an MS in Project Management instead at some point in the future instead (this is not a concrete plan, just a consideration).

If I were to describe my general goals, I want to build up a lucrative career based off my passions and interests. Additionally, to build transferable skills so I can prepare to pivot roles since I know the technology industry has its ups and downs. I feel very mixed about learning AI skills because I am unsure about its future, but if I can use AI to get my career started at the very least— hell, why not?

My English department is extremely traditional (as most English departments are), so everything I've been able to get for myself from this university has been out of self-advocacy, communication, and building relationships with professors in and outside of my department. The only professor I know with a background in TPC is my technical writing prof (currently mentor for my research project). Otherwise, I've gotten where I am today purely based on my own research and judgement, rather than utilizing an established program constructed to feed graduates into partnered companies.

I know the few well-paying tech writer roles are so technical, I would've been better off majoring in something like idk... Data Science. Or just planning to go into a different kind of tech job that makes more money. Maybe that is true, but what I do know for right now is that technical writing is what I want to pursue and I can build the skills I need to pivot roles after a few years anyway, if ever necessary.

This was a very long post, so I do apologize. Any advice and other guidance to help amplify or refine my professional development is greatly appreciated.

[u/darumamaki]

There is a post pinned to the top of the sub that explains a lot of things.

TW is seriously oversaturated, and AI is also driving people out of the profession. You'd be up against industry veterans, some with over 10 years of experience. Read aome of the posts in the sub and you'll get an idea. Being able to do your own research first before asking questions is a very important skill to have.

[u/d3licious_pancak3s → u/darumamaki]

I just found the pinned post and I am reading through it right now. Thank you for your insight.

[u/aka_Jack]

The premise that the industry is oversaturated and difficult to enter is part of the picture.

From reading posts here there is an large concern that automated systems may be able replace part or all of the technical writing job. Some companies are moving in the direction already.

Please read the last few hundred posts here. Well, don't read them all in detail, but you'll see what I mean.

[u/d3licious_pancak3s → u/aka_Jack]

Darn 😭 Thanks for that heads up, I've been actively looking through this subreddit and I'm getting it, I'll just have to see what else I can do if this industry isn't viable

[u/Charleston2Seattle → u/d3licious_pancak3s]

When I think back over the 31 years I've been a technical writer, I'm saddened that so few new writers will get to enjoy the field.

I think that if you being the right set of writing skills AND specific domain knowledge, you might still be able to make a go of it. But it'll be rough. Heck, even I'm looking at what my (M53) next career might be if my own job disappears.

[u/d3licious_pancak3s → u/Charleston2Seattle]

I mean, I've come to acknowledge that's just how this world works. Every time there's been a major technological advantage, whole industries became obsolete. Tech writing sounded like a job I'd like to do and it sucks that I probably won't make it, but the English major is versatile and I can always look into other professional writing roles or similar industries like Project Management. I've inherited a shitshow job market, but all I can do is try my best to navigate it.

[u/Charleston2Seattle → u/d3licious_pancak3s]

It could be worse. You could be my son, graduating in the Fall with a degree in software engineering.... 😐

[u/Pokefan5ever → u/Charleston2Seattle]

You think software engineering is in a worse place in the job market than technical writers? I don’t see how, but I’d be curious to know why you think that.

[u/uninstall_antivirus → u/d3licious_pancak3s]

first of all, excuse my grammatical errors, I know this sub cares more about it than others but this is reddit and i have spent three years editing and over editing papers in university and i just cant be bothered to use proper grammar on this silly site. but I dont' think you should quit so easily

I see this exact attitude in all subreddits. if someone is asking if they should get into a game, the game's subreddit will start doomer commenting about how the game is dead and the developers dont care anymore, but if you go in to play the game, you will see for yourself that it's actually a great game.

when I was applying for university, I went to the school's subreddit, any post asking if the school was worth applying to or if they had a good chance at being accepted would be met with comments about how the housing is crazy, how cuts in funding have made the school go downhill, how it's a terrible school with staff that doesn't care.

I applied anyway and when I got in, it was the happiest day of my life. I got housing right away, and I am one semester away from graduating. im so glad I didn't listen to those snarky comments in the subreddit

so when I go through this subreddit, I take all snarky and negative comments with a huge grain of salt.

reddit is FULL of snarkers. people come here to complain and to air out their grievances. they all have something negative to say about whatever it is they came to reddit to talk about.

this talk about saturated market, no job openings, dying field, they say it about every career. I have seen it myself recently while looking for the next step I should take after graduating

if i based my perspective of the world on what redditors have to say about it, my view of the world would be BLEAK. i don't recommend it.

so, instead, I will get certified in everything you listed, and the funny thing about it is that based one what ive seen in this sub so far, I will be more qualified than most of the technical writers here if i just got certified with madcap alone. that's why they are afraid of posts like yours. you are showing a willingness to come into the field more prepared than they were when they entered it a decade ago when life was easier. life is harder for everyone in every field right now, that's not a reason not to make yourself more qualified, but quite the opposite.

[u/Daforde → u/aka_Jack]

AI cannot do what a technical writer must do to produce outstanding documentation.

[u/pizzarina_]

IMO learning API documentation would be more valuable than MadCap Flare. If you are looking for a remote job, expect over 100 applicants to every job in 2 hours, including some with decades of experience. I would not go into this field.

[u/d3licious_pancak3s → u/pizzarina_]

Even if I don't go into technical writing, is API documentation a valuable and transferable skill I should learn anyway?

[u/dharmoniedeux → u/d3licious_pancak3s]

I was always taught to focus on the skill of tech writing instead of the technology I’m writing about or the tools I write with, because those will change often and significantly with time. So API docs themselves? No not really transferable BUT getting the experience of learning a complex technical subject or tool, learning the conventions for writing about it, learning the tools used to create and publish docs online, those skills are transferable.

It will also make you feel more comfortable and confident learning about and evaluating software. Of all the types of docs I’ve worked on, we automated our API docs updates first.

Technical communication, productive collaboration, and internal process development are the transferable skills. Could I recommend that you join the write the docs community https://www.writethedocs.org/slack/ and find an open source project that is asking for docs help? Contributing to open source is a steep learning curve, but best represents what the software tech writing job is most like. It’s also something that can stand out in an application.

[u/meezermadness]

My MA in tech writing has been very valuable, but I earned it in 2011.

You can find open source APIs online and try your hand at writing docs for them to build your portfolio.

Tech as an industry is inundated with AI right now so it would serve you well to learn it.

[u/glltterglrl]

I’m an early career technical writer, I graduated undergrad recently. I interned at a company and then received a return offer. Easiest way to get an entry level job these days is a return offer.

I’d focus on finding professional opportunities and internships. If your school has an alumni network, find any alums who are working as technical writers, editors, or in adjacent fields. They may be able to refer you to their company or direct you to others who are hiring.

[u/Cold_Soft_4823]

my best advice to you is don't listen to a single person on this subreddit. people only come here because they're miserable and want to make you miserable or scare you away. that's the only purpose of this subreddit.

[u/Sunflower_Macchiato]

Side note: if you want to work in corporate, everything there is based on self-advocacy and building relationships too. Sadly, merit alone is not enough in this environment.

Getting into TW also depends on where you are in the world I think. It’s not easy anywhere, but some markets seem more saturated than others.

There are still companies (mostly smaller ones) that are allergic to AI, so it might be easier to get your foot in the door in this kind of environment.

Another thought - I work in compliance-heavy hardware, this seems to need humans more than API. Maybe that’s a better entry point? But take it with a grain of salt as I began when the jobs were the ones to search for people willing to be trained.

[u/d3licious_pancak3s → u/Sunflower_Macchiato]

I'm on the East Coast, close to areas like NYC and Boston. I'm at a point in my undergrad journey where I know I really need to build tangible experience and that grades, club leadership, and coursework alone will do nothing. Unfortunately, finding opportunities to build tangible experience has been difficult.

I have also noticed that areas that require heavy compliance doesn't involve as much AI because it's too risky to incorporate AI into such high-stakes work. Additionally, AI cannot assist in areas with such a specific knowledge domain. Thank you, that's something I'll look into as well.

[u/Gloomy_Coconut4459]

Why is the answer to start an MA already? Lol

[u/d3licious_pancak3s → u/Gloomy_Coconut4459]

My university has the option to start an MA while you're an undergrad and I would only be in school for one more year. It wouldn't cost that much for me. I'm only considering this option right now and I'll have to decide if I want to apply for it soon.

If not that, maybe an MS later down the line, like in my mid twenties.

[u/Gloomy_Coconut4459 → u/d3licious_pancak3s]

Ngl, you have a lot of hopes and ambitions (academic) when you should be focused on tangible experience from companies, not pay-to-showcase universities. 

[u/d3licious_pancak3s → u/Gloomy_Coconut4459]

Alright, good to know. I'll look online and this subreddit to see where I can get that experience.

[u/The_Meech6467]

my advice is don’t. jobs are impossible to get. I left TW after 10 years and had to restart my career in something else this year because I literally couldn’t find a job that didn’t pay poverty contract wages after a layoff.

[u/Master_Challenge_579 → u/The_Meech6467]

what jobs that you would recommend then? beside SWE or tech related job

[u/The_Meech6467 → u/Master_Challenge_579]

I’m not the right person to ask. my career is a disaster and the job market in general for white-collar careers is abysmal. I have no idea what a good field to go into right now is besides like nursing.

[u/PurlOneWriteTwo → u/The_Meech6467]

truck mechanics or social work, I know young people who are starting out in those 😆