How do I Get Promoted?
The safest strategy for a path to above-average pay rates is to establish a career as generalist. That way you can always fall back on less glamorous position when times get tough. Meanwhile, select some key areas of knowledge that particularly interest you and learn all you can about them. Try to get jobs that give you exposure to those areas, even if you have to take lower-paying positions or do volunteer work. Building a career as a guru is definitely a long-term strategy.
There are a few freelance web sites around that give you the chance to bid on work that may be outside of your normal mainstream. However, you have to give potential employers a reason to choose you ahead of other applicants, so you must work on building a portfolio.
Obviously you can only concentrate on a few areas of expertise, which makes the selection crucial. You don't want to invest time and money studying a technology that is already obsolete before you get into the market place.
Technical writers who have programming knowledge are always in demand and attract well above average pay rates. But which language? Make sure that you are familiar with at least one object-oriented language. Most IT industry employers would probably recommend Java. Visual Basic is easier, but restricted to the WindowsTM environment. C++ is popular for many platforms including embedded micro-controllers (i.e. high-tech custom electronic devices) but is more difficult to learn.
If you already have skills from another career, consider ways that they can be used to enhance your value as a technical writer. Perhaps your knowledge can be put to good use by developing more effective workplace documentation.
As technical writing becomes increasingly integrated with product design and corporate branding, processes are tending to become more complex. Often they involve content management and single sourcing. This has opened up some opportunities for consulting in the area of process and tools. Savvy technical writers with 10+ years of diverse experience are potentially well-placed to satisfy this need. However, there are many challenges invloved, e.g. informating clients that they actually need such a service, and that the consulting fees are a good long-term investment.
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