Search results

New section in API documentation course: The Job Market for API technical Writers

by Tom Johnson on Feb 8, 2016
categories: api-doc

I added a new section to my API documentation course called The Job Market for API technical Writers. In this section, I try to elaborate on why knowledge of programming is often listed as a requirement in API documentation jobs, even if you're mainly documenting a REST API.

In postings for API documentation jobs, you’ll often see requirements like this:

“Ability to read code in one or more programming languages, such as Java, C++, or Python.”

Although your core task may be to document a REST API, most likely there will be numerous client implementations in different programming languages that you will also need to document.

The variety of programming languages creates challenges for technical writers, especially when employers want technical writers, from day one, to already be proficient in every language needed. In this new jobs section, I try to dive into this topic with more depth. You can read the new section here: The Job market for API technical writers.

About Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson

I'm an API technical writer based in the Seattle area. On this blog, I write about topics related to technical writing and communication — such as software documentation, API documentation, AI, information architecture, content strategy, writing processes, plain language, tech comm careers, and more. Check out my API documentation course if you're looking for more info about documenting APIs. Or see my posts on AI and AI course section for more on the latest in AI and tech comm.

If you're a technical writer and want to keep on top of the latest trends in the tech comm, be sure to subscribe to email updates below. You can also learn more about me or contact me. Finally, note that the opinions I express on my blog are my own points of view, not that of my employer.