You’re a technical writer who wants to advance. How can you make your career aspirations a reality?

1 Assess your strengths and gaps

The first step to advancing your career is to evaluate your current skills and identify the areas where you need to improve. You can use self-assessment tools, feedback from peers and managers, or online courses to assess your proficiency in various aspects of technical writing, such as writing style, document design, user research, project management, or tools and technologies. Once you have a clear picture of your strengths and gaps, you can create a learning plan to address them and track your progress.

2 Expand your network and visibility

The second step to advancing your career is to expand your network and visibility in the technical writing community. You can do this by joining professional associations, attending events and webinars, participating in online forums and groups, or contributing to blogs and podcasts. Networking and visibility can help you learn from other experts, find mentors and sponsors, discover new opportunities, and showcase your work and achievements.

3 Seek new challenges and responsibilities

The third step to advancing your career is to seek new challenges and responsibilities that can help you grow and demonstrate your value. You can do this by volunteering for complex or high-impact projects, taking on leadership or mentoring roles, proposing new ideas or initiatives, or exploring new domains or industries. Seeking new challenges and responsibilities can help you develop new skills, gain recognition and trust, and increase your confidence and satisfaction.

4 Update your portfolio and resume

The fourth step to advancing your career is to update your portfolio and resume to reflect your current skills, achievements, and goals. You can do this by selecting and organizing your best work samples, highlighting your accomplishments and results, and customizing your resume for different positions or clients. Updating your portfolio and resume can help you showcase your expertise, stand out from the competition, and attract the attention of potential employers or customers.

5 Negotiate your salary and benefits

The fifth step to advancing your career is to negotiate your salary and benefits to match your skills, experience, and value. You can do this by researching the market rates and trends, preparing a list of your contributions and impact, and practicing your negotiation skills and strategies. Negotiating your salary and benefits can help you earn what you deserve, increase your motivation and loyalty, and improve your work-life balance.

6 Keep learning and improving

The sixth and final step to advancing your career is to keep learning and improving your technical writing skills and knowledge. You can do this by staying updated on the latest trends and best practices, taking courses or certifications, reading books and articles, or joining online communities and challenges. Keeping learning and improving can help you maintain your competitive edge, adapt to changing needs and expectations, and achieve your career aspirations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?