HR interviews a technical author and learns a few lessons

Scene: An HR Manager’s Office

The room is bright and welcoming, with a small stack of documents on the HR manager’s desk and a freshly poured cup of coffee. Margaret, the HR manager, looks ready to ace this interview with her clipboard and a slightly forced air of confidence. Sitting opposite is Alex, the technical author. Poised, he wears the expression of someone who has corrected people before many times.

Act 1: The HR Manager’s Education Begins

Margaret (smiling brightly): So, Alex, tell me—why do you think you’d be a good fit as a content writer here?

Alex (blinks, amused): Well, I wouldn’t. I’m not applying to be a content writer; I’m here for the technical author role.

Margaret (quickly flips through notes, frowning): Oh! Yes, yes, of course. Same thing. Writing is writing?

Alex (chuckling): Not quite. Content writers focus on marketing and engagement—think blog posts, newsletters, and web copy. My job involves creating precise, user-focused documentation, like manuals, technical guides, and online help systems.

Margaret: Ah, so, like a journalist for engineers?

Alex (smiling patiently): Not exactly. I work with subject matter experts to translate complex technical information into clear, concise documentation for end users. Think less “breaking news” and more “how to fix the thing that just broke.”

Margaret (scribbling furiously on her clipboard): Got it. So, you write instructions?

Alex: Well, instructions are part of it. I also structure information, manage document versions, ensure compliance with standards, and make content accessible to different audiences. It’s writing, organising, and interpreting technical jargon into something useful.

Margaret: You’d be great at those IKEA furniture manuals!

Alex (with a grin): If IKEA wants diagrams that don’t require divine intervention to understand, then yes, I would be.

Act 2: The Content Writer’s Arrival

Margaret (looking flustered): I’m going to bring in Sophia, our content writer. She knows all about writing roles. Sophia! Could you join us for a moment?

(Sophia, a cheerful content writer with a can-do attitude, enters the room with her notepad.)

Sophia: Hi, Alex! Welcome! So, Margaret tells me you’re a writer too. I bet we’ve got loads in common.

Alex: We might—though our roles are pretty different.

Sophia (nodding knowingly): Oh. I mean, I get the tech stuff. SEO, catchy headlines, call-to-action phrases—it’s all about grabbing attention, right?

Alex (gently): Actually, it’s quite the opposite. My work isn’t about grabbing attention but clarity and usability. My readers aren’t looking for a catchy headline; they’re looking for answers, fast.

Sophia: Ah, so you write FAQs?

Alex: That’s one small part of it. I create detailed user manuals, API documentation, and troubleshooting guides. I also manage document workflows, ensure version control, and work with developers to understand the systems I document.

Sophia (looking overwhelmed): Oh, like a tech-savvy journalist?

Alex: Not quite. My job involves interpreting what developers say. When they tell me, “It just works.” I turn that into step-by-step instructions anyone can follow. It’s less about storytelling and more about problem-solving.

Act 3: The Technical Author Lays It Out

Margaret (rubbing her temples): I need a flowchart for all these writing roles. So, Alex, how does your role differ from Sophia’s?

Alex (leaning forward, animated): Sure! Let me break it down:

• Content Writer (Sophia’s Role): Focuses on marketing and engagement and uses creativity to hook readers and drive traffic. Goals are about brand voice and visibility.
• Technical Author (My Role): I focus on accuracy and usability. We translate complex concepts into clear documentation for end users or technical teams. Our goals are clarity, compliance, and functionality.

Sophia: But I also write about products—how is that different?

Alex: You write about products to make them appealing, while I write about products to make them usable. For example, you could highlight a phone’s excellent camera, while I’d explain how to use it to take clear pictures.

Margaret (laughing nervously): This makes my job description look inadequate.

Alex (smiling): That’s okay. You’re not alone—people often underestimate the role. But I can assure you, technical authorship is far more than just “writing.”

Sophia (throwing up her hands, laughing): Okay, you win. I thought I had it figured out, but I’d lose my mind trying to do what you do.

Margaret (nodding vigorously): Same here. Alex, we’ve established that we need you more than we even realised. You’re hired—if only to save us from trying to understand any of this ourselves.

Curtain falls.

Margaret and Sophia exchange grateful looks as Alex grins, knowing he has won another battle for the honour of technical authorship.