Essential Strategies, Methods, Knowledge, and Resources for Professional Development for Technical Communicators

Abstract

Professional development is a challenge for practitioners of all levels no matter the discipline, and professional development within technical communication presents a formidable challenge which has been understudied. The goal of this research has been to explore how technical communicators may accomplish professional development when entering an unfamiliar field or industry and to provide them with a framework with which to approach professional development. This research was accomplished through a qualitative mixed-method approach which combined autoethnography of my own experience entering a new technical communication niche with interviews of practicing technical communicators on what they consider to be essential strategies, methods, knowledge, and resources for professional development in their current role and past experience. Key insights generated include recommendations on how to accomplish professional development by focusing efforts in six key categories to quickly orient oneself in a discipline and to improve the continuous professional development process.