Technical Writer Internships: Requirements, Opportunities, and Career Paths

Technical writing is a vital profession that bridges the gap between complex information and user-friendly documentation. Technical writing internships are a great way to gain resume experience and develop technical skills, even if your passions lie elsewhere in writing, technical writing internships show that you can research and execute projects well.

What is a Technical Writer Intern?

A technical writer intern is an entry-level position in the technical writing field. Depending on the industry and organization, it can be a trainee position or a full-time job that leads to a technical writer position. Technical writing interns often have experience in content writing, business writing, or other forms of writing. In some cases, they may be knowledgeable in a specific subject and opt for technical writing in their field due to their expertise.

Roles and Responsibilities

The role of a technical writer intern depends on the industry and company. Since every technical writer intern may have varying roles, their duties, tasks, and responsibilities differ. However, most technical writing intern jobs have a few typical duties and tasks.

The typical technical writing intern has the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

Work under the technical writing team to learn about the industry and organization
Learn about technical communication, documentation, and other technical concepts
Work with product managers, product designers, and other stakeholders to learn more about the company’s products and services
Work in the information development cycle to draft, revise, and validate technical documents
Assist in writing technical documentation in different cases, including white papers, case studies, user manuals
Offer suggestions to improve technical documentation
Work with expert writers and editors to learn the technical writing fundamentals
Design, write, update, and maintain various online guides, documentation, and, in some cases, API documentation
Proofread various new technical documents and other deliverables before they reach the editors
Research competitor products and services and resolve any issues in their technical documentation
Develop a plan to ensure your organization’s products and services don’t make the same mistake and update any relevant documentation
Work closely with subject matter experts depending on your organization and industry. For example, working at an IT firm, you may have to learn basic HTML or CSS to develop better technical documentation

Most technical writer interns can expect the abovementioned duties, responsibilities, and tasks. However, each organization will have industry-specific duties.

Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA

Skills and Abilities

While the tasks and duties of technical writer interns are similar, the skills and abilities required for the job will differ depending on the industry. Various skills and qualifications requirements change depending on the organization’s hiring objectives.

A technical writer intern should have the following qualifications, skills, and abilities:

Most require a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree in technical communication or a related field. Having a degree in a field related to your industry can also be a requirement, although not always
Some experience in technical writing, the industry, or any other form of writing is favored but not always necessary
Familiarity with technical concepts and knowledge of the subject matter, especially if the industry is technical. For example, if the company works with machine learning and AI, the intern must have fundamental knowledge
Proficiency in the English language with excellent grammar and sentence structure
Experience with Microsoft Office programs, such as Microsoft Word and Excel
Some experience with using templates and samples
Basic graphic design, image manipulation, and video skills
Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills
A strong attention to detail
Proofreading skills and fast typing speed

Finding a Technical Writing Internship

Where to Look

If you’re wondering how to get an internship in technical writing for summer 2021, try looking on Handshake under filtered searches like “technical writing internships near me.” Handshake allows you to focus on employers you want to work for and even network with past interns who may also be alumni from your school. And if you’re looking for a technical writing internship in a particular location for summer 2021, try searching for openings by using filters like “Google technical writing internships” or “paid technical writing internships.”

For a credit-bearing internship, contact the Writing internship director as soon as possible. You’ll work with the director on locating and choosing sites, developing your résumé and cover letter, and planning for and sequencing possible future internships. The director also has extensive contacts and resources to help you succeed in your application.

When to Apply

For most positions, start searching for your internship sooner rather than later! If you are planning to have a summer writing internship, we recommend starting to look for internship positions no later than the season prior. Many industries prefer to recruit as early as the fall, so staying up to date on fall virtual career fairs will be helpful in securing a role! Each company has different deadlines for applications, so sooner is usually better! If you’re searching for a role during the school year, it’s best to get on applying 3-6 months prior so you can inform your internship of your other obligations and classes.

It’s also really important to keep in mind that your university’s career services center will have great insight about specific recruitment periods at your school. Make sure to sign up for a meeting with your career advisor at the start of the school year for additional help in planning ahead!

How to Prepare

Consider taking courses like Argument, Grammars & Usages, Careers for Writers, Writing for the Workplace, Creative Nonfiction, Technical Writing, Public Essay, Writing for Popular Media, Science Writing, Writing for the Professions, and Proposals & Grants. Your courses in related disciplines also help -- such as English courses for students interested in publishing.

And campus activities and involvement in related areas are important to site supervisors who hire interns. Several technical skills are usually required, so it’s good to learn Excel, Photoshop, InDesign, and basic social media.

See IC’s free access to self-paced instruction in these skills.

Gaining Experience Without Prior Internships

If you’re interested in getting a technical writing internship, but have no prior experience, it’s key to play to your strengths and show employers that you’re eager to learn. You can search for technical writing internships on Handshake to first get a feel of the requirements they usually list for internships. After that, list your resume and cover letter experiences and previous roles you’ve had where the skills translate over. For example, if you’ve taken an important writing course or have had experience in an applicable final project, mention it and how it relates to your desired role!

Read also: Shaping the Future Workforce

Academic Internships for Writing Majors

Internship Requirements and Credit

Am I required to take an internship for my writing major or minor? No, all internships are elective.
Do I have to take an internship for academic credit? Our department only sponsors internships for credit. However, if you can locate an internship that does not require credit (as in your home town), feel free to undertake it on your own.
What are the prerequisites for a credit-bearing academic internship? Junior standing or above, and two Writing courses past the 100 level are required, as the internship is a 400-level course. (If you’re an English or Journalism major, we substitute one of your major courses.) We also now have a 200-level internship available to qualified sophomores.
Do I have to be a writing major or minor to take a writing internship? Nope!
Are paid internships available in the Ithaca area? For the most part, no. But we do have one paid internship in technical writing.
Are paid internships available elsewhere? Yes, in major cities, there are some - but they are highly competitive. If you have one, you may be paid and receive academic credit at the same time.
How many credit-bearing internships may I have before graduating? You can enroll in as many as you like, up to a maximum of 12 credits before graduating. Writing internships range from 1 to 6 credits at one time; half-credits are available starting at 1.5 credits. Internships are taken in fall, spring, winter, or summer. Note that for writing majors, only 6 internship credits count toward the major; any internship credits beyond that count as elective credit toward graduation. Some students complete one internship; others as many as four or five.
How much work is expected? Each credit requires 45 hours of work minimum. During a 14-week semester, a 1-credit internship averages 3-4 hours a week; a 2-credit internship averages 6-7 hours a week; and a 3-credit internship averages 9-10 hours a week. And a 1.5-credit internship, for example, averages about 5 hours a week.
Where is the internship work done? At some sites, most of the work may be conducted in the office. At others, all or most of the work is done remotely. Most sites involve both, with remote work focusing on researching, interviewing, and writing.
How is my work evaluated? At semester's end, your site supervisor writes a letter of evaluation, which counts as 50% of your final grade. The other 50% is determined by your faculty supervisor (the internship director), based on your weekly logs of your experience and your final evaluative report.
Can I register for a credit-bearing internship online? No. Registration is only through a written H&S proposal, no later than one week into the selected semester. Once you’ve been accepted at a site, our internship director will work with you to help you complete your brief proposal and become registered.
How should I apply for a credit-bearing internship? Look over the list of internships on Writing’s web site. Attend our September workshops on How to Get an Internship and Résumé Writing. Attach a résumé if you have one. Most students begin applying and interviewing in the last half of the semester before interning (e.g., October and March for the following semester). Once you have applied, interviewed at the site, and been accepted, you should complete the H&S proposal paperwork soon after, which will register you for the internship course.

Compensation and Benefits

Internship Pay

Because the internship roles that require technical writing interns vary, there’s no standard answer for a technical writing internship payscale. If you’re wondering how much your internship will pay, it might be best to inquire directly with the company you’re considering taking an internship with. Some internship programs will offer only class credits, while many others are more keen to compensate their interns with an hourly rate or a set stipend.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average technical writer intern salary in the United States is $53,741. The average salary is between $14,500 and $113,500, with cities like San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Sioux Falls, Clearwater, and Troutville offering the highest salaries.

While most intern salaries are near or below the national average, some organizations offer high salaries that increase the average. Such companies usually have job postings as a precursor for hiring technical writers, thus resulting in high salaries. For example, technical writer interns in the medical and computer science industries would earn more than their counterparts in HR or digital marketing.

Boeing Example

Entry-level graduates and interns who join Boeing enjoy a unique advantage from the start. Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements depending on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. The salary range for this position is between US$93,205 - US$107,659. The Work-Life Balance at Boeing is rated a C putting it in the Bottom 45% of similar size companies on Comparably. 53% of Boeing employees are satisfied with their work-life balance while 57% feel they are burnt out.

Skills for Technical Communication

“Technical communication is known by many titles and is done by many who might not even know that they do it!” said Oestreich. “ But within that work, anyone who does technical communication must, in addition to understanding at least the basics of the technology that one supports through documentation, one also has to learn the software to publish the work, must learn some common structural programs like DITA and HTML, learn a simple graphics program, get adept at project management software, and have the ability to apply those skills across teams. While a degree can be beneficial, it is not always mandatory.

Adaptability in writing style, great research skills, understanding of basic formatting and grammar, and being accountable and organized are also important.

Career Development

Advancement Opportunities

A career in technical writing offers ample opportunities for diversity and advancement, with many ways to evolve. Starting as an entry-level technical writer, you can move into senior or lead roles, or even specialize in areas like content strategy or information architecture. Technical writing interns can take their learnings and work into a few different roles like Technical Writers and Editors. They also can work for many different types of companies, like our constantly growing list of employers hiring now.

Continuous Learning

To stay competitive and advance in your career, engage in continuous learning. UC San Diego Extended Studies offers various courses to help you keep your skills current and relevant.

Examples of Internship Projects

Social Media Content Author: Assist in developing ongoing content for the College’s branded digital channels and social media. The successful candidate will develop an understanding of editorial development and gain a deep knowledge of digital communication channels.
Social Media Community Manager: Assist in building and monitoring the College’s branded digital channels and social media. The successful candidate will develop an understanding of online community development and gain a deep knowledge of organizational application of social media and electronic communications.
New Media Developer: Assist in developing engaging new media content for the College’s branded digital channels and social media. The successful candidate will develop an understanding of media production, publishing and promotion and gain a deep knowledge of building community engagement through new media.
Learning and Development Office Intern: Help improve the readability of a variety of documents and presentation materials by revising content, organization, text, and appearance.
Address Management Program Intern: Design project communications for multiple audiences.
AAA Carolinas Intern: Write press releases, write travel and member benefit articles for our membership publication (circulation: 800,000), participate in research projects (usually for traffic safety related issues), conduct member surveys with our in-house staff, give press interviews and work with lobbyists on consumer related issues.

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