One of the main requirements of a practicing technical communicator is what is called domain knowledge. This can mean subject matter in which one writes about one of the following (to name a few):
- education
- science
- finance
- industry (of various sorts)
- public policy
- public health
- medicine
- pharmaceuticals
Some college students meet this requirement by taking a double major, electives, or a minor in a specific field. Others acquire it on the job or through internships. Many technical communicators rely on practical experience working in various industries to supply them with a field’s basic working knowledge. After gaining this experience, they use it in their new careers as technical communicators.
Diane Borgwardt pointed out that many times, it is hard to decide on a specialty until you have experienced technical communication in that specialty. Temporary or contract positions can give you the needed knowledge for this, and many employers hire technical writers who have previous experience with their company through these types of roles.