Get Certified

There aren't many ways to demonstrate your competence at technical writing. That's clear just from looking at ads for permanent or contract positions. These ads never say "Technical Writer Certification required" – because there is no such thing. Instead, they blather on about how you have to know Word and FrameMaker (duh!), or have a degree in journalism or maybe English or perhaps a technical topic, along with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Therefore, any objective evidence that you possess some sort of mastery of the tools of technical writing would be a boost to your career. Something you can put on your resume, and mention offhandedly in your cover letter. And there really is such a thing.

Microsoft offers a certification program in its Office products, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access. You can take a test in your expertise in using one of these applications and, assuming you do well enough, obtain a certificate attesting that you are, in fact, Microsoft Certified.

There is, naturally, a catch. It costs money to take the tests. Unless…

Allow me to bore you with my reminiscences for a moment. A few years ago, when I was between paying positions, as the expression goes, I signed up to be a temp office worker with one of the Robert Half Organization branches. When they found out that I was experienced in Word and other MS Office apps, they asked if I wanted to be tested for Microsoft certification – for free. I said sure, took several tests, and am now Microsoft Certified in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Now, when an ad says "experience in Word", I can say that, not only am I experienced in Word, I'm Microsoft Certified in Word. Impressive, no?

My advice, therefore, is to hunt around among the Robert Half groups – and other agencies that place office workers – and see if any of them have a similar deal going. For a little time on your part, you could receive a handsome certificate suitable for framing – and a real credential you can use to land jobs forever.