E-learning developer to technical communicator
An e-learning developer already meets 50% of what the technical communicator role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.
56.6/ 100
1 How much of what a technical communicator is expected to do is already part of an e-learning developer’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the technical communicator role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A technical communicator role treats 12 of its required skills as things an e-learning developer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- ICT software specifications
- apply ICT terminology
- compile content
- conduct content quality assurance
- content development processes
- identify ICT user needs
What stands in the way is 12 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 23 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A technical communicator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an e-learning developer background worth leading with.
- already held apply ICT terminology communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held utilise content types working with computers
- already held publishing strategy arts and humanities
- already held compile content information skills
- already held conduct content quality assurance working with computers
- already held manage content metadata information skills
All 23 carried skills, including the 12 the technical communicator role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 23 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn interpret technical texts required
- still to learn gather technical information required
- still to learn manage information sources required
- still to learn develop ICT safety information required
- still to learn apply tools for content development required
- optional, not held integrate and re-elaborate digital content optional
- optional, not held manage digital documents optional
- optional, not held use content management system software optional
- optional, not held use presentation software optional
- optional, not held use word processing software optional
- still to learn documentation types required
- still to learn cognitive psychology required
- still to learn develop documentation in accordance with legal requirements required
- optional, not held design graphics optional
- optional, not held manage localisation optional
- optional, not held translate requirements into visual design optional
- still to learn knowledge base required
- optional, not held ICT help platforms optional
- optional, not held application usability optional
- still to learn visual presentation techniques required
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a technical communicator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 develop ICT safety information practise this
- 02 documentation types study this
- 03 interpret technical texts practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 23 skills that carry over
- already held ICT software specifications knowledge
- already held apply ICT terminology skill
- already held compile content skill
- already held conduct content quality assurance skill
- already held content development processes knowledge
- already held identify ICT user needs skill
- already held integrate content into output media skill
- already held manage content metadata skill
- already held multimedia systems knowledge
- already held provide written content skill
- already held publishing strategy knowledge
- already held structure information skill
- already held CSS knowledge
- already held JSSS knowledge
- already held LESS knowledge
- already held Sass knowledge
- already held create script for artistic production skill
- already held identify technological needs skill
- already held manage content development projects skill
- already held provide multimedia content skill
- already held style sheet languages knowledge
- already held use markup languages skill
- already held utilise content types skill
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn provide technical documentation required
- still to learn product usage risks analysis required
- optional, not held provide online help optional
11 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held provide online help optional
- optional, not held ICT help platforms optional
- optional, not held application usability optional
- optional, not held design graphics optional
- optional, not held integrate and re-elaborate digital content optional
- optional, not held manage digital documents optional
- optional, not held manage localisation optional
- optional, not held translate requirements into visual design optional
- optional, not held use content management system software optional
- optional, not held use presentation software optional
- optional, not held use word processing software optional
44 held skills the technical communicator role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role AJAX knowledge
- not needed by the target role Absorb (learning management systems) knowledge
- not needed by the target role Adobe Illustrator knowledge
- not needed by the target role Adobe Photoshop knowledge
- not needed by the target role Brightspace (learning management systems) knowledge
- not needed by the target role Canvas (learning management systems) knowledge
- not needed by the target role Edmodo knowledge
- not needed by the target role Engrade knowledge
- not needed by the target role GIMP (graphics editor software) knowledge
- not needed by the target role Grovo knowledge
- not needed by the target role JavaScript knowledge
- not needed by the target role LAMS knowledge
- not needed by the target role Litmos knowledge
- not needed by the target role Microsoft Visio knowledge
- not needed by the target role Moodle knowledge
- not needed by the target role PHP knowledge
- not needed by the target role Sakai knowledge
- not needed by the target role Schoology knowledge
- not needed by the target role SketchBook Pro knowledge
- not needed by the target role Synfig knowledge
- not needed by the target role Taleo knowledge
- not needed by the target role WizIQ knowledge
- not needed by the target role augmented reality knowledge
- not needed by the target role authoring software knowledge
- not needed by the target role create SCORM packages skill
- not needed by the target role deliver online training skill
- not needed by the target role design web-based courses skill
- not needed by the target role develop digital content skill
- not needed by the target role develop digital educational materials skill
- not needed by the target role develop e-learning plan skill
- not needed by the target role develop inclusive communication material skill
- not needed by the target role develop learning curriculum skill
- not needed by the target role e-learning knowledge
- not needed by the target role e-learning software infrastructure knowledge
- not needed by the target role graphics editor software knowledge
- not needed by the target role identify training needs skill
- not needed by the target role instructional design models knowledge
- not needed by the target role integrate system components skill
- not needed by the target role keep up-to-date with training subjects skill
- not needed by the target role learning management systems knowledge
4 further entries not listed here
7 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn documentation types required
- still to learn visual presentation techniques required
- still to learn cognitive psychology required
- still to learn knowledge base required
- still to learn product usage risks analysis required
- optional, not held ICT help platforms optional
- optional, not held application usability optional
Common questions about this move
Can an e-learning developer become a technical communicator?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An e-learning developer already covers 50% of what a technical communicator is expected to do: 23 skills carry over, 12 of which the technical communicator role treats as required.
What skills does an e-learning developer need to become a technical communicator?
12 required skills are missing, plus 11 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is develop ICT safety information.
How hard is the move from e-learning developer to technical communicator?
Its learning distance is 56.6 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.