Presenter to speechwriter
A presenter already meets 40% of what the speechwriter role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
56.9/ 100
1 How much of what a speechwriter is expected to do is already part of a presenter’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 speechwriter role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A speechwriter role treats 5 of its required skills as things a presenter already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply grammar and spelling rules
- consult information sources
- copyright legislation
- grammar
- spelling
What stands in the way is 7 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 10 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A speechwriter role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a presenter background worth leading with.
- already held practice humour communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held breathing techniques arts and humanities
- already held vocal techniques arts and humanities
- already held pronunciation techniques arts and humanities
- already held spelling arts and humanities
- already held proofread text communication, collaboration and creativity
All 10 carried skills, including the 5 the speechwriter role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 16 missing skills fall into 5 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 identify customer's needs required
- still to learn use specific writing techniques required
- still to learn write in conversational tone required
- still to learn develop creative ideas required
- still to learn prepare speeches required
- optional, not held evaluate writings in response to feedback optional
- optional, not held promote one's writings optional
- optional, not held select subject matter optional
- still to learn perform background research on writing subject required
- optional, not held analyse the comments of selected audiences optional
- optional, not held manage writing administration optional
- still to learn writing techniques required
- optional, not held write to a deadline optional
- optional, not held manage schedule of tasks optional
- optional, not held perform multiple tasks at the same time optional
- optional, not held use word processing software optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a speechwriter role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 identify customer's needs practise this
- 02 perform background research on writing subject practise this
- 03 use specific writing techniques 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 10 skills that carry over
- already held apply grammar and spelling rules skill
- already held consult information sources skill
- already held copyright legislation knowledge
- already held grammar knowledge
- already held spelling knowledge
- already held breathing techniques knowledge
- already held practice humour skill
- already held pronunciation techniques knowledge
- already held proofread text skill
- already held vocal techniques knowledge
9 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held analyse the comments of selected audiences optional
- optional, not held evaluate writings in response to feedback optional
- optional, not held manage writing administration optional
- optional, not held promote one's writings optional
- optional, not held write to a deadline optional
- optional, not held manage schedule of tasks optional
- optional, not held perform multiple tasks at the same time optional
- optional, not held select subject matter optional
- optional, not held use word processing software optional
30 held skills the speechwriter role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adapt to type of media skill
- not needed by the target role adopt a relaxed posture skill
- not needed by the target role audiovisual equipment knowledge
- not needed by the target role check correctness of information skill
- not needed by the target role communicate by telephone skill
- not needed by the target role compose playlist skill
- not needed by the target role consult with production director skill
- not needed by the target role develop professional network skill
- not needed by the target role develop program ideas skill
- not needed by the target role follow directions of the artistic director skill
- not needed by the target role follow the news skill
- not needed by the target role follow time cues skill
- not needed by the target role gather information on theme of the show skill
- not needed by the target role interview people skill
- not needed by the target role interview techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role lighting techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role meet expectations of target audience skill
- not needed by the target role memorise lines skill
- not needed by the target role moderate a debate skill
- not needed by the target role perform improvisation skill
- not needed by the target role perform market research skill
- not needed by the target role photography knowledge
- not needed by the target role prepare broadcasts skill
- not needed by the target role present during live broadcasts skill
- not needed by the target role press law knowledge
- not needed by the target role read pre-drafted texts skill
- not needed by the target role rehearse role skill
- not needed by the target role select music skill
- not needed by the target role use audio reproduction software skill
- not needed by the target role work with a voice coach skill
1 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 writing techniques required
Common questions about this move
Can a presenter become a speechwriter?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A presenter already covers 40% of what a speechwriter is expected to do: 10 skills carry over, 5 of which the speechwriter role treats as required.
What skills does a presenter need to become a speechwriter?
7 required skills are missing, plus 9 optional ones. They fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is identify customer's needs.
How hard is the move from presenter to speechwriter?
Its learning distance is 56.9 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.