One important aspect of Standardization is the administrative task of writing and editing the standards themselves. For many of you out there interested in writing, the profession of standardization and technical writing may not be top of mind. But it is a valid career path and one that I suggest to many folks who have gotten their college degrees in both technical and non-technical fields.
First of all, there are two kinds of people involved in the development of standards — technical experts and editorial staff. Usually technical experts are volunteers who provide their time thanks to the support of their employers. These folks provide the technical wherewithal for developing standards on topics where their expertese is of benefit to industry in general, as well as to their companies.
Then there are the editors, an administrative function to provide the “caretaking” support for a defined set of standards. Folks in this role normally do not start out as technical experts, but usually have a combination of curiosity and literacy. Over time they learn to refine the language and flow of the work of the technical experts without affecting the technical content. They may need to help a committee meet format requirements. Or they may support the migration to xml or other data formats for the organization’s publication system.
Where can you find out more about being a technical writer? Since standardization is a sub-set of technical writing in general, a good place to start is the Society for Technical Communication. This organization has been active since 1953 and has a wide variety of classes, chapters, and other support activities for the profession. Once you’re comfortable with the role, you can then look for Standards Developing Organizations in your area. Many are on the look-out for fresh talent who can support their missions.
How about understanding standards themselves and how to organize them? The SES Society for Standards Professionals is the group for you! First of all, this is an association dedicated to the promotion of professionalism in the area of standardization. So you’ll get a chance to get involved and learn about the issues that face this community. Secondly, the Society is responsible for 3 publications (Standards) on standardization. So if you have questions about how to write standards, these are essential.
There are also many DoD documents on authoring other types of technical publications, including technical manuals, bulletins, and so on. These publications show how the field is expanding away from a strict focus on language. These days a more generalized view of data and computer tools like xml is necessary in order to disseminate information in our networked world.
If you’re looking for a career that involves communication, learning, and a window on our rapidly changing world, the profession of standardization offers an exciting challenge. At SES, we’ve noticed an increasing number of young people entering the field, as well as participation by those nearing the end of their working careers. Standards help improve our world and it’s made possible by the work of our standardization professionals! Will you join us?