Meeting the Experts: Workplace Issues in Technical and Professional Communication

In the second semester of my Technical Communication and E-Learning degree, I took module TW5212, "Workplace Issues in Technical and Professional Communication". Part of the assessment for this module was to find and interview someone who was professionally involved in the field of technical communication. Unfortunately, at my current work we don't have anyone who works in this area at all, so I did some brainstorming to think of someone who could possibly help, leading me to my friend Laura, who at the time worked in the marketing department of Oventrop, a locally-based (but international) manufacturer of systems for heating, cooling and drinking water systems. She in turn put me in touch with her colleague, Stephan, who was the company's Content & PR Manager.

Source: https://www.oventrop.com/en-GB/companynews/aboutus/whoweare [Accessed 5.3.2023]

Even though we had never met before, Stephan was kind enough to agree to an interview, which we carried out in Teams due to the lockdown that was in place at the time. A face-to-face meeting over a cup of tea and some biscuits with the chance to actually see his workplace would have been more relaxing and rewarding, but that was unfortunately not possible. Although the company has now been in business for over 170 years and has over 1,000 employees at their headquarters in Germany alone, they do not employ anyone to work solely as a technical writer. Stephen explained to me that as the head of the Marketing and Product Management team he is primarily responsible for marketing and PR texts like brochures and press releases, but also works on more technical material like handbooks and instructions when required. Although he didn’t have any specific training in technical communication, Stephan had worked in communications before he joined Oventrop and had what seems to me to be one big advantage: as a student he had worked on the shop floor manufacturing products, so he had a good understanding of what the company did and how their products are constructed. Maybe even more importantly, he knew a lot of his technical colleagues personally and wasn’t afraid to ask them “stupid” questions.

source: https://www.freeimageslive.co.uk/free_stock_image/handtypingjpg [Accessed 5.3.2023]

My interview was only short, but two main things stood out for me. Even companies that seem relatively large may not have technical communication as a specialist role within the organization – it is just another string that communication professionals should add to their bow. He also confirmed that technical communication is only going to become more important, his company’s products are becoming more complex and having good communication could be the unique selling point over their rivals. As a student of technical communication, these are both reassuring that this is an area with a positive future and one that it is possible to break into even without a lot of experience.