If you’re someone who enjoys writing and wants to focus more on the  procedural side, the idea of being a technical writer may have crossed your radar. To learn more about what technical writing entails, we spoke with Ozzie G., who helps create product documentation for Reynolds and Reynolds.

What has your career been like so far, and how did it apply to your current position?

I attended Texas A&M University, where I majored in Philosophy and earned minors in English and Sociology. Philosophy is a writing-intensive major, and completing a minor in English provided me with a good foundation for a career in technical writing.

In addition, my first job out of college was selling cars. This experience gave me a head start in dealership knowledge, which was not required, but has been beneficial for working at Reynolds.

How do you describe what you do to friends who don’t know anything about our industry or company?

I write documentation for the management software used at car dealerships. Documentation covers manuals, procedures, help messages, and some marketing and sales documentation distributed to existing customers. The work I do in my job helps Reynolds’ dealership customers complete their daily tasks more efficiently.

Describe a typical day.

I start by organizing my projects for the day and then creating a plan for the remainder of the week. It’s important to manage time effectively to make sure everything can get done on time. Once I’ve mapped out my plan for the day, I usually get started with editing assignments submitted by other writers. I do this first so other writers have the opportunity to work on their assignments on the same day. Next, I use the software to complete my writing assignments, and work with product managers when necessary to gain additional information. Most days requires lots of time spent accessing the software, and working through different scenarios the way our customers do.

What drew you to this position?

I was an athlete and I do some coaching. I’ve been able to make comparisons between my experiences in sports and technical writing. In fact, I view helping our customers fully utilize the software as a form of coaching. Customers can use our documentation to become more efficient in their jobs, which in turn allows them to focus on their customers rather than our software.

What drew you to working at Reynolds?

After selling cars for a year, I realized there are many areas where some dealerships are underperforming, especially in providing a pleasing customer experience. Without software, it’s nearly impossible to properly follow up with customers and provide the level of service most people expect today.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy helping our customers work with their customers better, and the people I work with. We have a very good group in the Documentation and Translation department, and I have yet to have a negative experience when working with other departments in the company.

What is one thing that surprised you about your job?

I was most surprised by the amount of time we need to spend working with the software. Even with my dealership experience, I still find myself learning new aspects of the automotive retail industry almost daily.

What skills do you think are essential to succeed in your position?

Patience, time management, and proofreading. You’d be surprised how easy it is for even experienced writers to leave-off a period or misspell a word, especially on a tight deadline. Accuracy and attention to detail are essential to this position.

What would you tell someone considering a career as a technical writer with Reynolds?

If you enjoy project-based work, writing, editing and proofreading, and spending time with good people, this could be a good fit for you.

If you would like to learn more about technical writing positions with Reynolds and Reynolds, head to our careers page.