Table 1Transition record

e-learning developertotechnical communicator

A 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.

From e-learning developer

50%

Overlap1

To technical communicator

23 Skills carried over

12 Required, not held

56.6 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 56.6

This move: 56.6 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the technical communicator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the e-learning developer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

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 a e-learning developer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

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

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 23 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 information skills 3 required

required, not held interpret technical texts required
required, not held gather technical information required
required, not held manage information sources required

02 working with computers 2 required, 5 supplementary

required, not held develop ICT safety information required
required, not held 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

03 social sciences, journalism and information 2 required

required, not held documentation types required
required, not held cognitive psychology required

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held 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

05 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held knowledge base required

optional, not held ICT help platforms optional
optional, not held application usability optional

06 arts and humanities 1 required

required, not held visual presentation techniques required

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

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.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 23 skills that carry over

Skill Type

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

Skill to acquire Tier

07 management skills 1 required

required, not held provide technical documentation required

08 services 1 required

required, not held product usage risks analysis required

09 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held provide online help optional

11 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

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

Skill Type

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.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held documentation types required
required, not held visual presentation techniques required
required, not held cognitive psychology required
required, not held knowledge base required
required, not held product usage risks analysis required
optional, not held ICT help platforms optional
optional, not held application usability optional

Index

Other moves recorded from e-learning developer

Full index of moves from e-learning developer

Note

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.