If you spend time working in a particular industry, you’ll notice that folks around you use what’s called industry jargon—that is, unique terms, acronyms, and concepts unique to that industry and impenetrable to anyone new to it! If you’re new to the industry, you’ll need to learn this industry-specific knowledge on the job. Your first six months might be slightly bewildering as the people around you seem to speak in code, but bear with it. It’s worth spending the time coming to grips with the terminology and technology of your industry, as well as any legal requirements particular to it that govern how you write your technical documents.

Here are some examples of industries where documentation is governed by regulations:

• Aviation industry: US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for documentation
• Medical device industry: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for documentation

As you can imagine, more technical or tightly regulated industries come with more complex jargon and regulations. However, technical writers who invest time developing a deep, industry-specific knowledge often develop a reputation as an expert writer in that industry. If that’s you, expect to be in hot demand!