It’s Never Too Late to Try Something New

Today, she develops user manuals and technical documentation for some of KONGSBERG’s advanced systems. It is a role that sits at the intersection of language and technology, where precision is everything and every word matters.

“Much of my previous writing was about creating emotion and inspiring experiences. Now, the focus is on being precise, clear and unambiguous,” says Karianne.

A Career Built on Communication

Karianne studied copywriting at Westerdals School of Arts, Communication and Technology and began her career in an advertising agency, working with everyone from major commercial brands to non-profit organisations.

“I’ve always worked with words and language. It’s been the common thread throughout my entire career,” she says.

Over the years, she went on to work as a journalist, editor and marketing professional. She has also authored several books.

Regardless of the role, communication has remained at the core of what she does, whether conveying stories, messages or complex ideas in ways people can easily understand.

A Deliberate Career Change

Throughout her career in communications and marketing, Karianne has continuously sought new challenges.

When she spotted a Technical Writer vacancy at KONGSBERG, she saw an opportunity to apply her skills in a completely different context.

“I came across the job posting on LinkedIn and thought, this is communication too, just in a different form. To me, it felt like an invitation to reconnect with my roots and focus more deeply on writing than I had in years,” she recalls.

Technical writing roles often list an engineering background or technical experience as desirable qualifications. Karianne had neither. What she did have was extensive experience in communication, along with involvement in several digital transformation projects throughout her career.

Still, applying for the position felt like a leap into something new.

“I had no way of knowing whether a technical background was essential for success in the role, but I trusted that the people hiring knew what they were looking for. I know how to communicate, I’m curious, and I’ve always been interested in technology. The rest can be learned,” she explains.

Looking back, she believes the opportunity reflects something important about KONGSBERG’s culture and approach to recruitment.

When Every Word Matters

Today, Karianne works on documentation and training materials related to some of KONGSBERG’s defence systems.

The documentation is written according to the principles of Simplified Technical English, a controlled language standard designed to maximise clarity and minimise ambiguity.

“I’d consider myself fairly proficient in languages. I studied Latin, English, French and Spanish, and I’ve used English as my professional language for decades. Even so, this is a completely different language world,” she admits.

The goal is simple: users should never be left wondering what to do.

The Questions That Create Understanding

A large part of Karianne’s day-to-day work involves collaborating with engineers, subject matter experts and suppliers.

To translate complex technology into clear instructions, she first needs to understand how the systems work, and that often begins with asking questions.

“I work almost like a journalist. I ask questions, especially the basic ones,” she explains.

She has found that seemingly simple questions often uncover details that are crucial for end users.

“I might ask something that sounds obvious, but turns out to be essential. Things like where a button is actually located, or the exact sequence in which tasks need to be performed,” she adds.

The role also gives her a broader perspective than those working on individual system components.

“Developers are often deeply focused on their specific area. We tend to sit one level above that and look at how everything fits together,” she says.

That perspective makes it easier to identify issues that could affect the user experience.

“A solution can be technically correct and still feel unintuitive from a user’s point of view. If a system feels illogical, it can lead to mistakes, especially in high-pressure situations,” she points out.

In that way, documentation becomes more than a description of the solution. It can also help improve the solution itself.

A Truly Multidisciplinary Environment

One of the main reasons Karianne applied to KONGSBERG was the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary environment.

She is particularly enthusiastic about the variety of backgrounds represented in the documentation team.

“It’s not just engineers. We have teachers, educational specialists, communication professionals and people from many other disciplines. That diversity brings different perspectives and ultimately leads to better solutions.”

Starting Over

Although she describes the working environment as highly supportive, Karianne does not hide the fact that entering a new industry has been challenging.

“The hardest part is going from being experienced to being a beginner again,” she admits.

She believes it takes both patience and confidence to navigate that transition.

“You have to be willing to be new at something again. It can be challenging and even affect your sense of identity, but it’s also a necessary part of growth. If an employer believes you’re the right person for the role, there’s a reason for that, and you need to trust it,” she says.

For Karianne, the decision has been well worth it.

“Many people think it’s too late to try something new once you’re over 50. My experience has been the exact opposite. As long as you stay curious, there’s always something new to learn. I’m now in my thirtieth year working with writing and communication, and I’m still learning every single day,” she concludes.