How do I overcome the upcoming massive layoffs wave in the age of AI? What skills would give the highest ROI over the next 1–2 years?
I’m a 37-year-old technical writer from India with 12+ years of experience, currently working remotely for a UK-based company. My contract may end soon, and honestly I’m starting to feel that traditional technical writing is slowly becoming obsolete due to AI.
I have an MCA degree (2013), but I was never a hardcore technical or coding person. I understand software products, documentation, workflows, SaaS environments, etc., but I’m not someone who can suddenly become a full-stack engineer.
I live in a tier-2 city and moving back to a metro/tier-1 city is not realistic right now because:
- I support a family of 6
- I have a 10-month-old baby
- I’m the sole earner
- Monthly expenses are around ₹80–90k
- I have a home loan outstanding (~₹20L)
Financially I have some cushion (~₹40L FD), so I’m not in immediate panic mode, but I know I cannot sit idle for years either.
The good part is:
- I adapt quickly
- I already use ChatGPT/Claude regularly
- I’m willing to learn
- I’m okay transitioning careers if needed
The bad part:
- I genuinely don’t know what realistic path exists for someone like me in the AI era.
I’m not looking for motivational replies. I’m looking for honest, practical advice from people who have either:
- transitioned from technical writing/documentation
- moved into adjacent AI-era roles
- survived mid-career shifts without hardcore coding backgrounds
Questions:
What realistic roles should someone like me target now?
Is AI documentation / knowledge management / product ops a real career path or just LinkedIn hype?
What skills would give the highest ROI over the next 1–2 years?
How do I reposition myself without pretending to be an engineer?
Are remote opportunities for this kind of profile still viable globally?
I’d really appreciate honest guidance, especially from people who have seen the market closely.