resume sample for technical writer

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4 Technical Writer Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

Technical writers are the professionals behind important content we need: manuals, how-to guides, you name it. and with the great resignation that saw professionals around the world leave their 9-5 office jobs, more and more professionals are gravitating towards flexible jobs like technical writing. this guide was developed to help both new and advanced technical writers craft resumes that recruiters have told us they are on the lookout for. proven resume samples, and effective tips are included..

Technical writers are responsible for transforming complex instructions or information into digestible content that is easily understood by the target reader. The end result may be a how-to guide, instruction manual, journal article, etc. Right now there are over 25k technical writers in the US, and we are currently seeing an influx of professionals into this career post-covid, so it is particularly important, right now, for your resume to catch a recruiter's attention and impress. The vast majority of technical writers have a bachelor’s degree so recruiters are bound to look for that in your resume. Note that your bachelor’s degree does not necessarily need to be in writing or English (though that would be a huge plus). Recruiters will also want to see a history of technical writing so if you have written any type of guide or journal article - even if it was in a previous career- ensure that that experience takes center stage in your experience section. This resume guide was created for you in consultation with top recruiters in this field, and within the guide, you will get to see successful resume samples, recruiter tips, effective action verbs, and the most relevant skills recruiters want to see in your skills section. Use this guide’s material as inspiration as you develop your own resume.

Technical Writer Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• Technical Writer
• Entry-Level Technical Writer
• Senior Technical Writer

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• Keywords for Technical Writer Resumes

Technical Writer Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Related Marketing Resumes

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 4: Technical Writer Resume Example

A technical writer writes content that gives information to a target audience. Some of the mediums used include guides, manuals, journal articles, etc. Your goal is to make complex information easily digestible and understandable. Your resume should show a strong background in technical writing and, preferably, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field as well. Take a look at this recruiter-approved resume sample.

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Tips to help you write your Technical Writer resume in 2024

   include a portfolio with strong technical writing samples..

When applying to technical writing jobs, you should always include a portfolio. In this portfolio, include your strongest and most recognizable technical writing samples. This will give recruiters a better idea of what you can do.

   Indicate the mediums you have experience in.

Show that you are a well-rounded technical writer by mentioning the different mediums you write in. This applicant has included tutorials and product manuals among the mediums they have experience with.

Skills you can include on your Technical Writer resume

Template 2 of 4: technical writer resume example.

Technical writing gives little space for creativity and is commonly used for laying out a company's procedures or giving very specific or educational information to their audience. This content includes manuals, guides, product instructions, etc. In most instances, you will be given the information you need to use, and your job will be to transform it into engaging and easily-read content. A degree in English or a similar field would be beneficial but not absolutely necessary. A history writing technical copies, on the other hand, is essential to attract recruiters. Take a look at this impressive technical writer’s resume.

   Include any technical writing certification.

Go the extra mile by earning certification in technical writing. It’s an easy way to show recruiters your dedication and prove your skills. This is especially helpful if you are trying to transition into technical writing or just starting out.

   Have a specialization.

If you generally specialize in writing for a specific industry, mention that in the intro to your resume. This is especially useful if you are applying for a job within that industry.

Template 3 of 4: Entry-Level Technical Writer Resume Example

As the name suggests, this is a technical writer joining the industry. You would not be expected to have a wealth of experience but having any writing experience even outside of technical writing would be expected. Ensure that you build a strong skills section and have a clear title to help you get past ATS filters. Here is a successful resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Entry-Level Technical Writer resume in 2024

   invest in gaining relevant certification..

To make up for your lack of experience, you can pursue certification in technical writing. It will show recruiters that you are passionate about the profession. The knowledge you will gain will also help you thrive in your work.

   Create mock content for your portfolio.

You may not have a lot of professional technical writing for your portfolio. If you don't, create a concept and create technical writing for it. E.g pick a product on the market and create a how-to manual for it. Just make sure to indicate that the content is a mock sample.

Skills you can include on your Entry-Level Technical Writer resume

Template 4 of 4: senior technical writer resume example.

To be hired for this position, you need to show that you have years of experience as a technical writer and that you have had notable successes. Part of your job as a senior technical writer might also include managing or training other more junior technical writers. So showing leadership experience as well as your technical writer experience is key. Take a look at this successful resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Senior Technical Writer resume in 2024

   show career progression..

This is not an entry-level position, and as such recruiters will want to see a progression in your career up to this point. Showing promotions in your career indicates to recruiters that you are an exemplary employee and have had a successful career. This applicant grew from a copywriter to a senior technical writer.

   Use metrics to emphasize your achievements and experience.

Metrics can be used to make your achievements clearer and more impressive. E.g it is more impressive to say that you ‘developed 300+ pages of a user guide’ than you ‘developed a user guide’. So where possible quantify your achievements.

Skills you can include on your Senior Technical Writer resume

We spoke with hiring managers and recruiters at top companies like IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft to gather their best tips for writing a strong technical writer resume. They've seen thousands of resumes throughout their careers and know exactly what makes a resume stand out. Here are their top tips for impressing hiring managers and landing more interviews.

   Highlight your technical expertise

Hiring managers want to see that you have the technical know-how to understand complex products and explain them clearly. Emphasize your knowledge of:

• Programming languages like Java, Python, C++
• Markup languages like HTML and XML
• Content management systems and help authoring tools
• Agile development methodologies

For example:

• Proficient in Java, Python, XML, HTML, CSS, and Git
• Experience with MadCap Flare, Confluence, DITA, and WordPress
• Worked in Agile/Scrum environment to deliver documentation

   Quantify your impact

Use numbers and metrics to show the impact of your work. This helps hiring managers understand the scope of your contributions. Include details like:

• Number of documentation projects you completed
• Page views, click-through rates, or other usage statistics for your content
• Improvements in customer satisfaction scores or support ticket volume

Avoid vague statements that don't give a sense of your impact:

• Wrote a lot of user guides and tutorials
• Documentation was used by many customers

Instead, quantify your achievements:

• Created 15+ user guides and API references in 6 months
• Online help articles viewed by 50K+ users per month
• Contributed to 10% reduction in support calls

   Tailor your resume to the job description

Customize your resume for each job you apply to. Read the job posting carefully and mirror the language and keywords from the job description, especially any required skills and qualifications. This shows the hiring manager you're a good fit.

For example, if the job description says:

Seeking a technical writer experienced in Agile development to create user guides, release notes, and API documentation.

Your resume should include these keywords:

• Agile development experience creating documentation in 2-week sprints
• Wrote user guides, release notes, and API references for...

If your resume highlights other less-relevant skills like press releases or brochures, take those out and focus on matching what's in the job posting.

   Show your contributions to cross-functional teams

Technical writers rarely work in isolation. Hiring managers look for writers who can collaborate effectively with engineers, product managers, UX designers, and other stakeholders. Use your resume to highlight your cross-functional teamwork.

Instead of just saying you "worked with engineering teams," give examples of how you contributed:

• Partnered with product managers to align documentation with product roadmap
• Collaborated with UX designers to create integrated help content
• Worked closely with QA to test documentation and file bugs

You can also emphasize your communication and collaboration skills in your resume summary. For example:

Technical writer skilled at partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver top-notch documentation. Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills.

   Highlight your user advocacy and empathy

The best technical writers have a deep understanding of users' needs. They create documentation that empowers users and helps them succeed with the product. Showcase your user advocacy in your resume.

Mention times you've gone above and beyond to understand users:

• Conducted user interviews and surveys to gather feedback
• Analyzed support tickets to identify top user pain points
• Created user personas to inform documentation priorities

Highlight your user-centric approach to writing:

• Wrote clear, concise instructions focused on users' goals
• Created intuitive information architecture based on user workflows
• Developed engaging tutorials with use cases relevant to users' needs

Avoid writing approaches that ignore users' perspective:

• Wrote comprehensive documentation covering all product features
• Created reference guides with detailed descriptions of every menu item

   Include relevant projects and writing samples

When hiring technical writers, managers want to see examples of your work. Use your resume to highlight major projects you've worked on and the types of documentation you've created, like:

• User guides and tutorials
• API documentation
• Knowledge base articles
• Release notes
• White papers and ebooks

Whenever possible, include a link to your online portfolio or writing samples. A well-curated portfolio can set you apart from other candidates. Choose samples that are relevant to the job you're applying for.

You can also include volunteer or personal projects if they showcase relevant skills. For example:

• Created documentation for open-source software project with 1000+ users
• Wrote and edited articles for personal tech blog with 5K+ monthly views

The key is to highlight your writing abilities and technical expertise, even if you gained them outside of a traditional workplace.

Writing Your Technical Writer Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. put your name on the first line.

Your name should be the most prominent element in your header, as it identifies who you are to the employer. Use a larger font size than the rest of your contact details.

• John Smith, Technical Writer, 123 Main St, Anytown, ST 12345, (123) 456-7890, [email protected]

Instead, format your header with your name on its own line:

• John Smith Technical Writer (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith

2. Include your job title

As a technical writer, you may have a specific focus or level of seniority. Including a targeted job title in your header helps employers quickly understand the type of role you're seeking.

Examples of relevant titles for a technical writer:

• Technical Documentation Specialist
• API Documentation Writer
• Technical Copywriter

Keep your desired title concise, and avoid keyword stuffing like:

Technical Writer, Documentation Specialist, Instructional Designer, Content Strategist

3. Leave out full address details

While you may want to include your city and state to show you're a local candidate, there's no need to list your full street address on your technical writer resume. With remote work more common now, your specific location may be less important to employers.

The following personal details are sufficient:

• John Smith New York, NY (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith

If you're searching for remote technical writing jobs and open to working anywhere, you can leave out location entirely:

• John Smith Remote (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith

  Summary

For technical writers, a resume summary is optional but can be a strategic way to provide additional context about your background, especially if you're changing careers or have a lot of experience. Avoid using an objective statement, as it's outdated and takes up valuable space. Instead, focus on crafting a concise, targeted summary that highlights your most relevant skills and experiences.

When writing your technical writer resume summary, be objective and use metrics to showcase your achievements. Incorporate keywords related to your target job title to optimize for applicant tracking systems (ATS). Keep your summary brief, ideally no more than one paragraph. While it's essential to showcase your skills, avoid directly mentioning soft skills like 'hardworking' or 'team player.' Instead, demonstrate these qualities through your accomplishments and experiences.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Technical Writer resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Technical Writer Resume Summary Examples , or Technical Writer Resume Objective Examples .

1. Tailor your summary to the job description

When crafting your technical writer resume summary, it's crucial to align your skills and experiences with the requirements outlined in the job description. Carefully review the posting and identify the key qualifications and responsibilities mentioned.

For example, if the job description emphasizes experience with specific software or tools, such as Madcap Flare or Adobe FrameMaker, make sure to highlight your proficiency in these areas:

• Skilled technical writer with 5+ years of experience using Madcap Flare and Adobe FrameMaker to create user manuals and online help systems
• Proficient in creating API documentation and developer guides using Swagger and Postman

By tailoring your summary to the job description, you demonstrate to the employer that you have the specific skills and knowledge they are seeking in a technical writer.

2. Quantify your achievements

To make your technical writer resume summary more impactful, use metrics and data to quantify your achievements. Numbers help to provide context and demonstrate the scope of your contributions.

Rather than making vague statements like:

• Experienced in writing user guides and manuals
• Helped improve documentation quality

Quantify your accomplishments with specific details:

• Created 20+ user guides and manuals for software products, reducing customer support calls by 30%
• Developed and maintained documentation for 15 APIs, ensuring 99% uptime and accuracy

By using numbers, you provide concrete evidence of your skills and the value you can bring to the role of a technical writer.

3. Showcase your industry expertise

As a technical writer, it's essential to demonstrate your knowledge of the industry or domain you're targeting. Employers often seek candidates who have experience writing for a specific audience or subject matter.

In your resume summary, highlight your industry expertise and the types of documents you've created. For example:

Technical writer with 7+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, specializing in creating user manuals, SOPs, and training materials for medical devices and software. Skilled in translating complex technical information into clear, accessible content for healthcare professionals and patients.

By showcasing your industry expertise, you demonstrate to employers that you have the background and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with their target audience and create documentation that meets industry standards and regulations.

  Experience

The work experience section is the most important part of your technical writer resume. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your writing, communication, and technical skills to create documentation that helps users.

In this section, we'll cover what to include in your work experience section, how to highlight your accomplishments, and how to make your experience stand out to hiring managers.

1. Focus on your technical writing achievements

When describing your work experience, focus on your achievements as a technical writer, not just your responsibilities. Hiring managers want to see how you've used your skills to create effective documentation.

• Responsible for creating user manuals and online help content
• Wrote API documentation for developers

Instead, highlight your specific accomplishments and the impact of your work, like this:

• Created user guides for new software release, resulting in a 30% reduction in support calls
• Developed API documentation that increased developer adoption by 25%

2. Quantify your accomplishments with metrics

Whenever possible, use metrics to quantify your achievements as a technical writer. This helps hiring managers understand the scope and impact of your work.

Here are some examples of how to use metrics in your work experience section:

• Wrote and maintained documentation for 15+ software products
• Created 200+ pages of user documentation for new software release
• Reduced customer support tickets by 40% through improved user guides
• Managed a team of 5 technical writers to deliver documentation on time and on budget

3. Highlight your experience with relevant tools and technologies

As a technical writer, you likely have experience with a variety of tools and technologies. Be sure to highlight the ones that are most relevant to the job you're applying for.

Here are some examples of how to showcase your technical skills:

• Created user documentation using MadCap Flare and Adobe RoboHelp
• Collaborated with development team using JIRA and Confluence
• Developed knowledge base content using Zendesk

Proficient in XML, HTML, CSS, and Markdown for creating technical documentation

4. Show your career progression

Hiring managers like to see candidates who have progressed in their careers. If you've been promoted or taken on increasing levels of responsibility, be sure to highlight that in your work experience section.

Here's an example of how to show career progression:

• Led a team of 3 technical writers to deliver documentation for new software product
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure documentation met user needs
• Created user guides and release notes for software products
• Conducted user research to inform documentation strategy

  Education

The education section of your resume is important for technical writers, especially if you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience. It's a chance to showcase your relevant coursework, academic achievements, and certifications that qualify you for the role. Here are some tips to help you write an effective education section:

1. List your education in reverse chronological order

Start with your most recent degree or education first. If you have a bachelor's degree or higher, you can leave out your high school education. Here's an example of how to format your education:

Bachelor of Science in Technical Writing XYZ University, City, State Graduation Date: May 2021 GPA: 3.8/4.0

2. Include relevant coursework and academic projects

If you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience, you can include relevant coursework and academic projects in your education section to demonstrate your skills and knowledge. For example:

• Relevant Coursework: Technical Writing, Document Design, Web Design, User Experience
• Senior Capstone Project: Developed a 50-page user manual for a new software application

Avoid listing irrelevant or generic coursework that doesn't relate to technical writing, such as:

• Intro to Psychology
• College Algebra

3. Highlight your certifications and professional development

If you have earned any relevant certifications or completed professional development courses, include them in your education section. For example:

Certificate in Technical Writing Online Course Provider, Completion Date: June 2022

However, avoid listing online courses or certifications that are not substantial or relevant to technical writing, such as:

• Introduction to Microsoft Word
• Basics of Social Media Marketing

4. Keep it brief if you are a senior-level technical writer

If you have several years of experience as a technical writer, your education section should be brief and focus on your degrees. For example:

Master of Arts in Technical Communication Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Avoid listing graduation dates if you are concerned about age discrimination. You can also leave out your GPA and coursework if they are not recent or relevant.

Action Verbs For Technical Writer Resumes

Action verbs help shape your experiences and achievements. As a technical writer, your main goal is to create easily digestible and instructional content. You need your action verbs to show you are a creator, so you can use action verbs like ‘developed’ and ‘designed’. Because the content writing process is never a sole project and will require a lot of communication with various stakeholders, you can also show your ability to work with people with action verbs like ‘collaborated’ and ‘managed’. Here are 16 action verbs that may come in handy for you.

• Collaborated
• Coordinated
• Interviewed
• Implemented

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Technical Writer Resumes

Skills for technical writer resumes.

The skills section is an important part of a resume that is often not given enough attention, but it can be the reason you get an interview with a recruiter or not. As a technical writer, your tools kit is of utmost importance. Recruiters need to see that you have all the relevant software and programs necessary to create the content. Ensure that your tools list includes the most current software and programs. Recruiters also need to see the mediums you have used in the past so you should also include a short list of the mediums you have worked with. e.g manuals and guides. 

Here is a list of very relevant skills. Add those that resonate with you and your abilities.

• Technical Writing
• Technical Documentation
• Technical Communication
• Online Help
• MadCap Flare
• Software Documentation
• Content Management
• Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA)
• Documentation
• Adobe Acrobat
• Proofreading

How To Write Your Skills Section On a Technical Writer Resumes

You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:

Skills Word Cloud For Technical Writer Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Technical Writer job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

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• • Collaborating with 3 product managers to research the usability of core products
• • Interviewed 500+ users to acuire accurate feedback that led to 30+ process improvements.
• • Developed 10 manuals across the whole Software Development spectrum (namely Front End Development and Cloud Computing), used by 1000+ customers
• • Managed the creation of 150+ sales scripts using a service desk based ticketing system
• • Presented a paper at TC world India in 2014.
• • Successfully scripted and narrated over 25 training videos for Android developers.
• • Spearheaded substantive site-wide growth, writing 50+ technical articles and reports for publication
• • Created 10+ templates and layouts for structuring new technical documentation
• • My proposals have helped Conduent to win $48 million in business
• • Initialized & developed product documentation through different formats - web, pdf, mp4, gif
• • Helped increase ETU's global footprint by 20%.
• • Ensured 80% positive rating for authored content
• • Increased RFP award rate by 15%
• • conducted 6 trainings for clients

5 Technical Writer Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

When crafting your technical writer resume, be sure to showcase your proficiency in technical communication tools. Demonstrate your ability to efficiently use documentation software, such as MadCap Flare or Adobe Framemaker. Your technical writer resume must also highlight your experience with creating clear and concise documentation for complex subjects. Let your potential employer see your skill in translating technical jargon into understandable content for varied audiences.

All resume examples in this guide

Traditional

Resume Guide

How to write a technical writer resume, writing a technical writer resume header, crafting a technical writer resume summary, infusing power in your entry level technical writer resume experience, writing work experience as a senior technical writer, listing technical writer skills on your resume, education section for a technical writer resume, add value to your resume with technical writer certifications, final takeaway for you.

Technical writing has taught you so much.

You know when there’s unnecessary verbiage, you tackle redundancy, and “skillfully” avoid superfloud details.

Your management and your customers love your Technical writing skills.

And you’re proud of how you make everyone’s job so easy too!

But now you see that opening for Technical Writer in Microsoft’s Azure team. And you wonder if your Technical Writer resume is up to the mark or not.

The Technical writer in you contradicts with the long sentences you have and redundancies you’re building. But you know that missing out on them would get your resume rejected too!

That’s why we wrote this guide to help you take the perfectly balanced and well informed decisions to write the best technical writing resume.

What you’ll learn here?

• Go through job winning Technical Writer resume samples
• Learn how to pick the best resume format for your Technical content writer
• How to make your resume stand out with your resume experience
• What are some job winning skills to add to your Technical content writing resume
• How best to show your experience on resume

Before you create your resume, let’s get an idea of what your resume should look like.

Here’s an example that will easily make a grand entry to a recruiter’s yes list!

Before we tell you what to add here, let’s draw the line between a good and bad Technical writer’s resume.

Bad Technical Writer resumes focus a lot more on:

• That they write documentation
• How they kept a documentation up to date
• How they do it using Microsoft word, Google docs, etc
• That they work in a team
• How they edit documents

A good technical writer resume on the other hand, would:

• Shows how many customers you helped
• Lists business goals you achieved
• Highlights what type of technical content did you produced and in what capacity
• Talks about what types of users you wrote this technical content for
• Emphasizes your specialization?
• Delight a hiring manager

And, we’ll show you everything that you need to do in order to reflect those six qualities within your resume. First let’s decide on design aesthetics of your resume .

One common mistake is writing your name in bold and very big fonts. Your name isn’t what you want to emphasize.

It’s the work that you want to emphasize, hence it is very important to choose the right fonts and formatting in your resume.

Best fonts and size for your resume Calibri- font size: 12, Cambria- font size: 12, Germond- font size 13, Arial- font size: 11, Georgia- font size: 12

resume layout for technical writers

Now, comes the most important decision- what resume layout should you chose?

You have three options:

• Reverse Chronological
• Hybrid (mix of reverse chronological and functional)

Professionally, you’ve been fighting redundancy all of your life. But, there are upsides to redundancy when you’re selling to someone. Sales presentations for example, always repeat a few keywords in a consistent fashion.

Hybrid resume layout helps you precisely do that. Rather than being an arch enemy, redundancy is a leverage to writing a convincing resume.

First things first, remember to put across your contact information and who you are right. The later should be the first thing that comes to focus and the former should be next.

Your resume header should have your name and current designation at the top.

It is preferable to show your experience and any important certifications here as well.

Mention certifications of the sort of CPTC Foundation, Practitioner or Expert level. It will add weight to your resume and exhibit authority.

Next is your location and contact details- phone as well as mail id.

Technical Writer Resume Examples - Header

That certification above in the good resume header example exudes authority.

You can now be sure that the recruiter will review your resume further with more confidence.

Now comes the real challenge- writing a resume summary .

At every step in your resume, you’re trying to get the recruiters to put faith in your writing and impress them with your words.

Let’s do that further!

Ideally, this should be a brief of your experience. Since you’re a writer, your words should be powerful and the summary should be precise.

And these 3 lines will get you half-way through your selection.

If you can only write 2 lines here, it is better than the summary with an additional vague 3rd sentence. It only reduces weight.

And, this is what will help you stand out among thousands of ordinary and side hustle applications.

Let’s take a look at some good and bad examples of summary of Technical content writer.

Technical writing resume summary samples

Written 50,000 words worth of blogs for software industry to close information gap and drive 1 million views on 16 of 30 blogs. Currently leading content planning, scheduling and keyword research while continuing to write blogs and ebooks for end-users and clients.

Good resume summary example shares important information with the reviewer to help decide whether you’re another ordinary writer or you’re remarkably suitable for their job.

• It shows if you can impress with your words
• Whether your writing is professional, mature, yet friendly
• It also says what to expect from your writing
• Whether you can convince your readers with your words

If you impress the recruiter and sound convincing enough within your resume summary, you’re very close to getting that interview call.

Here is a checklist of must include information to make a positive impact and get shortlisted.

• Name & job title or position
• Years of relevant experience
• Important Certification in short form
• Contact address- mail id & phone
• Link to important books or articles published or publication name
• Awards for writing like the Pushcart Prize, Best Of The Net, Pulitzer awards and the like
• What you write about and what industry you write for

Now that you have convinced the recruiter that reading further is worth it, it’s time to talk experience.

Let’s first take a look at some entry level technical writer resume samples

You’ve had a writing job for about a year so far and you need to write an impressive experience section to get this new technical writer’s job.

How do you make this small experience count as an excellent work?

You should be able to create a story around your writing work for it to be meaningful.

The story should say;

• What you were writing about
• Who were you writing for
• What were the goals to achieve via this writing work
• How did you achieve them

Since your experience is short, we recommend including part-time technical writing work too.

2 Entry Level Technical Writer Resume Samples - Experience

• • Writing blogs on various topics for clients from multiple industries
• • Responsible for writing to meet the requirements of IT companies
• • Create content outline and infographics with the help of design team
• • Editing and proofreading with a team of 5 content writers
• • Authored and published 2 product user manuals for mobile apps. It serves 15,000 clients across country
• • Conducted audience analysis. Collaborated with IT Managers and stakeholders to generate instructional and user guides
• • Edit and update all published and in-queue technical documentation as per marketing guidelines
• • Produced documents with infographics that are engaging, easy-to-read and visually-appealing to readers

Before your write anything, keep the following in mind:

• You've got a ton of technical writing experience, not all of it would be relevant
• Some jobs demand an area of expertise, where broad display of knowledge can be negative
• Your hiring manager hates going through irrelevant resumes
• Relevance and scan friendly resume experience should be a priority for you

Let's make a framework for you to craft the perfect experience for a technical writer resume.

Your resume experience is good if you can check out x out of these y points(?):

• Initiatives listed
• Business metrics listed
• Scale of work is good
• Industry is relevant
• User roles that catered are mentioned

If you can check 3/5 that's a winner Technical Writer resume.

But, why talk when we can show you!

2 Senior Technical Writer Resume Samples

• • Wrote and edited technical documentation for Tyre manufacturing company
• • Responsible for maintenance of user manuals and QA documentation
• • Managed files using Microsoft Word and Internal Softwares
• • Assembled a team of 4 Technical writers, and got 11,500 customer support docs done in a year
• • Worked closely with customer service teams to discover 640 critical technical content topics
• • Wrote technical documentation for Engineers and maintenance staff, currently being used by 140,000 customers worldwide
• • Implemented custom processes and softwares to review work that increased workflow by 12%

What else will help you show your relevance for the job of technical writer?

The skills that you’ve mastered throughout your experience- technical and writing and material presentation skills.

There are literally 100s of skills to list in a skills section . You’ll have to be specific based on what the job demands of your technical writing skills.

Add these research and writing skills if you’ve acquired them:

• Audience Analysis
• Proper use of search engine
• Analyse information and draw conclusions
• AP Stylebook
• Chicago Manual Style
• The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage
• Interpretation of Statistics
• Content Review
• Writing Style guides
• Develop and maintain SOPs
• Grammar, punctuation and proofreading
• Help docs and FAQs
• Create Diagrams, charts and infographics

Tools to mention in your technical writer resume:

• Microsoft Office- SharePoint
• Marking Color Breaks
• Marking Head Levels
• Typesetting
• Working Sketches

Do you do technical documentation for any of these? Add them.

• Project Management
• Design Guidelines
• Marketing communications
• Software Development
• Quality Assurance
• Programmer Code Illustrations
• Process Improvement
• Legal Policy
• Business Development Initiatives
• Cloud-based content management systems
• Instructional documents

Technical writers are actually born out of a variety of disciplines.

Therefore, you may or may not have a writing specific degree.

But that is okay.

You can list your specialisation or highest degree with a certificate course in writing.

If none of your degree is of any relevance to your profession, you can skip it.

Here is an example of how most usually list their education on resume :

Masters in Economics, Texas University, 2018 Bachelors in Biotechnology, University of Michigan 2016

This does not help your technical writer’s job application. It doesn’t support your tech knowledge or your writing experience.

You can simply reduce the education focus to one that rather displays that you’ve undergone formal education in a technology field. And, you can rather do something like this instead.

CPTC Expert level certification, 2018 Masters in Computer Science, Texas University, 2017

Here are some important certifications that will show you’re investing time in your development and stand you as a serious and focused candidate.

• CPTC Foundation, Practitioner, and Expert level
• Technical writing course from OSU
• Technical writing course from Communicaid
• Certificate Course In Structured Writing For Technical Documentation
• Basic Certificate In Technical Writing (for freshers in writing)
• Your resume header should follow the must have checklist above and look tidy
• Write a summary stating your industry knowledge and task scope within it
• Mention your best & relevant writing work in your experience. Add important responsibilities and link to work sample.
• Include your skills- writing, technology and industry specific and tools you’re familiar with
• Add education only if relevant. Include relevant certifications and writing awards if any

Looking to build your own Technical Writer resume?

• Resume Examples

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Home › Career › What Does a Technical Writer Do? › How to Write a Technical Writer Resume [+Examples]

How to Write a Technical Writer Resume [+Examples]

Become a Certified Technical Writer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Interested in learning how to write and format your technical writer resume?

You may have excellent writing skills and have helped companies in managing their documentation.

You apply to different technical content writer jobs but receive no response.

Then you take a glance at your resume format and realize it’s 2 pages long. And you know hiring managers toss out two-page resumes right away. So you sit down to write your professional technical writer resume and have no clue where to begin. That’s where this ultimate technical writing resume guide comes in to help you.

This detailed article has the best technical writer resume examples to help you out. Here’s what we’ll be covering in-depth:

• Outstanding technical writer skill resume samples
• What skills you need to add to your resume
• How to differentiate yourself from other candidates
• The dos and don’ts of a technical writer’s resume

If you’re looking to learn via video, watch below. Otherwise, skip ahead.

Simply put, your technical writer resume needs to convince your prospective employer that you can add value to their organization. You need to prove that you are the best writer with technical knowledge to write end-user documentation and technical documents. Let’s see how you can do just that.

How to Write a Technical Writer Resume

As a technical writer, you’re solving a complex set of problems that people deal with daily. Onboarding documents, end-user guides, and tutorials all serve as solutions to problems.

Remember, when writing your resume, you’re reflecting on your skills as a problem-solver.

 I see so many technical writers waste their time by mentioning the following:

• Solid use of Google Docs and Microsoft Office
• Ability to work in a cross-functional department
• Highly energetic and able to listen to instructions
• Expert in writing user manuals and software guides

Well, guess what? I’m not interested in any of it. None of it matters to me. This is all over the internet. Everybody is using these terms.

It is obvious as a technical writer that you need to have a solid grip on using MS Office and Google Docs, as well as a can-do attitude. Where did you differentiate yourself? Do you know what I’d like to see?

• How did your technical documentation improve conversions?
• How did you delegate tasks to complete technical documentation?
• Did you ever work under pressure? If yes, how did it go?
• What types of content did you write for the end-user?
• How are you different from the rest?
• Are you quick at learning new technologies and deadline-oriented?
• Do you tend to work alone or trust your team?

Focusing too much on what you did shouldn’t be a top priority. Instead, be specific and mention the impact of your work.

What is the Best Technical Writer Resume Format?

There are three acceptable technical writer resume formats:

• Reverse Chronological (Most recent work experience first)
• Combination (ATS compliant)
• Functional (Non-ATS compliant)

You need to make your technical writer’s resume compliant with ATS (Applicant Tracking Software). Did you know that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to filter out irrelevant resumes?

ATS scans all resumes, and only accepts those with the right keywords. This saves the time and effort of hiring managers to go through only relevant technical writer resumes.

To make your resume compliant for ATS, read the job description. Look for keywords such as developing, writing, and editing user guides and training manuals.

Now, go ahead and update your skills and work history sections with these types of phrases.

A reverse chronological technical writer resume format with the right keywords is a good option to highlight your CV.

What Sections to Include in Your Technical Writing Resume?

Here’s a list of sections you need to include:

This includes your complete profile information such as Full Name, Title (Expert Medical Writer), mobile number, Linkedin profile link, city, and email address.

Do not mention your complete address. City and State are fine.

Now is the time to shine. Your professional work experience should follow reverse chronological order. But here are a few points to note before doing anything:

• Not all of your technical writing experience will be relevant. Hence, only include the parts relevant to the job.
• Be specific and make it easy for hiring managers to understand you.
• Hiring managers do not have time to go through all resumes.
• Make it compliant with ATS.

Include your experiences in reverse chronological order. Your employer needs to know your most recent job experience to consider you for an interview call.

Your latest and most relevant job experience should be listed at the first, followed by previous relevant experiences. Here are some factors to take into account:

• Be specific about what you did
• What was the impact of your work?
• What was your designation?
• How long did you work as a technical writer?

Junior Technical Writer Resume Experience Example

You started your career as a junior technical writer 10 months ago. By now, you have enough experience working on different projects and reporting to a senior technical writer/manager.

Is a 10-month experience enough to list on your technical writer resume?

How do you convert this to an impressive story that convinces the hiring manager?

Don’t worry. We’re here to help. This is what you need to include:

• The topics you were writing on.
• The type of content you wrote.
• Your reporting authority.
• The goals you were instructed to achieve.

Even at the junior level, don’t let your entry-level experience hold you back from applying to better positions.

Associate Technical Writer

Cloud.ly, marketing automation software

Hours worked: 20 per week

• Wrote training manuals for cloud-based programs.
• Updated documentation for internal usage.
• Helped to onboard of new customers.

Senior Technical Writer Resume Experience Example

A senior writer has more than 5 years of working experience writing anything from simple documents to extremely complicated technical documents. A senior writer has a team of entry-level and junior writers in the team, assigned to various tasks and roles.

But before writing your senior technical writer resume, there are some points you need to consider:

• Mentioning all work experiences is not required for every job role.
• Include relevant skills, qualifications, and work experience.
• Making your resume ATS compliant should be a top priority.
• A tailor-made cover letter and resume are important to be considered.

As a senior technical writer, you will have a lot to talk about on your resume. Again, relevancy is the key here. Making small amendments and fine-tuning a cover letter and resume for each job role is critical. Here’s what should go on your senior technical writer resume:

• Team members reporting to you.
• Delegation of tasks and responsibilities.
• Relevant skills, qualifications, and certifications.
• Achievements and milestones

Here is what the job description can look like:

Certified Senior Technical Writer

Dates of Employment: March to December

• Creation and implementation of user documentation,
• Maintained system records, and developed a list of Visio diagrams for the management.
• Developed SOPs.
• Created user onboarding documents and videos.
• Prepared case studies of clients.

There is no shortage of technical skills to add to your resume.

But, here’s the catch.

Not all skills will be relevant to the job. You need to decide which skills to add after careful research of the job role.

Here are some technical skills you can add:

• End-user documentation
• Visual communication
• Audience analysis
• Tutorial writing
• User guides
• Research papers
• Standard operating procedures
• Functional specifications
• Writing style guides
• Research skills
• Quality assurance

Also mention the tools that you use. Here is a list of the most common ones:

• Camtasia and Snagit
• Adobe Acrobat

These tools shouldn’t be mentioned separately. Instead, you should list them in bullet points under your job title. For example, “ Used Confluence to manage documentation for thirty engineers working on our editor portfolio product.”

Now that you’ve added technical skills and software tools, you also need to mention the soft skills. Only do so if you can back them up with numbers and specific details. Otherwise, they’re a red flag on your resume. Don’t just list the skills like this:

• Computer skills
• Multitasking
• Time management

Instead, say “ Managed three freelance content writers to output fifty documentation articles for our knowledge base.”

What type of technical documentation are you expert in? List them in the same format as we just discussed:

• Software development
• Terms and conditions
• Design guidelines
• Legal documents

Only mention degrees relevant to technical writing. Skip your educational background if it doesn’t fit the job criteria.

Simply listing a Bachelor’s Degree won’t help you with your job application. Be specific. What was your thesis project about?

For example, the following is not impressive:

Bachelors in English, San Diego State University.

Instead, talk about academic accomplishments and subjects that demonstrate your technical knowledge. Like this:

Bachelors in Computer Science, San Diego State University or Certified UX Writer

Certifications

Technical Writing has grown to become a lucrative career. And as always, certifications help you to stand out from the rest of the candidates.

Certifications prove you are constantly honing your skills and staying one step ahead in a competitive job market.

Certifications cement your expertise and enable you to charge higher rates. Employers immediately resonate a technical certification or course with authority, increasing your likelihood of landing the job.

Here are some of the most prominent technical writing certifications that immediately distinguish you from your competition:

• Technical Writer Certification Course from TWHQ
• Certificate Course In Structured Writing For Technical Documentation
• Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) Foundation, Practitioner, and Expert level
• Technical writing courses on Udemy
• Technical writing course from Coursera

Achievements

As a technical writer, what differentiates you from others?

Your skills, qualifications, and certifications matter, only if they translate to quality results for previous employers.

For every achievement, you need to provide a metric, which means a solid number.

What was the quantitative impact of your job in the previous company? Can you prove it?

I come across hundreds of technical writer resumes, filled with the following sentences:

“Worked in cross-functional teams with engineers, designers, and the business in an agile way.”

“Wrote user documentation.”

Yes, these are important, but what was the impact of user documentation?

A technical writer solves complex problems of accessibility.

Your recruiters are less interested in knowing the tools you used, and more in the impact your work had.

You also need to justify as you put down those numbers on your resume.

Hiring managers look for the following in your resume:

• Accomplishments
• End result of user documentation

Focusing on accomplishments in your resume is a great way to impress your employers. Use actual numbers to show the impact of your work.

Here are some excellent examples:

• Increased end-user satisfaction by 35% and received stellar feedback for complex documentation.
• Composed 100,000+ words of documentation for multiple technical products, including B2B web apps, SaaS products, and internally used software.
• Helped 20+ clients in developing a complete knowledge base for their products.
• Composed documentation for troubleshooting and reduced email tickets by 25%.

We have not yet come up with any technical writer’s resume listing interests as a separate section. Employers do not pay attention to it. They are concerned about what matters the most to them; performance, numbers, and skills.

As a rule of thumb, leave out this section. This does not have any impact on your hiring.

A vast majority of jobs in the US require you to be fluent in the English language. Many technical writing jobs demand the ability to write in another language. If you have this skill, then this is a huge plus and will immediately open doors for you.

Employers also demand a basic sense of a programming language such as Python, and JavaScript, to write technical articles.

This is something you need to mutually decide with your potential employer. If there is a demand for any other language, it is better not to list it unless you are an expert in it and it’s relevant to the position.

For example, here’s one job post on Upwork. The employer is demanding a technical writer with a programming background:

Many European countries like France, Spain, and Germany prefer to hire candidates with expertise in their native tongues.

Technical Writer Resume Example

Here’s an example of a technical writer resume that I came across and loved.

Every line says how they can make an impact. They also avoid using an objective, job summary, separate skills section, and irrelevant experience. The only improvements I’d make here is breaking up the paragraphs into shorter bullet points and limiting the resume to one page.

They also mastered including their skills, software knowledge, and any other relevant experience in their work job details. They don’t just list SharePoint under a “Skills” section. They write, “Consolidated information across nine individual websites, using Microsoft SharePoint…” That’s how it’s done.

My Personal Technical Writing Job Application Experience

When I first began my technical writing career, I was also in your position, applying to jobs and expecting calls in return. Even though I had two bachelor’s degrees, I was having a hard time landing the right job. Here were the results using this shotgun approach:

• Applied to over 150 jobs
• 110 rejections
• 0 invitations for an interview

“Something is missing. Why am I not even getting a response back?”, I kept asking myself.

Then, I changed my strategy. I invested time in researching each company’s job roles and customized my CV and cover letter. This time, the results were astonishing:

• 35 resumes sent
• 20 rejections
• 5 first-round interviews
• 2 second-round interviews
• 1 final-round interview
• 1 job offer

1 job offer for every 35 applications? This might seem like a low conversion rate. Well, compare it to my previous numbers. I had 0 responses on over 150 job applications.

Fast forward to today, this is a huge achievement for me.

How Many Pages Should Your Technical Writer’s Resume Be?

KISS. Keep It Short and Simple. This means your technical writer resume needs to be NO longer than 1 page.

5 seconds .

That’s it. That’s all it takes for a hiring manager to go through your resume and decide if you are the right technical writer.

This is where you need to put your technical writing skills to land that dream job.

Resume Best Practices

Here are 5 writing tips that will help you in writing a perfect technical writer resume:

1. Write a Customized Cover Letter

Customize your technical writer cover letter to fit the job role. It should reflect your interpersonal skills and how you can add value to your employer’s organization.

2. Update Your Resume for Each Job Role

Every job description and role is different. A golden rule of thumb is to iterate your resume according to a specific job role. For example, if the job role is a senior technical writer on technology, update your resume for that role.

Hiring managers prefer candidates who have personalized their cover letters and resumes according to the job roles.

3. Link to Your Technical Content Portfolio

You can’t underestimate the importance of having a personal website.

Think about it for a second. Few technical writers have personal websites. Those who do will stand out from the rest.

Having a website with links to a technical content portfolio will improve your chances of landing the right job, despite competition.

4. Mention Relevant Work History

Don’t write anything in your CV that you’ll have a hard time justifying later on. This means that your work history should only refer to relevant jobs.

For example, if you haven’t written on a medical topic in one of your previous jobs, don’t mention it. You should have a deep knowledge of the job you’re applying to.

5. Proofread Before Applying

Are you kidding me? Despite having excellent writing skills, you had long sentences and spelling errors in your resume?

But you’re applying as a technical writer, right? You can’t afford to have any mistakes in your technical writer resume.

No matter how skilled you are, one grammatical or spelling error is enough for rejection.

It is a technical writer’s job to ensure the final work is free from errors. This isn’t limited to user manuals, technical manuals, and new technical documentation. It also applies to your technical writer resume.

Technical Writer Resume Don’ts

Here are several extra don’ts for your technical writer resume:

Resume Summary and Objective

Why would you include a summary of your resume? I see this all the time with a couple of lines listed at the top of a resume. Your resume is already a summary of your job experience. You don’t need a summary of a summary.

What does a photo tell me about your experience? Nothing. If you apply for a job outside of acting or modeling, there’s no reason to include a photo. Moreover, they likely can find your photo by visiting your LinkedIn profile or searching your name on the web.

Irrelevant Experience

If you’re like me, then you have over ten years of experience. The truth is no one cares what you did ten years ago. Many hiring managers don’t care what you did over two years ago. What you did recently is what matters the most. Place emphasis on who you are today, not the fact that you worked in a restaurant during college.

Technical Writer Portfolio Examples

Here are some links to portfolio websites of writers that allow them to charge high rates in the industry:

Michal Eisikowitz

Michal develops trust and connection with the visitor. She is confident and knows what she’s selling. The copy above the fold, coupled with her picture, speaks to the client. Who isn’t going to hire her?

Mary Yerkes

Not the most visually appealing website. But it is clean, simple, fast, and conveys professionalism without wasting any time. Mary knows that her profile description and picture stand out. I would give her the first preference if I needed professional reports or a writing coach.

I loved the way Emily portrays her experience in 2 lines. This is an excellent example of a professional resume summary, along with links to her work.

Where Can You Apply With Your Technical Writer Resume?

Your resume is now the single best marketing weapon to land high-paying jobs.

This is your time to apply for technical writing jobs found on the following job boards and international freelance marketplaces, such as:

Now some of these sites may not seem appealing to you. Do you want to write technical articles for cheap clients through Fiverr? Yes and no. If you need experience to put on your resume, any freelancing technical writing experience will help. It’s rare to step into a technical writing job without some technical writing or other relevant experience (e.g. English degree, engineering background).

Technical Writers’ Median Pay and Outlook

According to BLS (US Bureau of Labor Statistics), the median pay for a technical writer is $74,650 and the hourly rate is $35.89. To make this amount of money, you need a resume that helps you to stand out.

But that’s not the only reason for writing a technical writer’s resume.

Technical writers have the fastest growth in any occupation, at 12%. By 2030, there will be 5,500 new projected technical writer job openings every year.

Numerous entry-level technical writer jobs earn between $40,000 to $50,000, but as a skilled senior writer, you can reach the six-figure mark. Here is factual data on technical writing jobs in the US:

Estimate of Entry-level Technical Writer at HP : $43,630

Experienced Technical Writer at Apple : $115,885

Senior Technical Writer at Dell : $105,000

The continuing expansion of B2B and SaaS products/services has resulted in increasing the employability of technical writers. With the release of new software applications, the demand for technical writers to write onboarding manuals, user guides, and tutorials will rise.

Despite this, companies can’t find the right technical writers for the following reasons:

• Writers can’t understand the software program.
• Job post was not promoted or posted on the right platforms.
• Resumes were not received from technical writers.
• Technical writers haven’t submitted well-crafted resumes.

Selling is at the heart of every business, and as a technical writer, you need to master the art of selling yourself as the most reliable candidate.

Summary and Key Takeaways

We’ve covered a massive amount of information on how to write a technical writer’s resume. We always strive to provide as detailed and relevant information as possible to help you in your professional career.

Let’s take a look at the bigger picture. Here’s a summary of the entire guide:

• Be relevant and use reverse chronological order wherever relevant.
• Personalization is the key.
• Include the right keywords so that ATS doesn’t filter out your resume.
• Never apply without proofreading.
• Use a sniper approach.

Writing a technical writer’s resume is challenging, yet rewarding at the same time. It can take anywhere between an entire day up to a few weeks to write that perfect resume.

With so much competition, you cannot and should not rely on a generic resume template. Hiring managers will easily figure it out.

I have full faith in you.

After reading this guide, it’s time to craft your professional resume.

To help inspire you, we have a before and after case study video here of how one of our tech writing students used this advice.

If you are new to technical writing and are looking to break-in, we recommend taking our Technical Writing Certification Course , where you will learn the fundamentals of being a technical writer, how to dominate technical writer interviews, and how to stand out as a technical writing candidate.

We offer a wide variety of programs and courses built on adaptive curriculum and led by leading industry experts.

• Work on projects in a collaborative setting
• Take advantage of our flexible plans and community
• Get access to experts, templates, and exclusive events

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• Knowledge Base
• Free Resume Templates
• Resume Builder
• Resume Examples
• Free Resume Review

Click here to directly go to the complete Technical Writer resume sample.

Does your resume highlight your technical writing skills?

The best technical writers ought to have the best technical writer resumes too!

To be recognized in the job market as the best applicant one needs to stay on top of the recruiters' list.

The essence of your technical writing skills would be assessed by the hiring managers from your resume itself.

So you need to make sure that it contains everything that can get you shortlisted for the targeted job profile.

Here is the summary of our technical writer resume blog:

• A perfect resume contains the right amount of details and is accurate at all times.
• Using the right resume format can double the chances of your technical writing resume being shortlisted.
• Nothing compares to a resume that describes your work experience in a crisp and precise manner.
• Your technical writing skill should be under the spotlight in a resume.
• Unnecessary details and information should never be placed on a resume because it takes away the genuine quality of your resume.

At any point, you need to ensure that your doubts about resume writing are cleared before you start creating a resume.

By doing so, you can easily overcome obstacles that may arise while curating your technical writer resume.

The following questions are clarified in this blog:

• How do you write a technical writing resume?
• What is the best way to describe your work experience on a technical writer resume?
• What skills do you need to be a technical writer?
• Is it necessary to include a technical writer resume objective or summary?

It is always a smart move to seek professional help to curate the best technical writer resume.

Hiration’s Online Resume Builder makes resume writing easier while ensuring that your resume is of top quality and recruiters friendly.

Customize and download your technical writer resume pdf and your technical writer cover letter.

You will also find the best technical resume examples to refer to in this blog.

What Is a Technical Writing Resume, and Why Do You Need It?

Wondering how to write a technical writer resume?

Well, a technical resume is simply a document that contains your professional qualification and experience details.

In simple words, a technical resume is your job application through which the hiring managers can assess your suitability for the targeted job profile and give you the desired shortlist.

Why you need the resume is very important to understand if you want to take your career ahead. So always keep the following points in mind:

• Most recruiters filter resumes with the help of ATS (Application Tracking System) as it makes the selection of suitable applicants easier.
• Now, your job is to ensure that the right set of keywords are included in your resumes for the ATS to accept your technical writing resume.
• You can simply go through the technical writing job description and list all those points that relate to your professional expertise and skills in your resume.

According to the Salary Explorer , experience level is an important factor that determines the salary package of a professional technical writer.

Here is a chart showing the comparison of salary by years of experience of a technical writer in the US.

Technical Writer Sample Resume

Here is a complete technical writer resume sample fr you to get a better understanding of what an ideal resume should look like:

• Liaising with product managers and engineers to produce 5+ documents daily, including:
• User Guides, Integration Guides, and API Developer Guides , etc.
• Creating and maintaining client aids viz online videos, demonstrations, guided tours, and other educational techniques
• Translating technical information and complex concepts to non-technical audience ensuring 100% user understandability
• Interacting with customers to gather feedback on documentation to improve the user manual usability
• Served as an editor to ensure consistency in training documentation across all departments
• Monitoring metrics on the usage of training materials and direct customer feedback to prioritize future training investments
• Collaborated with 5+ departments including development, QA, product management to draft and finalize product description
• Planned, researched, wrote, and revised printed and online documentation , including:
• General overviews, tutorials, installation & configuration instructions, and API documents
• Established team policies and procedures to stay up-to-date on current trends
• Oversaw peer editing and production to provide an in-depth review to ensure high quality
• Certified Professional Technical Writer | Udemy | Sep '20
• Gathered and analyzed 50+ technical drafts containing product information from sources to document product functionality
• Wrote, formatted, edited, and reviewed procedural information for technical and non-technical users
• Assisted in planning, scheduling, and tracking documentation process to meet product release dates and client deliverables
• CGPA: 3.7/4.0

Apart from a senior technical writer resume, you can also create a technical writer cover letter from our Online Resume Builder .

Build Your Technical Writer Resume Using a Suitable Resume Format

The best way to built your resume is by picking a suitable resume format that puts your resume on a pedestal.

A reverse chronological resume format is the best option to write your senior technical writer resume.

• It will allow you to highlight your latest work profiles and achievements upfront while the older details follow in a reverse manner.
• This is the best format and is commonly used because of its ATS-friendly nature and non-nonsense presentation of your career trajectory.

Next comes the functional format which is actually not the most preferred format due to its non-ATS-friendly nature.

• It allows you to showcase your skills more than your professional experience
• It is mostly for covering up career gaps and disguising one's constant career change.

The combination resume format is quite acceptable since:

• It is ATS compliant and highlights both your skills and work experience but it is also not the best format.
• It may seem good enough but only for those who have extensive years of work experience.

Learn all about Resume Formats before you start framing your tech writer resume.

Sections to be Included in Your Technical Writer Resume

The following sections can make it easier for you to highlight all the right details in your technical writer resumes:

• Personal Information
• Profile Title
• Summary/Objective
• Professional Experience
• Certifications (if any)
• Awards & Recognition (if any)
• Additional Information (if any)

Every section on a resume gives you the opportunity to connect and communicate with the recruiters.

Create a Flawless Professional Experience Section in Your Technical Writer Resume

One of the most prominent sections on a resume is the professional experience section.

This is the section wherein all your professional experience needs to be described for the recruiters to recognize you as a potential applicant for the targeted job profile.

No matter how experienced or skilled you are in the field of technical writing unless you can communicate the same through your resume, your chances of being shortlisted cannot be guaranteed.

Talking of which ...

You need to make sure that the following three points are clearly embedded in the professional experience section of your tech writer resume:

• Star Format
• Framing One-Liners
• Bucketing & Bolding

All three points are simple yet tricky if not implemented full-heartedly!

START FORMAT

• Situation: The situation/backdrop/context of your contributions.
• Task: The official task assigned to you.
• Action: Your strategy to execute the assigned task.
• Result: The result/outcome of your action in the form of an achievement figure.

Using the STAR format is as clear as day!

You need to present the cause-effect of your contributions by describing your action and its result in your technical writer resume.

Collected various information from SMEs to develop and write procedure manuals and technical specifications Assessed the latest content and developed innovative approaches for enhancing the content

From the given examples, the recruiters would easily understand the applicants' contributions and their results, which will raise the chances of being shortlisted for the targeted job.

FRAMING ONE-LINERS

Nothing makes it clearer than framing one-liners to describe your technical skills and expertise.

They are straight to the point and do not beat around the bushes!

The recruiters would be impressed already once they see that your technical writing resume is clear and on point.

Brainstormed & created user-friendly documentation of the product's functionality Developed various deliverables comprising user guide, product manuals, installation & configuration guide, etc.

From the example given above, we can clearly understand that the applicant is familiar with creating user-friendly documents of products, user guides, manuals, etc.

Hence, it is clear enough that writing one-liners would make it easier for the recruiters to grasp the applicants' knowledge of the job profile.

A lengthy paragraph to explain the two points would make it lame because no recruiter would want to read an entire paragraph just to try and understand an applicants' potential.

BUCKETING AND BOLDING

Simply create strong headings that reflect your technical writing expertise and list all the similar one-liners under the relevant buckets.

A well-arranged resume has its advantages by ensuring that your resume easily gets past the ATS and the recruiters quickly recognize your potential.

Simply create buckets and list down all the similar points under the relevant heading in your technical writer resume.

Product & Technical Documentation Brainstormed & created user-friendly documentation of the product's functionality Developed various deliverables comprising user guide, product manuals , installation & configuration guide, etc. Collected various information from 10+ SMEs to develop and write procedure manuals and technical specifications

And do not forget to bold the most significant words, phrases, and figures in your one-liners to ensure that your technical writing skills are easily identified by the recruiters.

Doing so will make it easier for the recruiters to identify your expertise as a technical writer.

You can refer to the given professional experience section from our sample technical writer resume:

Are you still wondering how to write a technical writer resume?

No worries!

Simply go through our guide on Perfecting the Work Experience Section in a Resume and learn all about this section.

Provide Your Personal Information in Technical Writer Resume

Before you give out your personal information in your resume make sure to go through the guideline of the company, country, organization, etc. wherein you are applying for a job.

In order to avoid bias hiring some country and organizations prohibits the mention of certain details like gender, religion, country, marital status, etc.

Your senior technical writer resume should always have the following personal details so that the recruiters can easily get in touch with you for any job-related purposes:

Apart from the above-listed details, you can also add links to your LinkedIn or Github profile along with any other personal website that shows you in good light.

Learn all about personal information on your resume and make sure to create the perfect tech writer resume.

You can also have a look at the given sample technical writer resume highlighting the right way to provide your personal details:

Technical Writer Resume Skills Section

The technical writing skill that you possess should be included in your technical writer resume skills section.

This section is very important in a resume because:

• It is the best place to use suitable keywords picked from the job description
• It is the right place to boast about your expertise in technical writing
• It is the section through which you can easily communicate your technical writing skill with the hiring managers

Here are some of the most common technical writing skills that can be mentioned in a tech writer resume:

Do not forget to highlight your technical skills along with your key skills because it plays a major role in defining your technical writing potential:

The right set of skills on a resume can magnify your technical writing skill and raise your chances of being shortlisted for a job.

The technical writer resume skills section given below is from our sample technical writer resume:

How to Write a Technical Writer Resume Summary/Objective

A summary of technical writer resume plays an important role in introducing you to the recruiters.

And so does a technical writer resume objective .

A summary of technical writer resume can give an insight into your entire resume without wasting the recruiters' precious time.

While composing a resume summary you need to remember the following points:

• Include a resume summary only when you have extensive years of professional experience.
• Ensure that you pick points from the professional experience section to highlight your professional experience as a technical writer.
• Limit your summary to a maximum of 4-5 lines.

Your technical writer resume objective is more or less the same as a summary.

The only difference is that the objective should be included if:

• you have less than 3 years of experience and
• communicate what all value you are willing to contribute to the targeted organization.

To be simply put, a summary of technical writer resume is to highlight the growth of your professional career and the objective is to mention your willingness to learn and contribute towards the higher goals of an organization.

Given below is a glimpse of what a technical writer resume summary comprises of:

Technical Writing Qualifications in a Technical Writer Resume

To become a technical writer it is not compulsory that you have a graduation or post-graduation degree.

Though there is no harm in highlighting them in your technical writing resume if you possess a degree.

Your chances can elevate if you have a degree in English Literature, Journalism, Mass Communication, or any relevant field of studies.

A degree in science or IT can give you leverage too!

All you need to do is:

• Mention the name of your university
• Specify your course of study
• Include the dates of your enrollment and completion
• Include the location of your university

Create a separate education section in your junior technical writer resume.

Here is a sample technical writer resume of the perfect education section:

By highlighting your educational qualification in your resume you can hone your technical writing skills through your academic achievements.

Certifications in a Technical Writer Resume

As a technical writer, you should constantly hone your skills to stay one step ahead in the competitive job market.

Never let go of any opportunity that can get you under the recruiters' radar during your job application.

Apart from highlighting your scholastic details, you can also highlight any certification that you have completed or currently taking up in your technical writing resume.

Doing so will make an impression of your commitment and level of excellence in the field of technical writing and amplify your technical writing qualifications.

Here is a snapshot of an ideal certification section on a technical writer resume:

Read Hiration's Guide to including certifications on a resume and get a clear understanding of its importance in your tech writer resume.

Hiration Online Resume Builder

Here are some of the amazing features of our online resume builder :

• Unlimited PDF downloads
• Option to save unlimited resumes
• 25+ resume designs
• Full rich-text editor
• A sharable link
• 100+ resume templates
• 1-click design change
• Live resume editor

You can simply pick a resume template of your choice and customize it by highlighting your details.

Upload your existing resume to our builder and get it reviewed by our resume experts.

Hiration Cover Letters

A technical writer cover letter can maximize the chances of your resume being shortlisted by the recruiters.

Give the hiring managers an insight into your technical writing resume through a well-crafted cover letter.

Go ahead and get professional cover letters built today!

Hiration's Cover Letter Builder provides:

• 10+ ready to use templates
• 15+ designs
• Freedom to customize templates
• Create multiple cover letters
• Easy downloading

This is not all!

Check out the following Hiration Services that can help you create a strong professional presence in the job world:

• Digital Portfolio Builder
• LinkedIn Review
• Interview Prep

Key Takeaway

Keep the following points in mind while creating the best technical writer resume to land your targeted job:

• Make sure to understand the importance of getting your resume past the ATS and include suitable keywords from the job listing.
• Describe your work experience in one-liners under strong buckets to ensure that the recruiters can easily recognize you as a technical writing expert.
• Provide your contact details to make sure that the hiring managers can get in touch with you whenever your resume is shortlisted.
• Include both your key skills and technical skills to make your proficient technical writing expertise stand out in your technical writer resume skills section.
• Mention the details of your professional qualification and certification to add value to your professional junior technical writer resume.

Refer to the best technical resume examples provided in this blog while writing your technical writer resumes.

Go to Hiration resume builder and create a professional resume for yourself. Additionally, reach out to us at [email protected] and you can get 24/7 professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

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Is Your Resume ATS Friendly To Get Shortlisted?

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• IT System Administrator Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on IT System Administrator Resumes:

• Install, configure, and maintain operating systems, application software, and system management tools
• Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues
• Develop and implement system security measures, such as firewalls and data encryption
• Create and maintain user accounts, permissions, and access rights
• Monitor and maintain network infrastructure, such as routers, switches, and firewalls
• Monitor and maintain server hardware, such as storage, memory, and processors
• Develop and maintain system documentation, such as user manuals and procedures
• Manage and maintain databases, such as Oracle and SQL
• Develop and implement backup and recovery plans
• Research and recommend new technologies and strategies
• Train and support users on system usage

Speed up your resume creation process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to.

IT System Administrator Resume Example:

• Implemented a new system security measure, including firewalls and data encryption, resulting in a 50% reduction in security breaches within the first year.
• Developed and implemented a backup and recovery plan, reducing system downtime by 30% and ensuring business continuity in case of disasters.
• Trained and supported users on system usage, resulting in a 25% increase in user satisfaction scores.
• Monitored and maintained network infrastructure, such as routers, switches, and firewalls, resulting in a 99.9% uptime for critical systems.
• Managed and maintained databases, such as Oracle and SQL, resulting in a 20% improvement in database performance and a 15% reduction in database-related issues.
• Recommended and implemented new technologies and strategies, resulting in a 10% reduction in operational costs and a 15% increase in system efficiency.
• Installed, configured, and maintained operating systems, application software, and system management tools, resulting in a 30% improvement in system performance and a 20% reduction in system downtime.
• Developed and maintained system documentation, such as user manuals and procedures, resulting in a 25% increase in user adoption and a 15% reduction in user-related issues.
• Monitored and maintained server hardware, such as storage, memory, and processors, resulting in a 20% improvement in server performance and a 10% reduction in hardware-related issues.
• System security implementation
• Firewall configuration and management
• Data encryption techniques
• Backup and recovery planning
• Disaster recovery planning
• User training and support
• Network infrastructure monitoring and maintenance
• Router, switch, and firewall management
• Database management (Oracle, SQL)
• Technology evaluation and implementation
• Operating system installation and configuration
• Application software management
• System management tools proficiency
• System documentation development and maintenance
• Server hardware monitoring and maintenance
• Storage, memory, and processor management
• Performance optimization
• Troubleshooting and problem resolution
• Cost reduction and efficiency improvement strategies

Top Skills & Keywords for IT System Administrator Resumes:

Hard skills.

• Network Administration
• Server Administration
• Cloud Computing
• Virtualization
• Security Management
• Backup and Disaster Recovery
• Active Directory Management
• PowerShell Scripting
• Database Administration
• Linux Administration
• Windows Administration
• ITIL Framework Knowledge

Soft Skills

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving and Troubleshooting
• Attention to Detail and Accuracy
• Time Management and Prioritization
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Analytical and Critical Thinking
• Customer Service and Support
• Decision Making and Strategic Planning
• Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
• Technical Writing and Documentation
• Leadership and Mentoring

Resume Action Verbs for IT System Administrators:

• Implemented
• Troubleshot
• Collaborated
• Virtualized

Generate Your Resume Summary

Resume FAQs for IT System Administrators:

How long should i make my it system administrator resume, what is the best way to format a it system administrator resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a it system administrator resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a it system administrator, compare your it system administrator resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the IT System Administrator job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for IT System Administrators:

It system administrator, linux system administrator, windows system administrator, entry level system administrator, junior system administrator, senior system administrator, it support specialist, it support analyst.