Technical writers are experts at breaking complex topics down into simple, easy-to-understand language. Just like a technical writer would simplify a challenging concept, a well-written technical writer resume should break down an impressive career story into thoughtfully structured sections. In this guide, we'll review 1 technical writer resumes and highlight some of the key best practices to follow in 2023.
You can use the examples above as a starting point to help you brainstorm tasks, accomplishments for your work experience section.
As a technical writer, your resume should showcase your ability to communicate complex technical information in an understandable and user-friendly way. Here are some tips to help you focus on what matters most:
Highlight your technical expertise:
Your resume should demonstrate your understanding of technical concepts and terminology, as well as your ability to explain them clearly to non-technical audiences.
Emphasize your writing skills:
Your resume should showcase your ability to write clearly, concisely, and accurately. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your ability to create technical documentation, including user manuals, technical specifications, and software documentation.
Highlight your attention to detail:
Technical writing requires a high level of attention to detail. Your resume should showcase your ability to catch errors and inconsistencies, as well as your proficiency in using style guides and other tools to ensure consistency in your writing.
Tailor your resume to the job and company:
Customize your resume to each job you apply for, emphasizing the skills and experiences that make you a strong fit for the specific role and company.
Here are the essential sections that should exist in a technical writer resume:
Additionally, if you're eager to make an impression and gain an edge over other technical writer candidates, you may want to consider adding in these sections:
Let's start with resume headlines.
Experienced Technical Writer with 4 Years in Technical Editing
Proven Record of Technical Writing & Documentation Excellence
What makes the good headlines good is that the resume headlines are written to provide the potential employer with a quick overview of the Technical Writer's professional expertise and accomplishments. In the first headline, the writer's 4 years of experience is made clear, while the second headline speaks to the track record of success and excellence.
Skilled Technical Writer Looking for Opportunity
4 Years in the Writing Trenches
Why are these resume headlines weak? They lack specifics. The first headline is a generic statement, while the second headline does not provide any additional information about the degree of the technical writer's experience. It does not provide the potential employer with any impression of the writer's knowledge or track record.
A resume summary is a brief but important overview of your skills, experiences, and accomplishments as a Technical Writer. It provides an opportunity to highlight the most relevant information of your career and demonstrate how your experiences and skills align with the role you're applying for.
Your resume summary should showcase your expertise in writing and communicating technical information, as well as your ability to work closely with technical subject matter experts. A well-crafted summary will quickly communicate the value you bring to the organization, highlighting your experience in producing technical documents, presentations, and other materials for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Here are a few tips for writing an effective resume summary for Technical Writers:
Why these are strong:
Why these are weak:
Motivated technical writer, passionate about crafting content for software engineering solutions and a desire to learn and contribute to the team's success.
Dedicated recent graduate with strong writing and communication skills and an eagerness to contribute to technical documentations in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.
Why these are strong:
Recent graduate with 1+ years of experience in Technical Writing seeking a position with a larger company to show off my skills.
Seeking a position as a Technical Writer where I can use my existing writing skills to be successful.
Why these are weak:
Contributed to the development and implementation of technical documentation for complex software systems, increasing efficiency by 20% and reducing errors by 25%
Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and QA, to gather and document requirements, design specifications, and user guides
Developed and maintained a technical library and a knowledge base, increasing access to information by 50% for both internal and external stakeholders
Conducted user research and feedback sessions to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the documentation, making improvements based on user feedback
Created technical documentation for a cloud-based project management platform, ensuring the platform's usability and accessibility
Worked closely with the development team to understand complex technical concepts and translate them into clear, concise, and user-friendly documents
Developed and delivered comprehensive training sessions to end-users and customer support teams, reducing training time by 30%
Created a range of instructional materials, including video tutorials, Quick Start guides, and FAQs, to support customers in their adoption of the platform
Why these are strong:
Created user manuals for new software product releases
Conducted research and gathered information from various stakeholders
Worked with developers and product managers to ensure accurate and concise documentation
Edited existing technical documents for grammar and style
Managed documentation updates for multiple software products
Responded to user feedback and made necessary revisions to documentation
Why these are weak:
Dear Hiring Manager at [Company],
I was excited to see your job posting for a Technical Writer, as I am confident that my extensive experience in technical writing makes me a perfect fit for this position. With over 50 technical articles, whitepapers, user guides, and instruction manuals under my belt, I have developed a wealth of skills in maintaining accuracy, consistency, and efficiency in technical document production.
As a technical writer, I understand the importance of creating a clear and concise language that is easy to understand for users with varying technical backgrounds. I have developed the ability to transform complex technical concepts and terminologies into simplified language, making it easier for users to understand the material. Additionally, I have developed and produced graphical visualizations to supplement technical documents such as end-user licensing agreements, training materials, and tutorials.
In my previous role, I single-handedly maintained version control of over 30 documents daily, ensuring accuracy and consistency across all versions. I also developed templates and checklists that reduced production time and allowed teams to train on new technologies and practices more efficiently.
I have also created and produced compelling resources such as user guides, FAQs, and knowledge bases that streamlined user experience, thereby improving product usage. Through research and tracking of the latest industry trends, standards, and technologies, I have ensured that all technical documentation I create is up-to-date and accurate.
I am excited about the opportunity to bring my skills and experience to [Company] as a Technical Writer. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
A cover letter is an invaluable tool for any Technical Writer looking to stand out from the competition. It allows you to showcase your communication skills, highlight your relevant experience, and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position.
While a resume provides a summary of your skills and experience, a cover letter allows you to personalize your application and connect with the hiring manager on a deeper level. It's an opportunity to tell your story, explain why you're passionate about technical writing, and show how you can add value to the organization.
Here are some of the key reasons for pairing your technical writer resume with a cover letter:
We understand that writing a cover letter may seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Remember that the cover letter is an extension of your resume, so you can use the same format and content as your resume. It's also a chance to address any gaps or questions that the hiring manager may have after reading your resume.
Tips for aligning your cover letter with your resume:
When deciding the ideal resume length for Technical Writers, a good guideline is one to two pages. Any longer than that can risk being too repetitive or overwhelming. Detail and clarity of information presented are most important when it comes to resumes - always strive for quality rather than quantity. Keep in mind that a concise, focused resume gives employers the best impression of your skills and value.
1. When formatting a Technical Writer resume, it is important to include any key technical skills, industry certifications and software experience. These should be listed prominently in the resume on the first page, with clear examples provided. 2. A summary of qualifications should also be provided, highlighting relevant experience and accomplishments. 3. It is critical to emphasize the results you can drive, such as the number of projects you've completed or the impact your written content has made. 4. Keep Technical Writer resumes concise and professional, avoiding any irrelevant content and only including the most relevant sections and skills.
Technical Writers should include a range of hard skills in their resume, both technical and nontechnical. The technical skills will be of particular importance, as this profession is focused on using technical knowledge for the creation and documentation of information. Examples of technical hard skills include: -Ability to use content-management systems and mark-up languages, such as HTML, CSS and XML -Ability to use graphic design and software development tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Visual Studio -Knowledge of information systems and database management -Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to create crisp, well written copy Non-technical skills can also be important, depending on the job role. This can include: -Strong problem solving and analytical skills -Excellent organizational and communication abilities -Detail-oriented and capable of multi-tasking -Flexible and able to easily adapt to changing technology and trends -Knowledge of the industry, with an understanding of technical processes and terminology Including both technical and non technical hard skills in a resume will help any Technical Writer stand out and land the job they are applying for.
If you have no experience as a Technical Writer, it is still important to write a high-quality resume. Include all prior experiences that show your technical aptitude and skills. Be sure to include any computer skills, programming languages, software, or hardware that you have used in the past. Make sure you detail the projects you were a part of and any relevant volunteer or educational experience. Additionally, highlight the communication, writing, and problem-solving skills that you have.