Technical Writer Resume Examples
Let’s get technical - it’s time to write your resume
Build Your Technical Writer Resume
Professional Resume Samples for a Technical Writer
Technically, you should take advantage of our resume samples and expert tips
Technical Writer Resume Tips and Ideas
Do you enjoy reading scientific material writen in a reader-friendly fashion? Then you can thank a technical writer. Technical writers may work for print or electronic publications, translating complicated information into text that is easy to understand.
Technical writers may be required to perform research, analyze statistics, conduct interviews, and meet tight deadlines. They should demonstrate good writing and editing skills with a deep technical knowledge of the subject at hand. They should also be creative and accurate in their writing. Computer skills are a must, and multimedia skills – including photography, photo and video editing, or graphic design – are not usually required but add value.
Are you ready to put your technical writing skills to work in crafting your own resume? Check out our expert tips and professional resume samples for inspiration.
Top Tips
- A chronological resume format is recommended.
- When designing your technical writer resume, consider:
- Professional appearance
- Layout
No
- Contact information
- Skills
- Work history
- Education
Required:
- Objective statement
- Certifications
- Language proficiency
- Publications
Optional:
One page, 8.5 by 11 inches, letter size
Format
A chronological resume format is recommended for resume writers. Why? Because education and work history are important considerations during the hiring process.
To create a chronological resume, first list your contact information and skills. Then, list your work history and educational background in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent experience.
Design
When designing your resume, you want to ensure a professional appearance. To do so, you can begin with an online resume template and customize it to fit your needs or design your own based on our professional examples.
The design of your resume is also important because, as a technical writer, you will be expected to create documents. Your resume, then, serves as an early “sample” of your work.
Select a sans serif font such as Arial, and use it consistently throughout the document, varying from 11 to 12-point font and in bold or italic styles. Organize your information into sections and give each a concise heading. Your layout should leave plenty of white space between blocks of text.
Photo
Within the United States, including a photo with your resume is not recommended. This is due to anti-discrimination laws.
If applying outside of the U.S., research what resume practices are common in that country. In some lands, a photo is expected.
Sections of a Resume
Your resume must include the four sections that are vital to every resume. These are:
- Contact information
- Skills
- Work history
- Education
These sections introduce you to your potential employer, giving him or her a well-rounded appraisal of your career and abilities.
You can also spice up your resume with additional, optional sections. You can choose to include these based on your personal experiences. Optional sections could include:
- Objective statement
- Certifications
- Language proficiency
- Publications
Your objective statement lends direction to your career goals, stating clearly what you feel you can bring to the table. Do you have any certifications, such as a typing certificate or notary licensure? Do you speak a language in addition to English? If so, this can add value to you as an employee.
If you’ve been writing for a long time, you may have published works. Whether these are books, blog posts, or something in between, you can include web links in a brief portfolio of your published works. This adds real weight to your status as a professional writer. It also allows your hiring manager to glimpse your writing style.
Resume Length
Your resume should generally be limited to one page in length. If you have ample qualifications, you may decide to extend it to two pages, but no more.
Your resume should fit on standard 8.5 by 11-inch paper. When printing your resume, select a high-quality linen or cotton business paper.
Technical Writer Resume Section Headings
Your abilities as a technical writer can be summed up by your education, your work history, and your skills.
Education
Most candidates for technical writing positions hold a Bachelor’s degree in communication or journalism. Others may have graduated from technical writing programs or hold degrees in computer science, liberal arts, or engineering. Some hold degrees specific to their industries.
There are also non-degree certifications available to technical writers. These certifications help writers stay up to date with technical writing trends and technology as well as their area of specialization.
Work experience
Include your entire work history, listed in reverse chronological order. Previous work in journalism bodes well. You can also highlight transferable skills from other experience outside of the writing sector.
Skills
Technical writers should be quick learners, as they will first need to understand the information they wish to convey. Listening, research, and information gathering skills are essential.
The technical writer should also have good explanatory writing skills, that is, the ability to transmit complicated concepts in a simple and understandable manner. The writer should also be able to copy edit and proofread the document, ensuring that it is free from errors.
Some technical writers may be called upon for graphic design, document layout, video production, or social media posts.
Technical Writer Resume Vocabulary & Writing Tips
Expertise in your technical field has likely afforded you an expansive vocabulary. You can put that vocabulary to work, focusing on keywords related to your line of work. Today, many companies pre-screen resumes using specialized software called Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) that looks for specific keywords. This means you should include those keywords in your resume.
How will you know what keywords you should use? Check out the company website for industry-specific keywords. Then, scour the job listing or job description for more. We’ve also supplied to following potential keyword list for your use.
As a technical writer, it is essential that you edit and proofread your completed resume. Your resume serves as a first “sample” of your writing ability. Errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation could cost you your desired job.
Words to Use
- Scientific data
- Statistics
- Reader-friendly
- Visual aid
- Nontechnical audience
- Process documentation
- Grant
- Target audience
- Manual
- Word processing
- Photoshop
- Editor
- Writer
- Technical writing
- Document
- Design
Action Verbs
- Translate
- Perform
- Research
- Review
- Write
- Edit
- Proofread
- Interview
- Communicate
- Study
- Learn
- Observe
- Consult
- Process
- Maintain
- Produce
Resume Samples
1. Candidate seeking medical technical writer position
An experienced medical writer capable of fulfilling all of County Hospital’s writing and marketing needs.
- Experienced in writing and editing newsletters, webpages, reports, and project proposals.
- Increased traffic on Community Hospital’s website by 7.5 percent.
- Performed quality assurance on all outgoing documents, checking for grammar, spelling, punctuation, content, and style.
- Received training on social media marketing techniques during an industry conference.
- Bachelor’s degreein mass media communication
- Master’s degreein public health leadership
- 10 yearsof work experience
- Social mediatraining
2. Candidate seeking entry-level technical writer position
A freelance writer who can ease workflow from your current workforce, creating accurate and enjoyable technical documents.
- Provided technical documentation to three engineering and product manufacture companies.
- Uses a research-focused writing style.
- Maintained process documentation for assembly line for 3 years, making quarterly revisions.
- Able to type 62 words per minute.
- Bachelor’s degreein journalism
- 2 yearsof journalism experience
- 3 yearsfreelance writing experience
- Typingcertificate
