Technical Writer Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Carla Johnson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Pittsburgh, PA
Profile
A Technical Writer with entry-level experience, specializing in editing, journalism, copywriting, and content development. A proven track record of crafting high-quality technical articles, business proposals, and white papers. Adept at translating complex terminology into accessible language for audiences.
Professional Experience
Technical Writer, Illuvian Aerospace Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
May 2021 – Present
- Conduct proofreading, technical writing, and editing for the development of user manuals, business proposals, white papers, and reports for an industry-leading aerospace company valued at $2B
- Perform quality reviews on technical articles, ensure compliance with style guidelines, and propose edits to improve writing clarity and accessibility
- Coordinate with subject matter experts to discuss high-level concepts, enhance content quality, and translate technical terms into accessible language
Academic Experience
Lead Editor, The Pitt News, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
May 2020 – May 2021
- Wrote, proofread, and edited articles for the school newspaper, which included coordinating with student editors to refine content, identify news stories, and provide coverage on events and developments across campus
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Technical Writing
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA September 2017 – May 2021
Key Skills
- Technical Writing
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Suite
Certifications
- Technical Writing Certification Course, Technical Writer HQ, 2021
Jason Morrison
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, San Francisco, CA
Profile
A Technical Writer with five years of experience, specializing in developing user guides, HTML, quality assurance, and technical writing. A strong history of coordinating with cross-functional teams to create user-facing technical documentation. Expertise in developing accessible training materials for diverse audiences.
Professional Experience
Technical Writer, Workforce Software Solutions, San Francisco, CA
May 2018– Present
- Collaborate with product management teams and cross-functional groups to develop training guides and documentation for software products generating $25M in revenue
- Create feature articles on software products and develop user-facing training materials for customers, including videos, user guides, and white papers
- Interface with subject matter experts and software engineers to maintain product knowledge and perform quality assurance reviews on technical articles and documents
- Translated technical concepts and software specifications into accessible business solutions for customers in collaboration with product marketing teams
Technical Writer, Resource Management Software Co., San Francisco, CA
May 2016– May 2018
- Wrote, proofread, and edited technical documentation in support of enterprise software products, which included creating customer-facing materials on software solutions for resource management and workforce planning
- Collaborated with product owners, cross-functional teams, and software developers to create internal and external guides for software installation, configuration, and usage
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Technical Writing
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- User Training Guides
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Product Documentation
- Quality Assurance
- Microsoft Office Suite
Certifications
- Technical Writing Certification Course, Technical Writer HQ, 2017
Daniel Chen
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, San Diego, CA
Profile
A Senior Technical Writer with 10+ years of experience, specializing in Agile development, SOPs, product development, and technical writing. A proven track record of collaborating with subject matter experts to translate technical documentation into employee training materials. Adept at managing and leading diverse teams to achieve organizational goals.
Professional Experience
Senior Technical Writer, Efflusia Pharma Inc., San Diego, CA
May 2016– Present
- Translate processes and procedures for drug development and quality control into accessible employee training documentation for a leading pharmaceutical company with over $100M in annual revenue
- Manage a team of five technical writers to create standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality documents, training guides, and drug development protocols
- Perform quality assurance reviews on all training materials and technical documentation and propose revisions to improve accuracy and readability for employees
Technical Writer, SoCal Med Device Inc., San Diego, CA
May 2011– May 2016
- Developed white papers, user guides, and technical documents in support of medical device product lines, which included coordinating with quality assurance teams and subject matter experts to refine and develop user-facing and internal documentation
- Oversaw the product labeling process and performed quality reviews with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Technical Writing
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Product Development
- Technical Writing
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Team Management
- Quality Assurance
Certifications
- Technical Writing Certification Course, Technical Writer HQ, 2012
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Technical Writers Resumes
Employers often use Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) to scan resumes for specific keywords during the initial phase of the application process. You need to tactically integrate key skills and action verbs from the job posting into your document to meet these ATS requirements. Companies value candidates who meet their organizational needs, and providing examples of your expertise in these areas will go a long way in securing your next interview. Below, you’ll find a list of key skills and action verbs you may encounter during your job search.
Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
---|---|
Adobe Suite | Agile |
Business Proposals | Case Studies |
Compliance | Copywriting |
Cross-Functional Collaboration | Editing |
Grant Writing | HTML |
Journalism | Microsoft Office Suite |
Product Development | Product Research |
Proofreading | Quality Assurance |
Quality Control | SharePoint |
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | Technical Documentation |
Technical Writing | Training Materials |
Translation | User Guides |
UX Writing | White Papers |
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Analyze | Conduct |
Coordinated | Collaborate |
Create | Develop |
Design | Edit |
Enhance | Examine |
Execute | Identify |
Implement | Lead |
Manage | Oversee |
Perform | Proofread |
Resolve | Support |
Tips for Writing a Better Technical Writer Resume
Quantify your technical writing experience
Including numbers and metrics from your professional experience will help establish a sense of scope for the hiring manager as they review your document. Although not all of your achievements as a technical writer are easy to quantify, there are opportunities to integrate metrics and monetary figures into your experience. For example, if you were developing white papers or user guides for a particularly lucrative product, you should specify how much revenue the product generated. If you enhanced quality assurance review processes, you should detail how much this improved accuracy or reduced errors. Below, you’ll find examples to help you quantify your technical writing experience on your resume.
Example #1
Good
- Created white papers, technical documentation, and user-facing training guides for a suite of HR software products generating over $25M in annual revenue
Bad
- Wrote complex technical documentation for various products generating large sums of revenue for the organization
Example #2
Good
- Spearheaded the implementation of a new quality assurance review process with SMEs across all phases of product development for technical documentation, which reduced errors by 60% and improved the accuracy and quality of white papers
Bad
- Implemented a new review process for quality assurance to reduce errors and improve accuracy for documentation
Feature your leadership abilities
Employers want candidates who thrive in fast-paced team environments. Showcasing your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and subject matter experts to translate high-level technical documentation will help brand you as an effective leader. If you were managing teams, you should focus on the type of work culture you established and your managerial style. Avoid simply detailing the specific tasks you delegated to team members, as this won’t help you stand out amidst the applicant pool. Below, you’ll find examples to help you feature your leadership skills on your resume.
Example #1
Good
- Managed a team of 10+ technical writers, provided mentorship, coaching, and constructive feedback, and established an inclusive work culture centered on collaboration
Bad
- Led a team of technical writers, assigned project tasks, reviewed work, corrected mistakes, evaluated performance, and maintained working relationships
Example #2
Good
- Coordinated with product marketing, software development, and engineering teams and interfaced with subject matter experts to expand knowledge of products and use cases for the development of product documentation
Bad
- Worked with various teams and experts to learn about how the products work and perform technical writing tasks
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
Aligning your resume with the job description will give you an edge over the competition during the hiring process. Implementing specific keywords from the job description into your resume is essential to meet ATS specifications and make a positive impression on the hiring manager. Candidates often overlook this aspect of the resume building process, and you won’t achieve the desired results if your document isn’t properly tailored to specific job opportunities.
When deciding what skills and qualifications to prioritize on your resume, you should evaluate the order in which the keywords appear on the posting. Terms mentioned early in the posting are typically mandatory requirements for the role. If you notice that a qualification is listed more than once on the posting, you should integrate the keyword into either your professional profile or one of your top bullet points. Below, you’ll find an example to help you align your resume with the job description.
Technical Writer Job Description Example
XYZ, Technology Inc. is a leading software development company named one of the best places to work in New York. Put your technical writing skills to the test in a fast-paced Agile environment. We’re looking for a technical writer who excels in cross-functional collaboration with product management teams and subject matter experts (SMEs) to join our organization.
Responsibilities:
- Translate software concepts into technical documentation, white papers, and user training guides for internal staff and external customers
- Partner with subject matter experts (SMEs) to create technical documents and SOPs to drive quality control throughout product development and launch
- Perform editing, proofreading, and technical writing in collaboration with a diverse team of technical writers and conduct quality assurance audits
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in English or technical writing required
- 5-6 years of technical writing experience required
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite
- Strong team management and project management skills
According to the job description, the ideal job applicant should have the following qualities and/or experience:
- Technical Writer
- Technical Writing
- Agile
- Cross-Functional
- Quality Assurance
- User Training Guides
- Technical Documentation
- White Papers
- Quality Assurance
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe Suite
- Team Management
- Project Management
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
Next, take what you highlighted from the job description and include your experience and skills that match. Below is an example of how to incorporate them in your resume to your advantage:
Technical Writer Work Experience Example
Profile
A Technical Writer with five years of experience, specializing in quality assurance, project management, Agile, and team management. A strong history of executing technical writing projects to support the release of new software products. Adept at interfacing with subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop high-quality user training guides.
Technical Writer
Syracuse Software Inc., October 2016 – Present
- Manage a team of six technical writers and perform proofreading and editing for white papers and technical documentation
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams in an Agile environment to support product launches and create user-facing training materials
Key Skills
- Technical Writing
- Quality Assurance
- Editing
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe Suite