Technical Writer Resume Example: Document Your Path to Success

Crafting a strong resume as a technical writer is essential for showcasing your ability to convert complex information into clear, user-friendly documentation. In this guide, you will find a detailed technical writer resume example along with actionable strategies to amplify your career in technical communication.

What Technical Writing Hiring Managers Are Looking For

When hiring for technical writers, managers prioritize candidates who can:

• Quickly understand complex products: Grasp intricate technologies and processes swiftly.
• Communicate effectively: Tailor messaging for diverse audiences, from developers to end-users, ensuring clarity.
• Collaborate cross-functionally: Work seamlessly with engineering, product management, and UX teams.

Statistics to Note

According to a survey by the IEEE Professional Communication Society, 70% of hiring managers seek candidates who can demonstrate strong collaboration skills, while 65% prioritize effective communication. Utilizing these skills strategically can significantly boost your chances of landing interviews.

Technical Writer Resume Structure

Professional Summary

Your professional summary should be a compelling snapshot of your skills and experiences. Here’s an effective example:

Technical Writer with over 6 years of experience creating user documentation, API guides, and developer resources for SaaS products. Reduced support tickets by 35% through comprehensive knowledge base development, and increased user satisfaction by 20% as measured by post-interaction surveys. Proficient in docs-as-code workflows, information architecture, and user-centered documentation design. Collaborated effectively with engineering teams to distill complex concepts into accessible documentation.

Skills Section

Craft your skills section to reflect your writing capabilities and technical expertise. Use categories for clarity:

Writing Skills

• Technical Documentation
• User Guides
• API Documentation
• Release Notes
• Knowledge Base Articles
• Tutorials

Tools

• MadCap Flare
• Confluence
• GitBook
• Notion
• Markdown
• DITA XML
• Swagger/OpenAPI

Technical Proficiencies

• Git, GitHub
• REST APIs
• HTML/CSS
• Basic Python
• SQL
• Command Line Interfaces

Design Skills

• Information Architecture
• Content Strategy
• User Research
• Accessibility Best Practices
• Creating Diagrams and Screenshots

Collaboration Skills

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies
• Jira Project Management
• Engineering Collaboration
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) Interviews
• Peer Review Processes

Professional Experience

Senior Technical Writer | CloudTech Software | 2021-Present

• Owned documentation for a developer platform utilized by over 50,000 developers, managing 500+ pages of technical content.
• Reduced average support ticket volume by 35% through comprehensive self-service documentation and improved search functionality.
• Created API documentation using OpenAPI specifications, enabling developers to integrate in 50% less time.
• Implemented docs-as-code workflows with Git, Markdown, and CI/CD, reducing publishing time from 2 days to just 2 hours.
• Conducted user research interviews with 30+ customers to identify documentation gaps and enhance content strategy.
• Collaborated with 4 engineering teams to document new features within sprint cycles, achieving 100% of release deadlines.
• Mentored 2 junior writers on technical writing best practices and tool proficiency.

Technical Writer | SaaSCorp Inc. | 2018-2021

• Authored user documentation for enterprise HR software servicing 500+ organizations.
• Developed video tutorials and interactive guides, leading to a 25% increase in feature adoption.
• Created a style guide to maintain consistency across 300+ documentation pages.
• Managed translation workflows for 8 languages, coordinating with an external localization vendor.

Junior Technical Writer | TechStartup LLC | 2016-2018

• Produced end-user documentation for a mobile application with 100K+ monthly active users.
• Developed quick start guides that reduced customer onboarding time by 40%.
• Maintained release notes and changelogs for bi-weekly software releases.

Education

BA in English (Technical Communication) | San Jose State University | 2016

Portfolio

Include a link to your portfolio to showcase your work:

• Portfolio: www.yourportfolio.com/writing-samples
• GitHub: github.com/username (docs-as-code examples)

Certifications

• Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC)
• API Documentation Certification (Stoplight)
• Google Technical Writing Courses (I & II)

Key Tips for Technical Writer Resumes

1. Link to Writing Samples

Make it easy for potential employers to evaluate your work by including links to public documentation, sample guides, or a portfolio showcasing your writing range. Consider using this template:

- **Portfolio:** [www.yourportfolio.com/writing-samples](http://www.yourportfolio.com/writing-samples)
- **GitHub:** [github.com/username](http://github.com/username)

2. Quantify Documentation Impact

To illustrate your value, include metrics such as support ticket reductions, customer satisfaction improvements, and time savings. For example, “Reduced support tickets by 35%” or “Improved feature adoption by 25%.”

3. Demonstrate Technical Skills

Highlight your proficiency with tools relevant to technical writing, such as docs-as-code methodologies and API documentation. Be specific about your experience with tools like Git or Markdown.

4. Show Collaboration

Illustrate your ability to work with cross-functional teams. For example, “Collaborated with engineering teams to document new features,” emphasizes your teamwork skills.

5. Include Research Skills

Acknowledge the importance of understanding users. Mention any experience with user research or feedback analysis, which can enhance your documentation.

Common Technical Writer Resume Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls to ensure your resume stands out:

• No portfolio link: Always include links to writing samples; omitting this can raise red flags.
• Vague deliverables: Be specific about what you wrote—use metrics and context to strengthen your claims.
• Ignoring technical skills: Modern technical writing necessitates proficiency with relevant tools and coding knowledge. Don’t downplay this.
• Missing metrics: Quantify the impact of your documentation on support, user satisfaction, or adoption rates.
• Outdated tools: Ensure your toolset reflects current industry practices, such as including experience with Git and docs-as-code workflows.

Final Thoughts

Your technical writer resume should reflect the clarity and user-focused approach you apply in your documentation. By showcasing your portfolio, quantifying your impact, and highlighting both writing excellence and technical skills, you position yourself for success in competitive technical writing roles.

Take action today to refine your resume and elevate your career in technical writing. For further assistance, you can Create Your Resume or use our ATS Checker to ensure your resume is optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems.