Technical Writer Resume Guide

Technical writers create documents that explain complex products, processes, and concepts in an easy-to-understand way. They often write user manuals, online help files, installation guides and other technical documentation for their company or clients.

You have a knack for transforming complex information into easy-to-understand content. To make sure hiring managers recognize your writing skills, you must write an attention-grabbing resume that highlights all of your best qualities.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.

The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.

Full Resume Example Summary Experience Skills Education Certifications Contact Info Cover Letter Templates

Technical Writer Resume Sample

Ludie Walsh
Technical Writer

[email protected]
624-339-0651
linkedin.com/in/ludie-walsh

Summary

Hard-working technical writer with 5+ years of experience in creating user-friendly documentation for software and hardware products. Achieved significant improvement to customer satisfaction ratings by preparing accurate, clear, and concise instructions. Experienced in working with multiple teams including developers, product designers, marketing professionals and quality assurance engineers. Passionate about helping users understand complex topics quickly through highly organized content structures.

Experience

Technical Writer, Employer A
Indianapolis, Jan 2018 – Present

Presented technical product manuals, user guides and other technical documents to over 200 clients while ensuring accuracy of all content; achieved a 99.5% customer satisfaction rate in the last quarter.
Revised existing documentation for various software applications, improving readability by 50%, resulting in an 80% reduction in customer queries related to usage instructions since implementation.
Introduced innovative techniques such as diagrams and flowcharts for simplifying complex topics into easily understandable visuals; substantially increased page views on company website by 150%.
Achieved faster turnaround times with help from editing tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid, reducing document approval time from 10 days to 4 days on average without compromising quality or accuracy of information provided within documents.
Substantially improved client webinar attendance rates through comprehensive training materials including step-by-step tutorials which were distributed among 1000+ attendees prior to each event.

Technical Writer, Employer B
Eugene, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017

Diligently wrote and edited technical documents, user manuals, web content and product descriptions for 20+ software applications; improved readability by 10% on average.
Updated existing documentation of more than 15 products to include new features while ensuring accuracy in technical terminology at all times.
Demonstrated excellent communication skills when liaising with developers to confirm details of new releases or troubleshoot issues before adding them into the documentations; saved 30 hours per month as a result.
Summarized complex topics into concise documents that were easy for end users to understand using simple language and visuals such as diagrams; decreased support calls from customers by 40%.
Advised clients on best practices related to the use of their software applications through tutorials published online; increased customer engagement rate by 25%.

Skills

Technical Writing
Editing
Software Documentation
Technical Documentation
Writing
FrameMaker
Content Management
HTML
Visio

Education

Bachelor of Arts in English
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

Certifications

Certified Technical Communications Professional (CTCP)
Society for Technical
May 2017

1. Summary / Objective

A resume summary/objective is the perfect place to showcase your technical writing skills. In this section, you can highlight how many years of experience you have in the field and any certifications or awards that demonstrate your expertise. Additionally, mention any software programs or coding languages you are proficient with as well as any special projects where your work was featured prominently.

Below are some resume summary examples:

Reliable and detail-oriented technical writer with 7+ years of experience developing and editing user documentation for complex systems. Skilled in understanding customer needs, writing clear instructions, and creating visually appealing documents to optimize learning processes. At ABC Corporation, designed a comprehensive suite of manuals that improved customer satisfaction by 20%. Experienced working within SCRUM methodology and collaborating closely with software developers to ensure accuracy.

Seasoned technical writer with 5+ years of experience creating and editing user-friendly documentation for software products. Skilled at researching, writing, and formatting comprehensive documentation that meets precision standards. Highly experienced in preparing manuals, tutorials, quick references guides, release notes, installation instructions & troubleshooting documents. Excellent communication skills to collaborate effectively with stakeholders throughout the development process.

Energetic and creative technical writer with 8+ years of experience developing comprehensive user documentation, training materials, and marketing collateral. Proven track record of streamlining processes to improve customer satisfaction by 20%. Skilled in multiple software platforms including Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint, HTML5 and CSS3. Passionate about creating content that is accurate, clear, concise and engaging for all audiences.

Passionate and experienced technical writer with 9+ years of experience creating end-user documentation for software applications and hardware products. Skilled in quickly understanding complex product features, troubleshooting user issues, researching industry trends, and developing comprehensive support materials. At XYZ Company, increased customer satisfaction ratings by 30% through the development of concise instruction manuals.

Skilled technical writer with 5+ years of experience creating and editing technical documents for a wide range of audiences. Experienced in developing user guides, product specifications, training manuals, and other documentation designed to improve user understanding. Seeking to join ABC Tech as the next Technical Writer to help develop high-quality materials that explain complex procedures clearly and concisely.

Professional technical writer with 5+ years of experience developing user-friendly and engaging content for various software products. Proven track record in producing accurate, comprehensive, and high-quality technical documents that adhere to industry standards. Seeking to join ABC Tech as a senior technical writer where I can leverage my exceptional writing skills to create top-notch product documentation.

Dependable technical writer with 5+ years of experience developing technical documentation for a wide range of industries. Eager to join ABC Tech as a technical writer and help develop comprehensive, user-friendly documents that simplify complex topics. At XYZ Corporation, wrote 70% of the in-depth technical manuals for 12 flagship products resulting in improved customer satisfaction ratings by 32%.

Amicable technical writer with 5+ years of experience crafting high-quality technical documentation for enterprise software products. Achieved company recognition by editing and revising 50% of the customer service manuals in a year. Dedicated to helping ABC Tech grow its user base through comprehensive yet concise user guides that enable customers to quickly understand how their product works.

2. Experience / Employment

In the experience/employment/work history section, you should provide details of your past roles. This section should be written in reverse chronological order, with your most recent job listed first.

Stick to bullet points when providing information about what you did and the results achieved; doing so allows for a quick read-through by the reader. When writing out each point, make sure to include detail and quantifiable results where possible. For example, instead of saying “Wrote technical documentation,” you could say, “Authored 20+ pages of user guides per month that increased customer satisfaction ratings by 10%.”

To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:

Authored
Edited
Composed
Researched
Documented
Formatted
Illustrated
Published
Revised
Structured
Summarized
Translated
Wrote
Updated

Other general verbs you can use are:

Achieved
Advised
Assessed
Compiled
Coordinated
Demonstrated
Developed
Expedited
Facilitated
Formulated
Improved
Introduced
Mentored
Optimized
Participated
Prepared
Presented
Reduced
Reorganized
Represented
Spearheaded
Streamlined
Utilized

Below are some example bullet points:

Utilized industry-standard software to create and edit technical documents, such as user guides, tutorials, white papers and FAQs; increased efficiency by 20% through use of automated document templates.
Documented complex procedures for engineering teams in a clear and concise manner; reduced customer inquiries related to product installation by 25%.
Competently organized multiple projects simultaneously while meeting all deadlines on time or ahead of schedule across over 50+ writing assignments.
Published high quality reports that were distributed both internally within the organization and externally to customers/clients with positive feedback from stakeholders in 95% of cases.
Mentored 3 junior writers on best practices for creating effective technical documentation; generated an additional 5 hours per week of productivity due to improved workflows among team members.

Formulated detailed technical documents, user guides and product descriptions for various products; increased customer satisfaction by 15% in the last quarter.
Composed over 100 articles related to technology and IT topics, providing readers with concise yet comprehensive information about new technologies and trends.
Prepared online video tutorials that highlighted the features of a major software application, resulting in an increase of 20K downloads within 2 weeks after launch.
Reorganized complex data sets into simple diagrams using Visio software, helping stakeholders understand complicated concepts quickly and easily while reducing errors by 8%.
Meticulously proofread all content before publishing or submitting it to ensure accuracy; edited 500+ pages of web copy without any typos or grammatical mistakes reported from clients.

Coordinated complex projects involving multiple stakeholders to create technical documentation, such as product manuals and user guides; increased customer satisfaction ratings by 15% within the first year.
Expedited production cycles for a range of documents including installation instructions, troubleshooting guides, tutorials and reference materials; improved turnaround time from 6 weeks to 5 days on average.
Successfully translated complex information into easy-to-understand language for nontechnical audiences without sacrificing accuracy or integrity of original material; project was completed ahead of schedule by 4 weeks with no reported errors or omissions in content quality/accuracy.
Authored detailed white papers outlining software systems updates & changes that were then presented at two industry conferences; received positive feedback from attending members of both associations resulting in additional business opportunities worth over $30K+ annually in revenue growth potential each year going forward.
Compiled research statistics covering emerging trends related to the tech industry which resulted in an increase in web traffic volume by 40%.

Streamlined the technical writing process for over 100+ documents, resulting in a 20% reduction of time spent per document.
Edited and revised existing user-manuals to ensure accuracy, clarity of content and adherence to company guidelines; singlehandedly improved customer satisfaction levels by 27%.
Participated in multiple design reviews with development teams to identify areas where written materials need improvement; implemented changes within 1 week that resulted in a 25% decrease of customer queries related to product usage instructions.
Researched complex topics across various industries (manufacturing, finance etc.) while creating comprehensive reports on industry trends & market dynamics; reduced report creation time by 30 hours each month through effective use of online resources & research databases such as EBSCOhost & Proquest Databases.
Actively sought feedback from subject matter experts when generating white papers for proprietary products/services which increased overall quality assurance standards by 33%.

Wrote, edited, and produced technical documentation for software applications and products; crafted content that engaged readers while increasing customer satisfaction by 25%.
Optimized existing documents to ensure accuracy of information, clarity of language, as well as consistent formatting across all materials; boosted readability score from 65% to 85%.
Independently researched product features and functions in order to create efficient user guides, tutorials, FAQs & reference material that helped users navigate the system with ease.
Formatted manuals using MS Word or InDesign according to industry standards; decreased document production time by 50 hours per quarter through advanced automation techniques.
Facilitated communication between engineering teams and corporate stakeholders regarding technical requirements & design specifications; reduced miscommunication incidences by 30%.

Illustrated technical concepts for diverse audiences by creating easy-to-follow diagrams, flowcharts and infographics; resulted in a 15% reduction in customer service inquiries.
Assessed user needs to develop technical documents that provided clear instructions on the use of products and services; successfully produced 20 help manuals within the last 6 months.
Consistently met tight deadlines while producing high quality content with minimal edits required from senior management; achieved an average accuracy rate of 97%.
Spearheaded implementation of new documentation standards across departments, resulting in improved levels of document consistency companywide as well as a 25% increase in efficiency when it came to updating existing materials.
Compiled comprehensive reports containing detailed research findings, project goals & objectives, industry trends and other related data points necessary for strategic decision making processes; lead researchers saved 10+ hours per report due to efficient organization techniques used.

Improved website readability by 40% and user engagement rates by 70%, driving 2X more revenue for the company, through technical writing of website product descriptions.
Represented the company in a highly professional manner with clients as well as at internal meetings; developed relationships that led to successful collaborations on multiple projects.
Proficiently used HTML coding to create webpages, brochures and other online content while adhering to industry best practices such as W3C accessibility standards & SEO guidelines.
Structured concise yet comprehensive documents and reports tailored towards different audiences using various authoring tools (MS Word/Visio).
Developed training materials including manuals, video tutorials & case studies utilizing latest technologies like AR/VR for enhanced user experience.

3. Skills

Skill requirements will differ from employer to employer – this can easily be determined via the job advert. Organization ABC may be looking for a technical writer with experience in SaaS, while organization XYZ may need someone who is an expert at creating user manuals.

It is essential to tailor the skills section of your resume to each job you are applying for because many employers use applicant tracking systems these days. These computer programs scan resumes for certain keywords before passing them on to a human; if they don’t find what they’re looking for, then your application will likely end up in the “reject” pile.

Once listed here, it’s also important that you elaborate further on those key skills in other areas of your resume such as the summary or experience sections.

Below is a list of common skills & terms:

Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Creative Suite
Agile Methodologies
Analysis
Blogging
Business Analysis
CSS
Communication
Content Development
Content Management
Copy Editing
Copywriting
Creative Writing
Data Analysis
Documentation
Editing
FrameMaker
HTML
InDesign
Instructional Design
Manuals
Newsletters
Online Help
Process Improvement
Program Management
Project Planning
Proofreading
Proposal Writing
Quality Assurance
Requirements Analysis
RoboHelp
SharePoint
Snagit
Social Media Marketing
Social Networking
Software Documentation
Teaching
Team Leadership
Teamwork
Technical Communication
Technical Documentation
Technical Writing
Testing
Time Management
Troubleshooting
Visio
Web Content
Windows
Writing
XML

4. Education

Adding an education section to your resume should depend on how much work experience you have. If you are just starting out and lack professional experience, mention your education below your resume objective. However, if you already have a few years of technical writing under your belt, it might be better to omit the education section altogether.

If an education section is included in the resume, try to list courses or projects that are relevant to the job as a technical writer that you are applying for.

Bachelor of Arts in English
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

5. Certifications

Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge in a certain field. They are proof that you have taken the time to learn about an area of work, and can be used as evidence for potential employers when considering you for a job.

Include any certifications relevant to the position on your resume, as this will show hiring managers that you have gone above and beyond what is expected from other applicants.

Certified Technical Communications Professional (CTCP)
Society for Technical
May 2017

6. Contact Info

Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.

You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.

Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Ludie Walsh, this would be Ludie-Walsh-resume.pdf or Ludie-Walsh-resume.docx.

7. Cover Letter

Submitting a cover letter is an important part of the job application process. It provides you with a great opportunity to introduce yourself and explain why you’re the ideal candidate for the role.

Cover letters are typically made up of 2 to 4 paragraphs and should be tailored specifically for each position that you apply for. They serve as a complement to your resume, giving recruiters more insight into who you are and what makes you unique as a professional.

Below is an example cover letter:

Dear Margret,

I am writing in response to your posting for a technical writer. With my experience developing and editing content for software documentation, user manuals, and online help systems, I am confident I will be an asset to your organization.

I have a proven track record of being able to quickly learn new technologies and apply that knowledge to create accurate and user-friendly documentation. My ability to work independently or as part of a team makes me adaptable to any project or situation. And my attention to detail ensures that all documents meet the highest standards of quality.

Some of the key skills and accomplishments that make me the ideal candidate for this position include:

– 7+ years of experience developing technical documentation for software applications
– Superior writing, editing, and proofreading skills with an eye for detail
– Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with excellent research skills
– Ability to work independently or as part of a team in a fast paced environment

I’ve attached my resume which provides additional details about my background and experience. I can be reached anytime via phone or email if you should like discuss this opportunity further. Thank you for your time consideration; I look forward speaking with you soon about this Technical Writer role at your company.

Sincerely,

Ludie