Crafting a CV that showcases your capacity for translating complex technical information into accessible documentation is a challenge unique to your field. Our guide will provide you with strategies and examples to effectively highlight your skills and experience, ensuring you stand out to prospective employers.
Land the job of your dreams with our bespoke guide on how to:
- Design and format your professional technical writer CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading technical writer CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your technical writer CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
Resume examples for technical writer
Explore additional technical writer cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Senior Technical Writer
- Structured for Clarity and Conciseness - The CV is well-organized with clearly divided sections that make it easy to navigate and read. Each segment, from experience to education, is distinct and streamlined, allowing the reader to quickly identify essential information and understand the candidate's qualifications without unnecessary jargon.
- Impressive Career Progression - Amelia Murphy has demonstrated a solid career trajectory, advancing from a Content Specialist to a Senior Technical Writer at prestigious companies like Atlassian and Salesforce. This progression showcases her ability to grow within the technical writing field and adapt to increasing levels of responsibility in leading documentation projects.
- Strong Emphasis on Business Impact - The achievements section is particularly notable for illustrating the tangible business benefits of Amelia's work. By driving a 30% increase in customer satisfaction and reducing support tickets by 20%, her contributions are not just confined to completing tasks but directly tie into enhancing overall company performance and user experience.
Junior Technical Writer
- Strategic Content Development and Impact - Charlie Thomas's CV showcases a strategic approach to content development, with specific achievements like reducing support tickets by 30% through enhanced documentation clarity. This highlights Thomas's effectiveness in not only creating content but also in ensuring it addresses user needs, thereby directly impacting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Progressive Growth in Technical Documentation - The career trajectory from a Content Writing Intern to a Junior Technical Writer demonstrates a clear growth path. Thomas shows a progression in roles and responsibilities, reflecting the development of skills and deeper engagement with technical documentation over time. This growth is indicative of a focused career in technical writing with increasing influence in product documentation.
- Emphasis on Cross-Functional Collaboration - The CV effectively emphasizes Thomas's adaptability and cross-functional experience by detailing collaboration with product teams and acting as an information resource across company functions. This shows Thomas’s capability to work well within diverse teams, contributing to feature launches and maintaining a unified voice in documentation.
Lead Technical Writer
- Clear Chronological Career Progression - Poppy Griffiths’ career trajectory is distinctly outlined, beginning with a foundational role at Raytheon UK and progressing to leadership at BAE Systems. Each role demonstrates growth in responsibility and skillset, featuring continuous promotions within the technical writing industry.
- Proficient Use of Industry-Standard Tools - The CV stands out by detailing Griffiths’ expertise in essential tools such as MS Office, Visio, and XML-based platforms like Arbortext and Oxygen. This technical depth reflects her capability to manage sophisticated documentation projects with precision.
- Achievements Highlight Business Impact - Beyond listing achievements, the CV attributes significant business impacts to each accomplishment, such as reducing customer support inquiries by 40% and error rates by 30%. This approach effectively communicates the tangible benefits of her contributions to the company.
Principal Technical Writer
- Content presentation is sleek and precise - The CV opens with a succinct summary that highlights Ethan Palmer's major accomplishments and technical skills right away, setting a strong tone for the entire document. The structure is clear and organized, following a logical order through sections like experience, education, and achievements, making the information easy to digest.
- Impressive career trajectory in a specialized field - Ethan's advancement from a Technical Documentation Specialist to a Principal Technical Editor/Writer illustrates a clear path of professional growth and increased responsibilities within the specialized military technical documentation industry. This trajectory highlights his dedication and capability to excel in rigorous, high-stakes environments.
- Industry-specific tools and methodologies are prominently featured - The CV showcases Ethan's expertise with specific tools like Adobe Acrobat and InDesign, which are crucial for technical documentation. Additionally, it reflects his understanding of military documentation standards and processes, illustrating technical depth that is well-tailored to his niche field.
By Role
Technical Content Writer
- Structured and Clear Presentation - The CV is meticulously structured, offering a clear narrative of Ivy Ward's expertise and experience. Each section is concise and logically organized, making it easy for recruiters to follow her career storyline and assess her suitability for the role of a technical content writer.
- Continuous Growth and Specialization - Ivy's career trajectory showcases consistent growth, moving from a Junior Technical Writer to a senior position at Sophos. Her progression highlights her continued development in cybersecurity and UX, key areas that underline her specialization and commitment to the field.
- Adaptive Cross-Functional Expertise - The CV features Ivy’s adaptability as she collaborates extensively across functions, from UX teams to product management. Her ability to work within various teams reflects her versatility and shows how she can leverage cross-functional expertise to enhance the overall quality of technical content.
Technical Proposal Writer
- Content presentation through structured clarity - Ava Phillips' CV is organized into clear sections, enhancing readability. Each section is concise and focused, providing pertinent information without overwhelming the reader. The use of bullet points effectively highlights key achievements and responsibilities, facilitating a quick grasp of her qualifications and experience.
- Career trajectory illustrating progressive growth - The evolution of Ava’s career from a Technical Writer to a Technical Proposal Writer and Grant Coordinator reflects her upward mobility and ability to take on more complex and higher-stakes projects. Her move into proposal writing and coordination highlights her development in leadership and strategic planning skills, indicative of her ambition and growing expertise in the field.
- Significant industry-specific achievements - Ava's accomplishments, such as securing significant grants and implementing new systems, underscore her impact on her employers. These achievements not only reflect technical proficiency but also a practical understanding of the industry’s needs, showcasing her capability to drive financial growth and organizational efficiency.
Technical Manual Writer
- Effective Content Presentation - The CV is structured clearly, with distinct sections that concisely present key information. This includes a well-defined summary, detailed job experience bullets, and specific achievements, ensuring the reader can easily navigate and understand Freya Richardson's professional capabilities.
- Demonstrated Career Progression - Freya's career trajectory reveals a natural progression from a Junior to Senior Technical Writer, signifying steady growth. Her movement from roles in companies like Rolls-Royce to BAE Systems within the defense and engineering sectors illustrates a targeted career path enriched with industry-specific experience.
- Adaptability and Cross-Functional Collaboration - The CV emphasizes Freya’s ability to adapt and collaborate across various teams. Her experience working closely with engineers, designers, and technicians highlights her versatile communication skills and capacity to integrate diverse perspectives into technical documentation.
Technical Report Writer
- Clear and Effective Content Presentation - The CV is structured with clarity and conciseness, making it easy for readers to identify key information quickly. Each section is well-organized with the use of bullet points that emphasize accomplishments and responsibilities, enhancing overall readability.
- Strong Career Trajectory and Growth - The career progression outlined shows a clear trajectory of growth from a Technical Content Developer to a Senior Technical Writer. This progression highlights not only advancement within the industry but also increasing responsibility and expertise in team leadership and project management.
- Demonstrated Impact through Achievements - The CV effectively uses achievements to convey impact beyond mere statistics by focusing on the resulting business improvements. For example, enhancing report clarity by 20% and achieving a 95% compliance rate demonstrate a direct influence on efficiency and standards adherence, which are crucial for the technical writing field.
Technical Writer in Software Development
- Methodical Presentation and Clarity - The CV is organized with a structured layout, making it easy to follow the career progression and skills. Each section is clearly defined, with concise bullet points that highlight the key responsibilities and achievements in a straightforward manner, ensuring that the reader can quickly grasp the candidate's qualifications and contributions.
- Progressive Career Development - Matilda's career trajectory demonstrates a clear growth path, starting as a Software Documentation Specialist at Oracle and progressing to a Senior Technical Writer role at Red Hat. This upward movement, combined with her strategic contributions such as leading documentation transitions and mentoring junior writers, illustrates a strong capacity for leadership and professional development within the tech writing domain.
- Mastery of Industry-Specific Tools and Techniques - The CV emphasizes Matilda’s proficiency with advanced tools like Sphinx, Swagger, and Hugo, critical for modern technical writing. This familiarity, combined with her expertise in programming languages like C++ and Python, showcases her deep technical understanding, which is essential for creating precise and effective software documentation.
Technical Writer in Aerospace Engineering
- Structured Career Progression - Isabelle Reed's CV demonstrates a clear upward trajectory in her career, moving from a Technical Documentation Specialist to a Senior Technical Writer at prestigious companies like Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems. This progression showcases not only her advancing expertise but also her ability to thrive in increasingly responsible roles within the engineering and automotive sectors.
- Industry-Specific Tool Proficiency - The CV highlights Reed’s proficiency with specialized tools such as Arbortext, FrameMaker, and PowerLog-J, which are relevant to her field in technical writing for engineering publications. Her ability to effectively use these tools is critical in ensuring high-quality documentation and efficiency in creating user-friendly content for complex technical subjects.
- Achievements and Impact - The inclusion of significant achievements such as reducing documentation errors by 30% and contributing to a 15% increase in production efficiency illustrates Reed's tangible impact on her employers' operations. These accomplishments are presented with clear results, demonstrating her effectiveness and the value she adds to business processes.
Technical Writer in Biotechnology
- Structured Content Presentation - The CV is thoughtfully organized, clearly separating sections such as Education, Experience, Skills, and Achievements, making it easy for potential employers to quickly scan and assess Olivia Turner's qualifications and experience relevant to the role of a scientific grant writer.
- Impressive Career Trajectory - Over the years, Olivia has demonstrated substantial growth, moving from an R&D Proposal Writer to a Senior Grant Writer. This upward trajectory underscores her dedication and capability to adapt and excel within the biotechnology and life sciences domain.
- Industry-Specific Expertise - Olivia showcases her ability to translate complex biomedical research into persuasive grant proposals, reflecting a deep understanding of the industry. Her skills in multiple scientific domains like cardiology, neurology, and oncology further highlight her technical depth and suitability for high-impact projects.
Technical Writer in Telecommunications
- Structured for Impact and Clarity - The CV is meticulously organized with clearly defined sections that immediately guide the reader through Harry Williams' professional journey. The use of concise bullet points in the experience section allows for quick assimilation of key achievements and responsibilities, ensuring that critical information is both accessible and memorable.
- Evident Career Progression and Industry Expertise - Harry's career trajectory showcases a clear progression from a Proposal Writer to a Senior Technical Writer, indicating upward mobility and increased responsibility over time. His consistent experience within defense-oriented companies like BAE Systems and Thales Group highlights his specialized expertise in DOD proposals and the defense industry.
- Demonstrated Leadership and Process Enhancement - The CV emphasizes Harry's leadership skills through his role in leading teams and implementing new systems that enhance document processes. Achievements such as reducing customer support queries and document retrieval times highlight his ability to effectively manage projects and drive efficiency improvements, thereby impacting the broader organizational success.
Technical Writer in Manufacturing
- Concise and Well-Structured Presentation - Jacob Roberts' CV presents an impressive clarity in layout, offering a structured overview of his professional experience in technical writing for pharma manufacturing. Key sections, such as experience, education, and achievements, are distinct and easy to navigate, making it simple for readers to locate specific information swiftly. Additionally, bullet points succinctly highlight his contributions and results, allowing for quick comprehension without unnecessary verbosity.
- Steady Career Growth in a Specific Niche - The CV illustrates a strong career trajectory within the pharmaceutical industry, from an initial role at Pfizer to senior positions at AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. This progression indicates a deepening expertise and increased responsibilities over time. His roles reflect a commitment to specializing in technical writing and cGMP compliance—critical areas within pharma manufacturing—showcasing both stability and targeted growth in a competitive field.
- Emphasis on Cross-Functional Leadership and Compliance Expertise - Jacob's experience not only highlights his technical writing skills but also emphasizes his leadership in cross-functional settings. Spearheading initiatives like electronic document management systems and training programs, he displays notable managerial and collaborative skills. Additionally, his ability to maintain high compliance standards underscores his technical depth and understanding of stringent regulatory requirements—a critical asset in the pharmaceutical sector.
Technical Writer in Energy Sector
- Organized and Clear Content Presentation - The CV is structured in a logical manner, clearly segmenting professional experience, education, skills, and achievements. This organization allows easy readability and ensures that each section serves its purpose effectively, providing a concise yet comprehensive overview of Eva Fisher's capabilities and background.
- Diverse Career Trajectory with Focus Areas - Eva's career path shows a focused trajectory in technical writing within the energy sector, demonstrating her growth from a Document Specialist to a Lead Procedure Writer at National Grid. This progression highlights her growing expertise and leadership in developing procedure documentation, particularly within clean energy, emphasizing specialized knowledge within the industry.
- Achievements with Significant Business Impact - The CV showcases achievements through quantifiable results, such as increasing project initiation efficiency by 30% and reducing procedural errors by 40%. These metrics not only highlight Eva's contributions but also illustrate how her work leads to tangible business improvements, reinforcing her value in advancing project success and efficiency.
Technical Writer in Automotive Industry
- Structured narrative of expertise - The CV prominently features a clear structure that emphasizes the candidate's experience in DIY automotive content, neatly outlining their progression from a hands-on service technician to a specialized editorial content writer. This logical flow helps the reader quickly grasp the candidate's expertise and industry development.
- Career evolution through industry roles - Amelia Murphy's career trajectory reveals significant growth, beginning with a foundational role as an Automotive Service Technician and advancing to high-level content positions with industry leaders like Autodata Group and Haynes Manuals. This demonstrates a strategic shift towards sophisticated content creation tailored for the automotive sector.
- Distinctive technical competencies - The CV showcases unique skills such as the use of XML Editor for technical documentation and creating comprehensive automotive repair manuals. These highlight specialized knowledge and technical depth directly relevant to the field of automotive content writing, underscoring her capability to translate complex data into practical guides.
Technical Writer in Pharmaceutical Industry
- Strategic Career Progression - Daisy Shaw's CV showcases a clear trajectory from a Documentation Specialist to a Senior Technical Writer, reflecting her growing expertise and leadership skills in the pharmaceutical and engineering documentation sectors. Her transitions between renowned companies like Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and GSK demonstrate her ability to thrive in high-demand environments, suggesting a strong reputation within the industry.
- Comprehensive Skill Set - The CV distinctly highlights Daisy's proficiency in using specialized tools such as Veeva Vault, MasterControl, Documentum, and OpenText, pointing to her technical adeptness in managing engineering documents. Additionally, her focus on GMP compliance underscores her in-depth understanding of industry-specific regulatory requirements, which is critical in pharmaceutical documentation.
- Impactful Achievements - The CV provides insights into Daisy's significant contributions to documentation efficiency and regulatory success. Her role in streamlining SOP processes and leading EDMS implementations indicates noticeable improvements in operational efficiency and compliance, which are crucial for maintaining competitive advantage and ensuring timely project approvals in pharma industries.
Technical Writer in Information Technology
- Structured Career Path - The CV illustrates a clear career trajectory moving from a Technical Project Manager at Fujitsu to a Systems Analyst at Capgemini, and finally to an IT Technical Writer at BT Group. Each step highlights a growing complexity in roles and responsibilities, showing a well-thought-out career progression where skills in project management and technical writing are increasingly leveraged.
- Diverse Technical Proficiency - Edward Mitchell’s CV demonstrates a unique combination of technical skills relevant to the IT sector, incorporating expertise in Microsoft Project, Test Complete, and agile methodologies. These tools and methodologies are vital in IT environments and underline the candidate’s ability to blend technical depth with strategic project supervision.
- Effective Impact Demonstration - The CV stands out in effectively showcasing the candidate’s achievements in terms of direct business impact, such as a 30% increase in training efficiency and a 98% on-time delivery rate. These accomplishments underline not just a capability to execute tasks but also to contribute significantly to organizational success and efficiency.
Technical Writer in Cybersecurity
- Career Trajectory Highlights Expertise in Cybersecurity - Elsie Murray’s CV showcases a progressive career with notable growth from a Technical Writer to a Senior Cybersecurity Technical Writer, culminating in expanded responsibilities at renowned companies such as BAE Systems and Thales Group. This progression emphasizes her deepening skills and increasing industry impact.
- Impactful Achievements and Business Relevance - The CV effectively quantifies the significance of achievements, such as a 40% increase in cybersecurity awareness and a 20% reduction in publication costs, demonstrating concrete contributions to organizational success and operational efficiency. These accomplishments illustrate her ability to drive impactful change.
- Technical Expertise in Policy and Risk Management - Elsie’s CV stands out with its detailed focus on cybersecurity policy development and risk assessment, supported by advanced education and certifications. She integrates cutting-edge initiatives into her work, which improves response times and policy compliance, showcasing a high level of technical depth specific to her field.
Technical Writer in Robotics
- Well-Structured Presentation - Noah Jones' CV is exceptionally clear and organized, presenting each section with precision and conciseness. It effectively outlines his professional journey, using bullet points to highlight key achievements and roles, making it easy for readers to quickly grasp his expertise and career highlights.
- Dynamic Career Growth - The CV reflects a clear trajectory of career advancement, transitioning from a Technical Documentation Specialist to a Senior Technical Writer at prestigious companies like BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce. Noah's movement into increasingly responsible roles highlights his progression and capacity for growth within the tech and engineering domains.
- Command of Industry-Specific Tools - Noah's proficiency in industry-specific methodologies and tools is evident in his experience sections. His expertise with SysML, API documentation, and Linux showcases his deep technical knowledge, crucial for roles that demand high-level documentation and technical integration skills.
Technical Writer in Artificial Intelligence
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is skillfully organized, showcasing Lily Cooper's experience in a clear and concise manner. Each section follows a logical order, beginning with a compelling summary and followed by detailed work experiences, education, skills, and achievements, making it easy for a recruiter to grasp her qualifications quickly.
- Strong Career Trajectory in Consultancy and Policy Implementation - Lily's career progression is evident through her promotions from a Public Policy Advisor to a Senior Consultant. Her consistent focus on policy implementation within top firms like Deloitte and Ernst & Young illustrates her commitment and upward trajectory within the field of public policy consultancy.
- Impressive Achievements with Societal Impact - The CV highlights Lily's ability to create business value and societal impact, notably by improving policy adherence by 20% and securing €500,000 in funding for EU projects. These achievements underscore her effectiveness in delivering results that go beyond mere numbers, contributing significantly to policy reform and stakeholder engagement.
Structuring and formatting your technical writer CV for an excellent first impression
The experts' best advice regarding your CV format is to keep it simple and concise. Recruiters assessing your CV are foremost looking out for candidates who match their ideal job profile. Your white space, borders, and margins. You may still be wondering which format you need to export your CV in. We recommend using the PDF one, as, upon being uploaded, it never alters your information or CV design. Before we move on to the actual content of your technical writer CV, we'd like to remind you about the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS). The ATS is a software that is sometimes used to initially assess your profile. Here's what you need to keep in mind about the ATS:
- All serif and sans-serif fonts (e.g. Rubik, Volkhov, Exo 2 etc.) are ATS-friendly;
- Many candidates invest in Arial and Times New Roman, so avoid these fonts if you want your application to stand out;
- Both single and double column CVs can be read by the ATS, so it's entirely up to you to select your CV design.
PRO TIP
For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a technical writer CV
- Work Experience showcases your job history and relevance to technical writing.
- Education and Certifications highlight qualifications specific to technical writing.
- Technical Skills Section outlines your proficiency in tools and technologies.
- Writing Portfolio demonstrates your abilities with actual work samples.
- Professional Affiliations show your involvement in the technical writing community.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Emphasise your ability to simplify complex information by showcasing previous work where you've translated technical jargon into layman's terms effectively.
- Highlight your proficiency with various documentation tools such as MadCap Flare, Adobe FrameMaker, or any CMS you've extensively used, demonstrating familiarity with industry standards.
- Include a section on your understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and your experience working within Agile, Waterfall, or DevOps environments.
- Detail your experience with API documentation, if applicable, including any experience with Swagger/OpenAPI or other API descriptor frameworks.
- Feature examples of your ability to maintain clear version control and document updates, reflecting a systematic approach to managing revisions and change logs.
Recommended reads:
How to present your contact details and job keywords in your technical writer CV header
Located at the top of your technical writer CV, the header presents recruiters with your key personal information, headline, and professional photo. When creating your CV header, include your:
- Contact details - avoid listing your work email or telephone number and, also, email addresses that sound unprofessional (e.g. koolKittyCat$3@gmail.com is definitely a big no);
- Headline - it should be relevant, concise, and specific to the role you're applying for, integrating keywords and action verbs;
- Photo - instead of including a photograph from your family reunion, select one that shows you in a more professional light. It's also good to note that in some countries (e.g. the UK and US), it's best to avoid photos on your CV as they may serve as bias.
What do other industry professionals include in their CV header? Make sure to check out the next bit of your guide to see real-life examples:
Examples of good CV headlines for technical writer:
- Senior Technical Writer | API Documentation Specialist | Certified Professional Technical Communicator | 8+ Years Experience
- Junior Technical Author | Recent Graduate in Technical Communication | User Manual Enthusiast | IT Industry Focus
- Technical Documentation Lead | SaaS Documentation Expert | Agile Documentation Techniques | 10 Years in Tech Writing
- Mid-Level Technical Writer | Medical Equipment Manuals | ISO 13485 Compliance | 5 Years Professional Writing
- Experienced Technical Copywriter | B2B Tech Marketing Content | SEO Savvy | 6+ Years Industry Expertise
- Professional Technical Communicator | Aerospace Documentation Authority | Simplified Technical English | 12 Years Crafting Docs
What's the difference between a technical writer CV summary and objective
Why should it matter to you?
- Your technical writer CV summary is a showcasing your career ambitions and your unique value. Use the objective to answer why your potential employers should hire you based on goals and ambitions. The objective is the ideal choice for candidates who happen to have less professional experience, but still meet some of the job requirements.
Before you select which one will be more relevant to your experience, have a look at some industry-leading CV summaries and objectives.
CV summaries for a technical writer job:
- Seasoned Technical Writer with over 8 years of experience in crafting user manuals and online help systems for tech giants in Silicon Valley. Expert in using MadCap Flare and RoboHelp to design comprehensive documentation that enhances user experience. Spearheaded the complete rewrite of ABC Corp's flagship product documentation, improving customer satisfaction scores by 25%.
- Detail-oriented professional with 5 years in technical communications for a leading software development firm in India. Developed over 50 technical guides and API documentation for cloud-based applications, leveraging skills in XML and Markdown. Recognised for designing an award-winning interactive documentation website that increased user engagement by 40%.
- Former software engineer pivoting into technical writing, leveraging a robust background in programming and system architecture over the span of a decade. Proficients in Java, Python, and C++, with a keen interest in bridging the gap between complex technical concepts and end-user comprehension. Implemented a peer-reviewed code documentation culture at XYZ Tech that improved codebase maintainability.
- Dynamic biologist turned Technical Writer, bringing a unique perspective to document complex scientific equipment and procedures with 6 years of research experience. Possesses an advanced understanding of scientific terminology and a strong ability to translate technical information into clear, concise instructional materials for non-expert audiences.
- As a recent graduate with a passion for technology and language, eager to begin a career in technical writing where I can apply my strong writing skills and learn how to create effective technical documentation. Aim to contribute fresh perspectives and a strong work ethic to a team dedicated to delivering high-quality user assistance materials.
- An ambitious individual with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and a minor in Computer Science, seeking an entry-level opportunity as a Technical Writer to combine my communication expertise with my enthusiasm for technology. Determined to build a solid foundation in technical writing and contribute to the success of help documentation and user guides.
The best formula for your technical writer CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Authored comprehensive user manuals for three cutting-edge software products, enhancing customer understanding and reducing support calls by 25%.
- Implemented an XML-based documentation system, streamlining the document update process and improving collaboration across a technical writing team of five.
- Designed and delivered online help documentation for a suite of financial services applications, increasing user self-service by 30% and improving user satisfaction scores.
- Conducted interviews with subject matter experts to ensure technical accuracy and inclusion of latest features in the quarterly release notes for a SaaS platform.
- Developed tutorial videos and e-Learning modules that reduced the onboarding time for new users of a project management tool by 50%.
- Managed documentation project timelines and resource allocation, consistently delivering high-quality technical content ahead of software release deadlines.
- Utilised DITA methodologies for creating modular and reusable content, reducing the time spent on updates by 40% with each product release cycle.
- Revamped the internal Wiki for technical support staff, providing them with up-to-date troubleshooting guides and reducing issue resolution time by 20%.
- Contributed to the standardisation of documentation practices across the company, leading to a 15% increase in document usability as measured by an internal audit.
Senior Technical Writer
Lead Technical Author
IBM
04/2019-Ongoing
- Led the creation and ongoing update of user manuals for over 15 software products, improving user understanding by 60% and reducing support queries by 35%.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams including developers, designers, and product managers to ensure technical accuracy and user-friendliness of documents.
- Initiated a company-wide terminology standardisation project for documentation which reduced inconsistencies across materials by 47%.
Experienced Technical Writer
Technical Documentation Specialist
Oracle Corporation
01/2016-12/2018
- Authored a comprehensive suite of technical specifications and API documentation that became a reference standard within the industry, cited by over 200 external developers.
- Developed and maintained an internal wiki that served as a knowledge base for new hires, shortening the onboarding process by 30%.
- Streamlined the documentation process by introducing agile methodologies, which decreased document delivery times by 25%.
Intermediate Technical Writer
Technical Writer II
Microsoft
05/2013-06/2016
- Designed and executed a new online help system that increased customer self-service by 40% and was awarded Best User Assistance documentation by the industry panel.
- Provided key contributions to the documentation of a major product release, which led to a 20% increase in product adoption within the first quarter.
- Implemented a peer review process that improved document quality score from 75% to 93%.
Junior Technical Writer
Associate Technical Author
Sony
08/2011-02/2013
- Authored over 100+ user guides and online help articles for consumer electronics, contributing to a user satisfaction rate increase from 70% to 85%.
- Assisted in the transformation from print to digital documentation, which resulted in a cost saving of £20,000 per annum.
- Participated in the sprint planning and documentation backlog refinement, ensuring documentation tasks were on par with software development sprints.
Entry-Level Technical Writer
Technical Author Assistant
Intel Corporation
03/2009-07/2011
- Produced and maintained over 50 technical data sheets, which increased product transparency and boosted sales by 18%.
- Engaged with subject matter experts to ensure technical veracity in user documentation, resulting in a 50% reduction in factual errors.
- Facilitated the migration of documentation from traditional platforms to a modern CMS, enhancing document accessibility and retrieval efficiency.
Technical Writer
Technical Author
Cisco Systems
06/2012-12/2015
- Conducted in-depth product research to develop over 30 installation and configuration guides for networking hardware, directly supporting an increase in customer DIY installations by 27%.
- Enhanced document interactivity by introducing annotated screenshots and videos, which reduced average reading time by 15 minutes per guide.
- Led workshops for global sales teams on product features and technical documentation, ensuring alignment with marketing strategies and message consistency.
Technical Writer Consultant
Freelance Technical Author
Self-employed
02/2017-03/2020
- Provided high-level technical writing services to fintech startups, including creating API documentation that facilitated the onboarding of application developers and partnerships with key financial platforms.
- Implemented version control practices for documentation, drastically reducing errors and outdated information across client documents by 40%.
- Designed custom templates and style guides tailored to client branding, enhancing professionalism and coherence in client-facing documents.
Technical Writer and Editor
Technical Documentation Editor
Caterpillar Inc.
01/2015-01/2017
- Oversaw a team of 4 writers to produce technical manuals for industrial machinery, increasing clarity and reducing user error by 30%.
- Edited and standardised technical documents across departments, ensuring all materials met the stringent ISO 9001 quality standards prior to audits.
- Enhanced user comprehension by incorporating 3D illustrations and exploded views into maintenance manuals, praised for visual effectiveness in customer feedback surveys.
What to add in your technical writer CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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PRO TIP
Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your technical writer CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your technical writer CV:
HARD SKILLS
Technical writing
Documentation design
User experience (UX) writing
Version control systems
API documentation
Markup languages (e.g. HTML, XML)
Technical editing
Research skills
Content management systems (CMS)
Information architecture
SOFT SKILLS
Attention to detail
Written communication
Time management
Critical thinking
Collaboration
Problem-solving
Adaptability
Continuous learning
Empathy for the end user
Organisational skills
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your technical writer CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your technical writer CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education, select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:
- List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
- Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
- Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional technical writer CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
