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.
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.
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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.
