Technical Writer Resume: Examples and Template for 2026

Why Technical Writing Resumes Need Special Attention

Let me tell you a story. A client came to me with a beautiful resume—clean design, great formatting—but it wasn't landing interviews for technical writing roles. The problem? She was describing documentation work the way a content marketer would, not a technical writer.

Technical writing is a specialized discipline. Your resume needs to speak the language of hiring managers who understand the difference between DITA and Markdown, who care about information architecture, and who want to see that you can translate complex technical concepts into clear user documentation.

Your technical writer resume must demonstrate three things: mastery of documentation tools, ability to simplify complexity, and measurable impact on user experience or business outcomes. Miss any of these, and you'll lose to candidates who get it right. For comprehensive strategies on optimizing your resume language, our professional impact dictionary covers the exact verbs and metrics for technical writing roles.

This guide walks you through creating a technical writer resume that showcases your unique strengths.

Technical Writer Resume Template

Here's a proven structure that showcases technical writing expertise:

TAYLOR WRIGHT
Technical Writer | API Documentation Specialist
taylor@email.com | portfolio.dev/taylorwrites | linkedin.com/in/taylorwrites

SUMMARY
Technical Writer with 6 years creating developer documentation for SaaS
platforms. Specialized in API documentation, SDK guides, and developer
portals. Documentation reduced support tickets by 40% and improved
developer onboarding time by 3 days at current role.

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Documentation Tools: MadCap Flare, Confluence, GitBook, ReadTheDocs
Markup Languages: Markdown, XML, DITA, reStructuredText, AsciiDoc
CMS/Publishing: WordPress, Git, GitHub Pages, Hugo, Jekyll
Development: Basic Python, JavaScript, cURL, REST APIs, Postman
Graphics: Snagit, Figma, Lucidchart, draw.io, Mermaid diagrams

EXPERIENCE
Senior Technical Writer | TechCorp Inc | 2022 - Present
• Created comprehensive API documentation covering 200+ endpoints
• Reduced developer onboarding time from 2 weeks to 4 days through
  improved getting-started guides
• Decreased support tickets by 40% after launching searchable knowledge base
• Collaborated with engineering to document 3 major product releases annually

Technical Writer | StartupXYZ | 2019 - 2022
• Authored SDK documentation for iOS, Android, and Web platforms
• Built docs-as-code pipeline integrating with GitHub and CI/CD workflows
• Created video tutorials averaging 15K views on YouTube channel
• Managed translation workflow for documentation in 8 languages

Junior Technical Writer | SoftwareCo | 2018 - 2019
• Documented internal tools and processes for 200+ employees
• Created user guides, quick-start cards, and procedural documentation
• Maintained wiki with 500+ articles, achieving 4.5/5 user satisfaction

PORTFOLIO
API Documentation Sample: portfolio.dev/api-docs-sample
Developer Guide: portfolio.dev/developer-guide
Knowledge Base Design: portfolio.dev/kb-project

EDUCATION
B.A. English Literature | State University | 2018
Certified Technical Writer, Society for Technical Communication

Essential Technical Skills for Technical Writers

Your technical skills section should demonstrate both documentation expertise and technical literacy.

Documentation Tools

Markup Languages and Formats

If you're looking at other content-related roles, our role-specific resume examples show how different writing positions present their qualifications.

Development and Technical Literacy

Hiring managers value technical writers who can read code and test examples:

Writing Achievement-Focused Bullets

Technical writing achievements need to show business impact, not just deliverables.

Weak vs. Strong Examples

Weak: "Wrote documentation for software products"

Strong: "Created comprehensive documentation suite covering 50+ features, reducing user support tickets by 35% within 6 months of publication"

Weak: "Managed documentation for API"

Strong: "Authored API reference documentation for 180 endpoints, improving developer integration success rate from 65% to 92%"

Weak: "Collaborated with engineers on documentation"

Strong: "Partnered with 12-person engineering team to document 4 major releases annually, consistently meeting launch deadlines with zero documentation defects"

Metrics That Matter for Technical Writers

Tailoring for Different Technical Writing Roles

Technical writing encompasses many specializations. Match your resume to your target role.

API and Developer Documentation

For developer-facing roles, emphasize coding literacy:

UX Writing and Content Design

For product-focused roles, emphasize user experience:

Medical and Regulatory Writing

For compliance-heavy industries, emphasize precision:

Knowledge Base and Help Content

For support-focused roles, emphasize self-service:

The Portfolio Section: Your Secret Weapon

Unlike many professions, technical writers can directly demonstrate their skills. Your portfolio is often more important than your resume.

What to Include in Your Portfolio

Portfolio Presentation Tips

Public Work: Link directly to live documentation you've authored. Even if you can't claim full credit, you can discuss your contributions.

Confidential Work: Redact company-specific information or create anonymized samples. Explain in interviews that details are confidential.

Personal Projects: Create documentation for open-source projects, personal apps, or fictional products. Quality matters more than the subject.

Sample Entry:

API Documentation Sample
portfolio.dev/api-docs
Complete API reference for a REST API, including authentication,
endpoints, error handling, and code samples in Python and JavaScript.
Built with OpenAPI and Redoc.

ATS Optimization for Technical Writer Resumes

Your resume must pass automated screening to reach hiring managers.

Keyword Strategy

Study job descriptions in your target area. Common keywords include:

Documentation Types: API documentation, user guides, knowledge base, release notes, runbooks, SOPs, quick-start guides

Tools: Match exact tool names from job postings. "MadCap Flare" not "help authoring tool."

Methodologies: Docs-as-code, agile documentation, information architecture, content strategy, single-sourcing

Format Best Practices

Common Technical Writing Resume Mistakes

Mistake 1: No Portfolio Link

Technical writing is one of the few fields where your work portfolio can showcase skills more effectively than any resume description. Make yours count.

The Remote-First Technical Writing Market

The technical writing field has shifted dramatically toward remote work. Your resume should address this reality directly.

Remote Work Signals:

If you have remote writing experience, mention it explicitly. Hiring managers for remote roles specifically look for evidence you can work effectively without in-office supervision.

Content Management at Scale:

Enterprise technical writing increasingly involves content operations—not just creating documents, but managing documentation systems. Highlight any experience with:

• Content management system administration
• Documentation workflow design
• Style guide creation and enforcement
• Localization coordination for international audiences
• Analytics-driven content optimization

These operational skills differentiate senior writers from entry-level candidates and command higher compensation.

Continuous Learning for Technical Writers

The tools and technologies technical writers document evolve constantly. Show you're keeping pace:

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
API Documentation Best Practices, Write the Docs Conference, 2025
Google Technical Writing Certification, 2024
Docs-as-Code Workshop, GitHub Learning, 2024

Writers who understand modern development practices—Git workflows, CI/CD pipelines, API design—are increasingly valuable because they can embed with engineering teams more effectively.

The most successful technical writers treat their resumes the same way they treat documentation: precise, user-focused, and constantly improved based on feedback.

Mistake 2: Generic Writing Descriptions

"Wrote documentation" tells me nothing. "Authored 80-page SDK guide enabling 500+ developers to integrate payment processing within 48 hours" demonstrates real impact.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Technical Skills

Technical writers need technical literacy. Even if you're not a developer, show that you understand APIs, version control, and the development environment.

Mistake 4: No Metrics

"Improved documentation" is vague. "Improved documentation clarity, reducing average support response time from 24 hours to 4 hours" is specific and valuable.

Mistake 5: Overlooking Soft Skills

Technical writing requires collaboration, interviewing subject matter experts, and translating complex concepts. Show these skills through your experience descriptions.

Sample Experience Section: Before and After

Before (Generic)

Technical Writer | ABC Corp | 2020-2024
- Wrote documentation for software
- Worked with developers
- Managed content
- Created guides

After (Achievement-Focused)

Technical Writer | ABC Corp | San Francisco, CA | 2020-2024
- Authored comprehensive documentation suite covering 3 product lines
  (200+ articles), achieving 4.7/5 user satisfaction rating
- Reduced developer support tickets by 45% through improved API reference
  documentation and code samples
- Built docs-as-code workflow integrating GitHub, Markdown, and Hugo,
  decreasing publishing time from 2 days to 2 hours
- Collaborated with 4 engineering teams to document quarterly releases,
  maintaining 100% on-time documentation delivery

Building Your Career Narrative

Your resume should tell a story of growing expertise and impact.

Entry-Level Focus

Emphasize:

• Educational background in writing, communications, or technical field
• Any documentation experience (even internal tools)
• Technical skills you've learned independently
• Writing samples or personal documentation projects

Mid-Level Focus

Emphasize:

• Documentation systems you've built or improved
• Cross-functional collaboration experience
• Measurable outcomes from your work
• Industry specialization developing

Senior-Level Focus

Emphasize:

• Documentation strategy and leadership
• Team mentorship and process improvement
• Business impact at the organizational level
• Thought leadership (speaking, publishing, open source)

Frequently Asked Questions

What skills should a technical writer list on their resume?

Include documentation tools (MadCap Flare, Confluence, GitBook), markup languages (Markdown, XML, DITA), content management systems, programming literacy, and soft skills like simplifying complex concepts for diverse audiences.

How do I show writing achievement on a technical writer resume?

Quantify your impact: documentation sets created, user satisfaction improvements, support ticket reductions, page views on documentation, and time saved through improved processes.

Should I include a portfolio link on my technical writer resume?

Absolutely. A portfolio is essential for technical writing roles. Include links to public documentation, writing samples, or a personal documentation site showcasing your work.

What is the difference between technical writer and content writer resumes?

Technical writer resumes emphasize tool proficiency, industry knowledge, and documentation structure. Content writer resumes focus more on SEO, engagement metrics, and creative storytelling.

How do I transition to technical writing from another career?

Highlight transferable skills (communication, research, subject matter expertise), create sample documentation projects, get certified in tools like MadCap Flare, and emphasize any experience explaining complex topics.

Final Thoughts

Your technical writer resume should demonstrate the same clarity and precision you bring to your documentation. Every bullet point should be as carefully crafted as the best help article—clear, concise, and focused on user value.

Lead with your documentation specialization. Show your technical tools and literacy. Include a portfolio that lets hiring managers see your actual work. Quantify your impact on user experience and business outcomes.

Technical writing is evolving rapidly with docs-as-code practices, AI assistance, and increasingly technical products. Your resume should show you understand these trends and can contribute to modern documentation teams.

Your Next Steps

Review your current resume against this guide. Does your summary clearly state your documentation focus? Do your experience bullets include specific metrics? Is your portfolio prominently linked?

Start by adding one metric to each experience entry. Calculate support ticket reductions, documentation scope, or user satisfaction improvements. These numbers transform generic descriptions into compelling achievements.

Then ensure your portfolio is ready. If you don't have public samples, create them. Document an open-source project, write a mock API reference, or redesign a product's help content. Quality documentation speaks louder than any resume bullet.

The best technical writers treat every piece of content as an opportunity to improve user experience—including their own resumes.