Technical Writersresume guide.
Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. A strong Technical Writers resume shows writing, reading comprehension and active listening, and names the tools you have worked with, such as JavaScript, Hypertext markup language HTML and PHP.
See how a parser reads your resumeFree, no card→01Also called
O*NET02Skills employers expect
O*NETImportance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | Very high | Advanced |
| Reading Comprehension | Very high | Advanced |
| Active Listening | High | Intermediate |
| Speaking | High | Intermediate |
| Critical Thinking | High | Intermediate |
| Active Learning | High | Intermediate |
| Judgment and Decision Making | High | Intermediate |
| Time Management | High | Intermediate |
| Coordination | High | Intermediate |
| Monitoring | High | Intermediate |
03Knowledge areas
O*NET- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
- Communications and Media
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
04Common responsibilities
O*NETOrdered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.
- Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
- Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
- Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
- Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.
- Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.
- Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.
- Confer with customer representatives, vendors, plant executives, or publisher to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed for publication.
- Assist in laying out material for publication.
05Software and tools
O*NET71 tools across 33 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.
- JavaScriptHotIn demand
- Hypertext markup language HTMLHotIn demand
- PHPHotIn demand
- Cascading style sheets CSSHotIn demand
- Microsoft ASP.NETHot
- DrupalIn demand
- Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
- Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
- Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
- Microsoft AccessHotIn demand
- Structured query language SQLHotIn demand
- Microsoft SQL ServerHotIn demand
- FileMaker Pro
- Author-it
- Talisma Knowledgebase
- Adobe InDesignHotIn demand
- Microsoft Publisher
- Adobe FrameMaker
- Corel Ventura
- PTC Arbortext
- MadCap Software MadCap Flare
- Adobe PhotoshopHotIn demand
- Adobe IllustratorHotIn demand
- Adobe Creative Cloud softwareHotIn demand
- Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
- Corel Paint Shop Pro
- Autodesk AutoCADHotIn demand
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorksHotIn demand
- Dassault Systemes CATIAIn demand
- PTC Creo ParametricIn demand
- Microsoft Visual BasicHot
- IBM Rational ClearQuest
- Standardized general markup language SGML
- Darwin information typing architecture DITA
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Google Sites
- JustSystems XMetaL
- Quadralay WebWorks ePublisher
- Oracle JavaHotIn demand
- Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRSHot
- Objective C
- Perforce Helix software
- IBM Rational ClearCase
- SAP Crystal Reports
- Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
- Microsoft SharePointHotIn demand
- Adobe AcrobatHotIn demand
- Microsoft OutlookHotIn demand
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft ProjectHotIn demand
- Atlassian ConfluenceHotIn demand
- SASHotIn demand
- GitHubHotIn demand
- IBM Cognos Business Intelligence
- Adobe Captivate
- Atlassian JIRAHotIn demand
- ParentSquare
- Extensible markup language XMLHotIn demand
- SAP Business Objects
- GitHotIn demand
- Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Adobe RoboHelp
- Blink
- Web browser softwareIn demand
- Epic SystemsHotIn demand
- Microsoft Office softwareHotIn demand
- Microsoft PowerPointHotIn demand
- Microsoft VisioHotIn demand
- Microsoft ExcelHotIn demand
- Apple Final Cut ProIn demand
- Microsoft WordHotIn demand
06Education and preparation
O*NET07Putting it on your resume
ResumeXRays guidanceLead with what you built. For a Job Zone 4 role, hiring managers and parsers both look for outcomes before credentials. Put two or three results at the top of each job entry, with the scale or effect stated plainly.
Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "JavaScript, Hypertext markup language HTML, PHP, Cascading style sheets CSS" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.
Show reading comprehension and active listening, not just writing. Reading comprehension and active listening rank close to writing for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.
Run your resume through the free scan →See your fitbefore youhit apply.
Drop your resume and see what a parser flags before you send it. Free, no card.
Analyze your resume free →$0 to start · No card · Free plan forever