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This free ATS resume checker for technical writers compares your resume with the 20 keywords that appear most often in Technical Writer job posts, then checks your sections, formatting, contact details and bullet points. Paste a real job description in the tool for an exact match.
Technical writers create user guides, API documentation, knowledge bases and release notes for software and hardware companies. ATS filters look for documentation types (API docs, user manuals, SOPs), authoring tools (MadCap Flare, Confluence, Markdown, DITA) and the ability to work with engineers. Hiring managers review writing samples and want evidence that your docs reduced support tickets or sped up onboarding.
Top 20 Technical Writer resume keywords
These are the skills and tools the checker looks for when you don't paste a job description. Add the ones you genuinely have to your Skills section and use them in bullet points.
- Technical Writing
- API Documentation
- User Guides
- Knowledge Base
- Release Notes
- Information Architecture
- Editing
- Style Guides
- SOPs
- Content Strategy
- Docs-as-Code
- Markdown
- Confluence
- MadCap Flare
- Git
- Swagger
- Postman
- Jira
- Snagit
- DITA
Sections to include in a Technical Writer resume
Use standard headings so the ATS can map your information correctly. For technical writers, these sections matter most:
- Summary: Name the documentation types and the products or domains you document.
- Projects: Link a portfolio with 3–5 samples: an API reference, a how-to and release notes.
- Experience: Quantify docs created, ticket reduction, page views and onboarding time saved.
- Skills: Separate writing skills, tools and technical knowledge (APIs, Git, basics of code).
Common Technical Writer resume mistakes
- No writing samples or portfolio link.
- Only listing "good English" instead of technical documentation skills.
- No authoring tools named.
- No impact metrics.
- Typos — fatal for a writing role.
Sample Technical Writer resume bullet point
Wrote and maintained API reference docs for 140 REST endpoints using OpenAPI and Swagger.
Why it works: it starts with an action verb, names the tools a Technical Writer ATS search looks for, and ends with a measurable result. Rewrite your own bullets in the same shape — action + tool or skill + result. Find more examples on our Technical Writer keywords page.