Resume Keywords for Technical Writers (2026 List)
Updated:
Below are 30+ resume keywords for technical writers, grouped into hard skills, tools and soft skills. Use them to tailor your resume so it passes applicant tracking systems — then check your Technical Writer resume's ATS score free to see which ones you are still missing.
Technical writing JDs vary by product type: software roles ask for API documentation, Markdown, Git and docs-as-code; enterprise and hardware roles ask for DITA, MadCap Flare, SOPs and regulatory documentation. Mention the developer tools you can read (Postman, Swagger, basic Python or JavaScript).
Technical Writer hard skills
Core abilities employers screen for. Put the ones you have in your Skills section and prove the top 3–5 in your experience bullets.
- Technical Writing
- API Documentation
- User Guides
- Knowledge Base
- Release Notes
- Information Architecture
- Editing
- Style Guides
- SOPs
- Content Strategy
- Docs-as-Code
- Markdown
Tools and software
Write tool names exactly as the job post does — many ATS searches for technical writers are tool-specific.
- Confluence
- MadCap Flare
- Git
- Swagger
- Postman
- Jira
- Snagit
- DITA
- Microsoft Word
- Figma
Soft skills
Recruiters look for these too, but they carry more weight when your bullet points demonstrate them.
- Communication
- Attention to Detail
- Curiosity
- Collaboration
- Time Management
- User Empathy
- Organizational Skills
- Receptiveness to Feedback
Sample skills section for a Technical Writer resume
Copy this structure and keep only the skills you can discuss confidently in an interview:
- Core skills:
- Technical Writing, API Documentation, User Guides, Knowledge Base, Release Notes, Information Architecture, Editing, Style Guides
- Tools:
- Confluence, MadCap Flare, Git, Swagger, Postman, Jira, Snagit, DITA
- Strengths:
- Communication, Attention to Detail, Curiosity, Collaboration
5 Technical Writer resume bullet points with keywords
Each example combines an action verb, a keyword and a measurable result — the format that works for both ATS and recruiters:
- Wrote and maintained API reference docs for 140 REST endpoints using OpenAPI and Swagger.
- Rebuilt the help centre's information architecture, reducing support tickets by 22% in two quarters.
- Introduced docs-as-code with Markdown and Git, cutting doc release time from 5 days to 1.
- Produced release notes for 24 product releases a year, reviewed by product and engineering leads.
- Created a style guide adopted by 12 contributors across 3 teams.
How to add these keywords without stuffing
- Start with the job description. Highlight every skill and tool it names, then compare with the lists above.
- Add matching skills to your Skills section, grouped like the sample above, using the employer's exact spelling.
- Use the 3–5 most important keywords — for technical writers usually Technical Writing, API Documentation, User Guides — inside experience or project bullets with a result.
- Mention your primary skill once in your summary so it appears near the top of the page.
- Never list skills you don't have. Interviewers will test them, and keyword stuffing can be flagged by recruiters.