technical writer personal statement

How to Write a Technical Writer Resume [+Examples]

Become a Certified Technical Writer

Interested in learning how to write and format your technical writer resume?

You may have excellent writing skills and have helped companies in managing their documentation.

You apply to different technical content writer jobs but receive no response.

Then you take a glance at your resume format and realize it’s 2 pages long. And you know hiring managers toss out two-page resumes right away. So you sit down to write your professional technical writer resume and have no clue where to begin. That’s where this ultimate technical writing resume guide comes in to help you.

This detailed article has the best technical writer resume examples to help you out. Here’s what we’ll be covering in-depth:

Outstanding technical writer skill resume samples
What skills you need to add to your resume
How to differentiate yourself from other candidates
The dos and don’ts of a technical writer’s resume

If you’re looking to learn via video, watch below. Otherwise, skip ahead.

Simply put, your technical writer resume needs to convince your prospective employer that you can add value to their organization. You need to prove that you are the best writer with technical knowledge to write end-user documentation and technical documents. Let’s see how you can do just that.

How to Write a Technical Writer Resume

As a technical writer, you’re solving a complex set of problems that people deal with daily. Onboarding documents, end-user guides, and tutorials all serve as solutions to problems.

Remember, when writing your resume, you’re reflecting on your skills as a problem-solver.

I see so many technical writers waste their time by mentioning the following:

Solid use of Google Docs and Microsoft Office
Ability to work in a cross-functional department
Highly energetic and able to listen to instructions
Expert in writing user manuals and software guides

Well, guess what? I’m not interested in any of it. None of it matters to me. This is all over the internet. Everybody is using these terms.

It is obvious as a technical writer that you need to have a solid grip on using MS Office and Google Docs, as well as a can-do attitude. Where did you differentiate yourself? Do you know what I’d like to see?

How did your technical documentation improve conversions?
How did you delegate tasks to complete technical documentation?
Did you ever work under pressure? If yes, how did it go?
What types of content did you write for the end-user?
How are you different from the rest?
Are you quick at learning new technologies and deadline-oriented?
Do you tend to work alone or trust your team?

Focusing too much on what you did shouldn’t be a top priority. Instead, be specific and mention the impact of your work.

What is the Best Technical Writer Resume Format?

There are three acceptable technical writer resume formats:

Reverse Chronological (Most recent work experience first)
Combination (ATS compliant)
Functional (Non-ATS compliant)

You need to make your technical writer’s resume compliant with ATS (Applicant Tracking Software). Did you know that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to filter out irrelevant resumes?

ATS scans all resumes, and only accepts those with the right keywords. This saves the time and effort of hiring managers to go through only relevant technical writer resumes.

To make your resume compliant for ATS, read the job description. Look for keywords such as developing, writing, and editing user guides and training manuals.

Now, go ahead and update your skills and work history sections with these types of phrases.

A reverse chronological technical writer resume format with the right keywords is a good option to highlight your CV.

What Sections to Include in Your Technical Writing Resume?

Here’s a list of sections you need to include:

This includes your complete profile information such as Full Name, Title (Expert Medical Writer), mobile number, Linkedin profile link, city, and email address.

Do not mention your complete address. City and State are fine.

Now is the time to shine. Your professional work experience should follow reverse chronological order. But here are a few points to note before doing anything:

Not all of your technical writing experience will be relevant. Hence, only include the parts relevant to the job.
Be specific and make it easy for hiring managers to understand you.
Hiring managers do not have time to go through all resumes.
Make it compliant with ATS.

Include your experiences in reverse chronological order. Your employer needs to know your most recent job experience to consider you for an interview call.

Your latest and most relevant job experience should be listed at the first, followed by previous relevant experiences. Here are some factors to take into account:

Be specific about what you did
What was the impact of your work?
What was your designation?
How long did you work as a technical writer?

Junior Technical Writer Resume Experience Example

You started your career as a junior technical writer 10 months ago. By now, you have enough experience working on different projects and reporting to a senior technical writer/manager.

Is a 10-month experience enough to list on your technical writer resume?

How do you convert this to an impressive story that convinces the hiring manager?

Don’t worry. We’re here to help. This is what you need to include:

The topics you were writing on.
The type of content you wrote.
Your reporting authority.
The goals you were instructed to achieve.

Even at the junior level, don’t let your entry-level experience hold you back from applying to better positions.

Associate Technical Writer

Cloud.ly, marketing automation software

Hours worked: 20 per week

Wrote training manuals for cloud-based programs.
Updated documentation for internal usage.
Helped to onboard of new customers.

Senior Technical Writer Resume Experience Example

A senior writer has more than 5 years of working experience writing anything from simple documents to extremely complicated technical documents. A senior writer has a team of entry-level and junior writers in the team, assigned to various tasks and roles.

But before writing your senior technical writer resume, there are some points you need to consider:

Mentioning all work experiences is not required for every job role.
Include relevant skills, qualifications, and work experience.
Making your resume ATS compliant should be a top priority.
A tailor-made cover letter and resume are important to be considered.

As a senior technical writer, you will have a lot to talk about on your resume. Again, relevancy is the key here. Making small amendments and fine-tuning a cover letter and resume for each job role is critical. Here’s what should go on your senior technical writer resume:

Team members reporting to you.
Delegation of tasks and responsibilities.
Relevant skills, qualifications, and certifications.
Achievements and milestones

Here is what the job description can look like:

Certified Senior Technical Writer

Dates of Employment: March to December

Creation and implementation of user documentation,
Maintained system records, and developed a list of Visio diagrams for the management.
Developed SOPs.
Created user onboarding documents and videos.
Prepared case studies of clients.

There is no shortage of technical skills to add to your resume.

But, here’s the catch.

Not all skills will be relevant to the job. You need to decide which skills to add after careful research of the job role.

Here are some technical skills you can add:

End-user documentation
Visual communication
Audience analysis
Tutorial writing
User guides
Research papers
Standard operating procedures
Functional specifications
Writing style guides
Research skills
Quality assurance

Also mention the tools that you use. Here is a list of the most common ones:

Camtasia and Snagit
Adobe Acrobat

These tools shouldn’t be mentioned separately. Instead, you should list them in bullet points under your job title. For example, “ Used Confluence to manage documentation for thirty engineers working on our editor portfolio product.”

Now that you’ve added technical skills and software tools, you also need to mention the soft skills. Only do so if you can back them up with numbers and specific details. Otherwise, they’re a red flag on your resume. Don’t just list the skills like this:

Computer skills
Multitasking
Time management

Instead, say “ Managed three freelance content writers to output fifty documentation articles for our knowledge base.”

What type of technical documentation are you expert in? List them in the same format as we just discussed:

Software development
Terms and conditions
Design guidelines
Legal documents

Only mention degrees relevant to technical writing. Skip your educational background if it doesn’t fit the job criteria.

Simply listing a Bachelor’s Degree won’t help you with your job application. Be specific. What was your thesis project about?

For example, the following is not impressive:

Bachelors in English, San Diego State University.

Instead, talk about academic accomplishments and subjects that demonstrate your technical knowledge. Like this:

Bachelors in Computer Science, San Diego State University or Certified UX Writer

Certifications

Technical Writing has grown to become a lucrative career. And as always, certifications help you to stand out from the rest of the candidates.

Certifications prove you are constantly honing your skills and staying one step ahead in a competitive job market.

Certifications cement your expertise and enable you to charge higher rates. Employers immediately resonate a technical certification or course with authority, increasing your likelihood of landing the job.

Here are some of the most prominent technical writing certifications that immediately distinguish you from your competition:

Technical Writer Certification Course from TWHQ
Certificate Course In Structured Writing For Technical Documentation
Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) Foundation, Practitioner, and Expert level
Technical writing courses on Udemy
Technical writing course from Coursera

Achievements

As a technical writer, what differentiates you from others?

Your skills, qualifications, and certifications matter, only if they translate to quality results for previous employers.

For every achievement, you need to provide a metric, which means a solid number.

What was the quantitative impact of your job in the previous company? Can you prove it?

I come across hundreds of technical writer resumes, filled with the following sentences:

“Worked in cross-functional teams with engineers, designers, and the business in an agile way.”

“Wrote user documentation.”

Yes, these are important, but what was the impact of user documentation?

A technical writer solves complex problems of accessibility.

Your recruiters are less interested in knowing the tools you used, and more in the impact your work had.

You also need to justify as you put down those numbers on your resume.

Hiring managers look for the following in your resume:

Accomplishments
End result of user documentation

Focusing on accomplishments in your resume is a great way to impress your employers. Use actual numbers to show the impact of your work.

Here are some excellent examples:

Increased end-user satisfaction by 35% and received stellar feedback for complex documentation.
Composed 100,000+ words of documentation for multiple technical products, including B2B web apps, SaaS products, and internally used software.
Helped 20+ clients in developing a complete knowledge base for their products.
Composed documentation for troubleshooting and reduced email tickets by 25%.

We have not yet come up with any technical writer’s resume listing interests as a separate section. Employers do not pay attention to it. They are concerned about what matters the most to them; performance, numbers, and skills.

As a rule of thumb, leave out this section. This does not have any impact on your hiring.

A vast majority of jobs in the US require you to be fluent in the English language. Many technical writing jobs demand the ability to write in another language. If you have this skill, then this is a huge plus and will immediately open doors for you.

Employers also demand a basic sense of a programming language such as Python, and JavaScript, to write technical articles.

This is something you need to mutually decide with your potential employer. If there is a demand for any other language, it is better not to list it unless you are an expert in it and it’s relevant to the position.

For example, here’s one job post on Upwork. The employer is demanding a technical writer with a programming background:

Many European countries like France, Spain, and Germany prefer to hire candidates with expertise in their native tongues.

Technical Writer Resume Example

Here’s an example of a technical writer resume that I came across and loved.

Every line says how they can make an impact. They also avoid using an objective, job summary, separate skills section, and irrelevant experience. The only improvements I’d make here is breaking up the paragraphs into shorter bullet points and limiting the resume to one page.

They also mastered including their skills, software knowledge, and any other relevant experience in their work job details. They don’t just list SharePoint under a “Skills” section. They write, “Consolidated information across nine individual websites, using Microsoft SharePoint…” That’s how it’s done.

My Personal Technical Writing Job Application Experience

When I first began my technical writing career, I was also in your position, applying to jobs and expecting calls in return. Even though I had two bachelor’s degrees, I was having a hard time landing the right job. Here were the results using this shotgun approach:

Applied to over 150 jobs
110 rejections
0 invitations for an interview

“Something is missing. Why am I not even getting a response back?”, I kept asking myself.

Then, I changed my strategy. I invested time in researching each company’s job roles and customized my CV and cover letter. This time, the results were astonishing:

35 resumes sent
20 rejections
5 first-round interviews
2 second-round interviews
1 final-round interview
1 job offer

1 job offer for every 35 applications? This might seem like a low conversion rate. Well, compare it to my previous numbers. I had 0 responses on over 150 job applications.

Fast forward to today, this is a huge achievement for me.

How Many Pages Should Your Technical Writer’s Resume Be?

KISS. Keep It Short and Simple. This means your technical writer resume needs to be NO longer than 1 page.

5 seconds .

That’s it. That’s all it takes for a hiring manager to go through your resume and decide if you are the right technical writer.

This is where you need to put your technical writing skills to land that dream job.

Resume Best Practices

Here are 5 writing tips that will help you in writing a perfect technical writer resume:

1. Write a Customized Cover Letter

Customize your technical writer cover letter to fit the job role. It should reflect your interpersonal skills and how you can add value to your employer’s organization.

2. Update Your Resume for Each Job Role

Every job description and role is different. A golden rule of thumb is to iterate your resume according to a specific job role. For example, if the job role is a senior technical writer on technology, update your resume for that role.

Hiring managers prefer candidates who have personalized their cover letters and resumes according to the job roles.

3. Link to Your Technical Content Portfolio

You can’t underestimate the importance of having a personal website.

Think about it for a second. Few technical writers have personal websites. Those who do will stand out from the rest.

Having a website with links to a technical content portfolio will improve your chances of landing the right job, despite competition.

4. Mention Relevant Work History

Don’t write anything in your CV that you’ll have a hard time justifying later on. This means that your work history should only refer to relevant jobs.

For example, if you haven’t written on a medical topic in one of your previous jobs, don’t mention it. You should have a deep knowledge of the job you’re applying to.

5. Proofread Before Applying

Are you kidding me? Despite having excellent writing skills, you had long sentences and spelling errors in your resume?

But you’re applying as a technical writer, right? You can’t afford to have any mistakes in your technical writer resume.

No matter how skilled you are, one grammatical or spelling error is enough for rejection.

It is a technical writer’s job to ensure the final work is free from errors. This isn’t limited to user manuals, technical manuals, and new technical documentation. It also applies to your technical writer resume.

Technical Writer Resume Don’ts

Here are several extra don’ts for your technical writer resume:

Resume Summary and Objective

Why would you include a summary of your resume? I see this all the time with a couple of lines listed at the top of a resume. Your resume is already a summary of your job experience. You don’t need a summary of a summary.

What does a photo tell me about your experience? Nothing. If you apply for a job outside of acting or modeling, there’s no reason to include a photo. Moreover, they likely can find your photo by visiting your LinkedIn profile or searching your name on the web.

Irrelevant Experience

If you’re like me, then you have over ten years of experience. The truth is no one cares what you did ten years ago. Many hiring managers don’t care what you did over two years ago. What you did recently is what matters the most. Place emphasis on who you are today, not the fact that you worked in a restaurant during college.

Technical Writer Portfolio Examples

Here are some links to portfolio websites of writers that allow them to charge high rates in the industry:

Michal Eisikowitz

Michal develops trust and connection with the visitor. She is confident and knows what she’s selling. The copy above the fold, coupled with her picture, speaks to the client. Who isn’t going to hire her?

Mary Yerkes

Not the most visually appealing website. But it is clean, simple, fast, and conveys professionalism without wasting any time. Mary knows that her profile description and picture stand out. I would give her the first preference if I needed professional reports or a writing coach.

I loved the way Emily portrays her experience in 2 lines. This is an excellent example of a professional resume summary, along with links to her work.

Where Can You Apply With Your Technical Writer Resume?

Your resume is now the single best marketing weapon to land high-paying jobs.

This is your time to apply for technical writing jobs found on the following job boards and international freelance marketplaces, such as:

Now some of these sites may not seem appealing to you. Do you want to write technical articles for cheap clients through Fiverr? Yes and no. If you need experience to put on your resume, any freelancing technical writing experience will help. It’s rare to step into a technical writing job without some technical writing or other relevant experience (e.g. English degree, engineering background).

Technical Writers’ Median Pay and Outlook

According to BLS (US Bureau of Labor Statistics), the median pay for a technical writer is $74,650 and the hourly rate is $35.89. To make this amount of money, you need a resume that helps you to stand out.

But that’s not the only reason for writing a technical writer’s resume.

Technical writers have the fastest growth in any occupation, at 12%. By 2030, there will be 5,500 new projected technical writer job openings every year.

Numerous entry-level technical writer jobs earn between $40,000 to $50,000, but as a skilled senior writer, you can reach the six-figure mark. Here is factual data on technical writing jobs in the US:

Estimate of Entry-level Technical Writer at HP : $43,630

Experienced Technical Writer at Apple : $115,885

Senior Technical Writer at Dell : $105,000

The continuing expansion of B2B and SaaS products/services has resulted in increasing the employability of technical writers. With the release of new software applications, the demand for technical writers to write onboarding manuals, user guides, and tutorials will rise.

Despite this, companies can’t find the right technical writers for the following reasons:

Writers can’t understand the software program.
Job post was not promoted or posted on the right platforms.
Resumes were not received from technical writers.
Technical writers haven’t submitted well-crafted resumes.

Selling is at the heart of every business, and as a technical writer, you need to master the art of selling yourself as the most reliable candidate.

Summary and Key Takeaways

We’ve covered a massive amount of information on how to write a technical writer’s resume. We always strive to provide as detailed and relevant information as possible to help you in your professional career.

Let’s take a look at the bigger picture. Here’s a summary of the entire guide:

Be relevant and use reverse chronological order wherever relevant.
Personalization is the key.
Include the right keywords so that ATS doesn’t filter out your resume.
Never apply without proofreading.
Use a sniper approach.

Writing a technical writer’s resume is challenging, yet rewarding at the same time. It can take anywhere between an entire day up to a few weeks to write that perfect resume.

With so much competition, you cannot and should not rely on a generic resume template. Hiring managers will easily figure it out.

I have full faith in you.

After reading this guide, it’s time to craft your professional resume.

To help inspire you, we have a before and after case study video here of how one of our tech writing students used this advice.

If you are new to technical writing and are looking to break-in, we recommend taking our Technical Writing Certification Course , where you will learn the fundamentals of being a technical writer, how to dominate technical writer interviews, and how to stand out as a technical writing candidate.

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Technical Writer cover letter template header

How to Write a Technical Writer Cover Letter (With Template)

Key takeaways

A cover letter can be the most important element in a job application. Ensuring your profile stands out to recruiters is crucial to your professional success.
A well-tailored cover letter should provide relevant information clearly and concisely. Focus on detailing your skills and why you are the right person for that specific role.
The included Technical Writer cover letter template provides an easy starting point to craft your own cover letters. Adapt and personalize it to fit your profile.

A well-written cover letter is key to quickly getting the attention of prospective employers. Among countless job seekers, resumes, and application letters, yours need to stand out on first impression if you want to ensure your job search translates to a new role .

In this post, you will discover:

Reasons why a well-crafted cover letter is key to professional success, from entry-level roles to senior positions
Cover letter do’s and dont’s
A Technical Writer sample cover letter you can easily adapt and personalize

A well-tailored cover letter : The key to job application success

Ensuring you know how to write a cover letter that is clear, informative, and tailored to the role you are applying to will benefit you in many ways. Well-crafted cover letters have many benefits, which include:

Showcasing relevance: Tailoring your cover letter allows you to emphasize the most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that align with the specific job requirements. This immediately captures the attention of the talent acquisition team, recruiters, or human resources reps.
Demonstrating research: A good cover letter conveys your understanding of the organization's needs and illustrates how you can contribute to its success, signaling to potential employers that you've done your homework.
Telling your story: Each job application is unique, and a tailored cover letter enables you to craft a personalized narrative. It lets you connect your professional journey with the role's specific challenges and opportunities, making your application more compelling.
Highlighting cultural fit: Your cover letter allows you to address the company's values, mission, and culture. By aligning your experiences and values with those of the organization, you demonstrate a cultural fit and convey your enthusiasm for being part of the team.
Addressing specific requirements: Job postings often include specific skills or qualifications the employer is seeking. Tailoring your cover letter enables you to address these requirements directly, showcasing how you possess the desired attributes and can meet the company's expectations.

Cover letter tips

A great cover letter should reflect your professional profile and personality. However, no matter what your cover letter's content is, the tips below will help ensure the message you want to convey is clear and easily accessible to hiring managers.

Keep it concise: Aim for a cover letter length of 250-400 words. Be succinct in presenting your qualifications and experiences.
Use a clean layout: Opt for a professional and clean cover letter format with a standard font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman) and a font size of 10-12 points.
Include contact information : Provide your contact information at the top of the cover letter, including your name, phone number, and professional email address.
Use headers and sections: Organize your cover letter into clear sections with headers such as Introduction, Work Experience, and Achievements for easy readability.
Maintain a professional tone: Keep the tone of your cover letter professional and upbeat. Avoid overly casual language, and focus on showcasing your skills and experiences.
Use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the Agile Project Manager job description and company website into your cover letter. This can help your application pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by many employers.
Highlight achievements with bullet points: Use bullet points to list specific accomplishments or notable projects. This makes it easier for the reader to grasp your accomplishments quickly.
Use quantifiable data: Whenever possible, include quantifiable data to demonstrate the impact of your achievements. Numbers provide concrete evidence of your contributions.
Match company tone: Adapt your writing style to match the tone of the company and industry. Research the company's culture to strike the right balance between professionalism and personality.
Showcase company knowledge: Demonstrate your understanding of the company by referencing its values, mission, or recent achievements. Explain why you're excited about the opportunity to work for this specific organization.
Address employment gaps (if applicable): If you have employment gaps, briefly address them in a positive light, focusing on any skills or experiences gained during those periods.
Proofread thoroughly: Eliminate typos and grammatical errors by proofreading your cover letter multiple times. Consider using tools like Grammarly to catch any overlooked mistakes and ensure your English (or any language you use) is correct.
Include a call to action : Conclude your cover letter with a call to action, expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity and indicating your readiness for an interview.
Follow submission instructions: If there are specific instructions for submitting the cover letter, such as naming conventions or document formats, ensure that you adhere to them.
Save as a PDF: Save your cover letter as a PDF before submitting it. This ensures that the formatting remains consistent across different devices and software.

While understanding the correct steps to write a cover letter is crucial to your professional success, knowing what mistakes to avoid is equally important. The best cover letter can easily be made useless by a tiny blunder. Avoid making the mistakes listed below; you will be halfway to your new job.

Don't use a generic greeting: Avoid generic salutations like "To whom it may concern," “Dear sir or madam, “ or “Dear hiring manager.“ Whenever possible, address the cover letter to a specific person.
Don't repeat your resume: An effective cover letter should complement your resume, not duplicate it. Focus on specific experiences and achievements that showcase your qualifications for the role.
Don't exaggerate or lie: Be truthful in your cover letter. Exaggerating your qualifications or providing false information can harm your chances and damage your professional reputation.
Don't use unprofessional email addresses: Ensure that the email address you use in your contact information is professional. Avoid using nicknames or unprofessional terms.
Don't include irrelevant information: Keep your cover letter focused on the job. Avoid including unrelated personal details or experiences that do not contribute to your suitability for the role.
Don't use jargon unnecessarily: While demonstrating your knowledge is essential, avoid unnecessary jargon that may confuse the reader. Use clear and straightforward language.
Don't sound overly eager: Expressing enthusiasm is positive but can easily feel unauthentic if overdone.

Remember, the goal of a practical cover letter is to present your qualifications in a clear, organized, and compelling manner while adhering to professional standards.

How to structure your Technical Writer cover letter

Express your genuine interest in the Technical Writer position in the opening paragraph. Convey your passion for creating clear and concise technical documentation and your eagerness to contribute to a team dedicated to producing high-quality, user-friendly technical content. If applicable, mention any referrals that have influenced your decision to apply for this specific role.

About your current role

Highlight your technical writing work and achievements that have positively impacted the success of your current team. Emphasize your role in producing documentation that is accurate, accessible, and meets the needs of diverse audiences. Demonstrate your proficiency in translating complex technical information into user-friendly and easily understandable content.

Use this section to outline your current responsibilities and ongoing projects, emphasizing how they align with the requirements and objectives of the Technical Writer role.

About your experience

Detail your hands-on experience in technical writing roles, showcasing your ability to work collaboratively with subject matter experts, gather technical information, and create comprehensive documentation. Clearly communicate that your technical writing skills and readiness for the role are well-established.

This section is also an opportunity to highlight any relevant certifications or additional skills you've acquired throughout your career path .

Notable achievements

Highlight notable accomplishments that showcase your effectiveness as a Technical Writer. Whether you played a key role in developing a comprehensive user manual, improving the clarity of technical documentation, or implementing a documentation review process, use this section to concisely mention your achievements, how they were measured, and their impact on the quality of technical content.

Why you want to work there

Express your interest in the company by highlighting specific aspects of its mission and values that resonate with you. Convey how these align seamlessly with your professional goals and how you envision contributing to the company's success through your expertise in technical writing. Be concise but articulate about your motivations.

Specific projects or initiatives that motivated you to apply

Demonstrate your understanding of the organization by referencing specific technical writing-related projects or initiatives that have captured your interest. Draw connections between these initiatives and your skills and experiences, emphasizing how your contributions align with the company's technical writing goals. This shows your genuine interest and proactive approach to aligning with the company's mission.

In the closing paragraph, reiterate your enthusiasm to contribute to the company's success as a Technical Writer. Express your eagerness to discuss how your skills align with the company's technical writing objectives and invite the reader to reach out with any questions they may have. Sign off with a professional salutation.

Technical Writer cover letter template

Dear [Hiring Manager’s name],

I am writing to express my sincere interest in the Technical Writer position at [Company Name]. With a strong background in technical writing and a proven track record of creating clear and concise documentation, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to your organization.

About my current role

In my current position as a Technical Writer at [Current Company], I have:

Authored and edited technical documentation, including user manuals, system guides, and API documentation, ensuring accuracy and clarity of content.
Collaborated with subject matter experts and development teams to gather information and translate technical concepts into user-friendly documentation.
Implemented documentation standards and style guides to maintain consistency across all written materials.

About my Technical Writer experience

My experience extends to:

Conducting comprehensive research to understand complex technical concepts and translate them into accessible and understandable content for a diverse audience.
Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and quality assurance professionals, to gather information and ensure accuracy in documentation.
Utilizing documentation tools and version control systems to manage and update documentation efficiently.

Some of my notable achievements include:

Overhauling the documentation for [specific product or system], resulting in a [percentage] improvement in user comprehension and reduced support inquiries.
Implementing a documentation feedback loop that improved collaboration between technical writers and end-users, resulting in more accurate and user-friendly documentation.
Receiving recognition for consistently meeting tight deadlines and producing high-quality documentation under pressure.

Why I want to work for [Company]

I am particularly drawn to [Company Name] due to its [mention aspects unique to the company and are a core part of its mission and values such as commitment to excellence in technical communication, dedication to innovation in documentation practices, growth,...]. I am excited about the opportunity to apply my technical writing skills to contribute to [Company Name]'s success in providing clear and effective documentation for its products and services.

Specific projects or initiatives of [Company] that motivated me to apply

In researching [Company Name], I was impressed by your recent initiatives in [specific documentation-related project or achievement]. I believe my experience in technical writing aligns seamlessly with your organizational objectives. My commitment to delivering clear and comprehensive documentation and my dedication to delivering high-quality results would make me a valuable addition to your team.

Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to further discuss how my skills and experiences align with the Technical Writer role at [Company Name]. I look forward to contributing to your team's success.

[Your Full Name]

Get your career rolling with Deel

Your job application is your chance to tell your professional story, and a well-tailored cover letter is your narrative's opening chapter. Remember that personalization is key. Make each word count, emphasizing how your background uniquely positions you as the ideal candidate, and get your dream job.

Looking for even more inspiration? Discover how to write a stellar cover letter in 5 steps .

Discover more tips and tools to help boost your career further and climb the steps to your dream job on the get-hired content hub .

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Click here to directly go to the complete Technical Writer resume sample.

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The best technical writers ought to have the best technical writer resumes too!

To be recognized in the job market as the best applicant one needs to stay on top of the recruiters' list.

The essence of your technical writing skills would be assessed by the hiring managers from your resume itself.

So you need to make sure that it contains everything that can get you shortlisted for the targeted job profile.

Here is the summary of our technical writer resume blog:

A perfect resume contains the right amount of details and is accurate at all times.
Using the right resume format can double the chances of your technical writing resume being shortlisted.
Nothing compares to a resume that describes your work experience in a crisp and precise manner.
Your technical writing skill should be under the spotlight in a resume.
Unnecessary details and information should never be placed on a resume because it takes away the genuine quality of your resume.

At any point, you need to ensure that your doubts about resume writing are cleared before you start creating a resume.

By doing so, you can easily overcome obstacles that may arise while curating your technical writer resume.

The following questions are clarified in this blog:

How do you write a technical writing resume?
What is the best way to describe your work experience on a technical writer resume?
What skills do you need to be a technical writer?
Is it necessary to include a technical writer resume objective or summary?

It is always a smart move to seek professional help to curate the best technical writer resume.

Hiration’s Online Resume Builder makes resume writing easier while ensuring that your resume is of top quality and recruiters friendly.

Customize and download your technical writer resume pdf and your technical writer cover letter.

You will also find the best technical resume examples to refer to in this blog.

What Is a Technical Writing Resume, and Why Do You Need It?

Wondering how to write a technical writer resume?

Well, a technical resume is simply a document that contains your professional qualification and experience details.

In simple words, a technical resume is your job application through which the hiring managers can assess your suitability for the targeted job profile and give you the desired shortlist.

Why you need the resume is very important to understand if you want to take your career ahead. So always keep the following points in mind:

Most recruiters filter resumes with the help of ATS (Application Tracking System) as it makes the selection of suitable applicants easier.
Now, your job is to ensure that the right set of keywords are included in your resumes for the ATS to accept your technical writing resume.
You can simply go through the technical writing job description and list all those points that relate to your professional expertise and skills in your resume.

According to the Salary Explorer , experience level is an important factor that determines the salary package of a professional technical writer.

Here is a chart showing the comparison of salary by years of experience of a technical writer in the US.

Technical-Writer-Resume-Salary-By-Experience-In-The-US

Technical Writer Sample Resume

Here is a complete technical writer resume sample fr you to get a better understanding of what an ideal resume should look like:

Liaising with product managers and engineers to produce 5+ documents daily, including:
User Guides, Integration Guides, and API Developer Guides , etc.
Creating and maintaining client aids viz online videos, demonstrations, guided tours, and other educational techniques
Translating technical information and complex concepts to non-technical audience ensuring 100% user understandability
Interacting with customers to gather feedback on documentation to improve the user manual usability
Served as an editor to ensure consistency in training documentation across all departments
Monitoring metrics on the usage of training materials and direct customer feedback to prioritize future training investments
Collaborated with 5+ departments including development, QA, product management to draft and finalize product description
Planned, researched, wrote, and revised printed and online documentation , including:
General overviews, tutorials, installation & configuration instructions, and API documents
Established team policies and procedures to stay up-to-date on current trends
Oversaw peer editing and production to provide an in-depth review to ensure high quality
Certified Professional Technical Writer | Udemy | Sep '20
Gathered and analyzed 50+ technical drafts containing product information from sources to document product functionality
Wrote, formatted, edited, and reviewed procedural information for technical and non-technical users
Assisted in planning, scheduling, and tracking documentation process to meet product release dates and client deliverables
CGPA: 3.7/4.0

Apart from a senior technical writer resume, you can also create a technical writer cover letter from our Online Resume Builder .

Build Your Technical Writer Resume Using a Suitable Resume Format

The best way to built your resume is by picking a suitable resume format that puts your resume on a pedestal.

A reverse chronological resume format is the best option to write your senior technical writer resume.

It will allow you to highlight your latest work profiles and achievements upfront while the older details follow in a reverse manner.
This is the best format and is commonly used because of its ATS-friendly nature and non-nonsense presentation of your career trajectory.

Next comes the functional format which is actually not the most preferred format due to its non-ATS-friendly nature.

It allows you to showcase your skills more than your professional experience
It is mostly for covering up career gaps and disguising one's constant career change.

The combination resume format is quite acceptable since:

It is ATS compliant and highlights both your skills and work experience but it is also not the best format.
It may seem good enough but only for those who have extensive years of work experience.

Learn all about Resume Formats before you start framing your tech writer resume.

Sections to be Included in Your Technical Writer Resume

The following sections can make it easier for you to highlight all the right details in your technical writer resumes:

Personal Information
Profile Title
Summary/Objective
Professional Experience
Certifications (if any)
Awards & Recognition (if any)
Additional Information (if any)

Every section on a resume gives you the opportunity to connect and communicate with the recruiters.

Create a Flawless Professional Experience Section in Your Technical Writer Resume

One of the most prominent sections on a resume is the professional experience section.

This is the section wherein all your professional experience needs to be described for the recruiters to recognize you as a potential applicant for the targeted job profile.

No matter how experienced or skilled you are in the field of technical writing unless you can communicate the same through your resume, your chances of being shortlisted cannot be guaranteed.

Talking of which ...

You need to make sure that the following three points are clearly embedded in the professional experience section of your tech writer resume:

Star Format
Framing One-Liners
Bucketing & Bolding

All three points are simple yet tricky if not implemented full-heartedly!

START FORMAT

Situation: The situation/backdrop/context of your contributions.
Task: The official task assigned to you.
Action: Your strategy to execute the assigned task.
Result: The result/outcome of your action in the form of an achievement figure.

Using the STAR format is as clear as day!

You need to present the cause-effect of your contributions by describing your action and its result in your technical writer resume.

Collected various information from SMEs to develop and write procedure manuals and technical specifications Assessed the latest content and developed innovative approaches for enhancing the content

From the given examples, the recruiters would easily understand the applicants' contributions and their results, which will raise the chances of being shortlisted for the targeted job.

FRAMING ONE-LINERS

Nothing makes it clearer than framing one-liners to describe your technical skills and expertise.

They are straight to the point and do not beat around the bushes!

The recruiters would be impressed already once they see that your technical writing resume is clear and on point.

Brainstormed & created user-friendly documentation of the product's functionality Developed various deliverables comprising user guide, product manuals, installation & configuration guide, etc.

From the example given above, we can clearly understand that the applicant is familiar with creating user-friendly documents of products, user guides, manuals, etc.

Hence, it is clear enough that writing one-liners would make it easier for the recruiters to grasp the applicants' knowledge of the job profile.

A lengthy paragraph to explain the two points would make it lame because no recruiter would want to read an entire paragraph just to try and understand an applicants' potential.

BUCKETING AND BOLDING

Simply create strong headings that reflect your technical writing expertise and list all the similar one-liners under the relevant buckets.

A well-arranged resume has its advantages by ensuring that your resume easily gets past the ATS and the recruiters quickly recognize your potential.

Simply create buckets and list down all the similar points under the relevant heading in your technical writer resume.

Product & Technical Documentation Brainstormed & created user-friendly documentation of the product's functionality Developed various deliverables comprising user guide, product manuals , installation & configuration guide, etc. Collected various information from 10+ SMEs to develop and write procedure manuals and technical specifications

And do not forget to bold the most significant words, phrases, and figures in your one-liners to ensure that your technical writing skills are easily identified by the recruiters.

Doing so will make it easier for the recruiters to identify your expertise as a technical writer.

You can refer to the given professional experience section from our sample technical writer resume:

Technical-Writer-Resume-Professional-Experience

Are you still wondering how to write a technical writer resume?

No worries!

Simply go through our guide on Perfecting the Work Experience Section in a Resume and learn all about this section.

Provide Your Personal Information in Technical Writer Resume

Before you give out your personal information in your resume make sure to go through the guideline of the company, country, organization, etc. wherein you are applying for a job.

In order to avoid bias hiring some country and organizations prohibits the mention of certain details like gender, religion, country, marital status, etc.

Your senior technical writer resume should always have the following personal details so that the recruiters can easily get in touch with you for any job-related purposes:

Apart from the above-listed details, you can also add links to your LinkedIn or Github profile along with any other personal website that shows you in good light.

Technical-Writer-Resume-Infographic-Contact-Details

Learn all about personal information on your resume and make sure to create the perfect tech writer resume.

You can also have a look at the given sample technical writer resume highlighting the right way to provide your personal details:

Technical-Writer-Resume-Personal-Information

Technical Writer Resume Skills Section

The technical writing skill that you possess should be included in your technical writer resume skills section.

This section is very important in a resume because:

It is the best place to use suitable keywords picked from the job description
It is the right place to boast about your expertise in technical writing
It is the section through which you can easily communicate your technical writing skill with the hiring managers

Here are some of the most common technical writing skills that can be mentioned in a tech writer resume:

Do not forget to highlight your technical skills along with your key skills because it plays a major role in defining your technical writing potential:

The right set of skills on a resume can magnify your technical writing skill and raise your chances of being shortlisted for a job.

The technical writer resume skills section given below is from our sample technical writer resume:

How to Write a Technical Writer Resume Summary/Objective

A summary of technical writer resume plays an important role in introducing you to the recruiters.

And so does a technical writer resume objective .

A summary of technical writer resume can give an insight into your entire resume without wasting the recruiters' precious time.

While composing a resume summary you need to remember the following points:

Include a resume summary only when you have extensive years of professional experience.
Ensure that you pick points from the professional experience section to highlight your professional experience as a technical writer.
Limit your summary to a maximum of 4-5 lines.

Your technical writer resume objective is more or less the same as a summary.

The only difference is that the objective should be included if:

you have less than 3 years of experience and
communicate what all value you are willing to contribute to the targeted organization.

To be simply put, a summary of technical writer resume is to highlight the growth of your professional career and the objective is to mention your willingness to learn and contribute towards the higher goals of an organization.

Given below is a glimpse of what a technical writer resume summary comprises of:

Technical Writing Qualifications in a Technical Writer Resume

To become a technical writer it is not compulsory that you have a graduation or post-graduation degree.

Though there is no harm in highlighting them in your technical writing resume if you possess a degree.

Your chances can elevate if you have a degree in English Literature, Journalism, Mass Communication, or any relevant field of studies.

A degree in science or IT can give you leverage too!

All you need to do is:

Mention the name of your university
Specify your course of study
Include the dates of your enrollment and completion
Include the location of your university

Create a separate education section in your junior technical writer resume.

Here is a sample technical writer resume of the perfect education section:

By highlighting your educational qualification in your resume you can hone your technical writing skills through your academic achievements.

Certifications in a Technical Writer Resume

As a technical writer, you should constantly hone your skills to stay one step ahead in the competitive job market.

Never let go of any opportunity that can get you under the recruiters' radar during your job application.

Apart from highlighting your scholastic details, you can also highlight any certification that you have completed or currently taking up in your technical writing resume.

Doing so will make an impression of your commitment and level of excellence in the field of technical writing and amplify your technical writing qualifications.

Here is a snapshot of an ideal certification section on a technical writer resume:

Read Hiration's Guide to including certifications on a resume and get a clear understanding of its importance in your tech writer resume.

Hiration Online Resume Builder

Here are some of the amazing features of our online resume builder :

Unlimited PDF downloads
Option to save unlimited resumes
25+ resume designs
Full rich-text editor
A sharable link
100+ resume templates
1-click design change
Live resume editor

You can simply pick a resume template of your choice and customize it by highlighting your details.

Upload your existing resume to our builder and get it reviewed by our resume experts.

Hiration Cover Letters

A technical writer cover letter can maximize the chances of your resume being shortlisted by the recruiters.

Give the hiring managers an insight into your technical writing resume through a well-crafted cover letter.

Go ahead and get professional cover letters built today!

Hiration's Cover Letter Builder provides:

10+ ready to use templates
15+ designs
Freedom to customize templates
Create multiple cover letters
Easy downloading

This is not all!

Check out the following Hiration Services that can help you create a strong professional presence in the job world:

Digital Portfolio Builder
LinkedIn Review
Interview Prep

Key Takeaway

Keep the following points in mind while creating the best technical writer resume to land your targeted job:

Make sure to understand the importance of getting your resume past the ATS and include suitable keywords from the job listing.
Describe your work experience in one-liners under strong buckets to ensure that the recruiters can easily recognize you as a technical writing expert.
Provide your contact details to make sure that the hiring managers can get in touch with you whenever your resume is shortlisted.
Include both your key skills and technical skills to make your proficient technical writing expertise stand out in your technical writer resume skills section.
Mention the details of your professional qualification and certification to add value to your professional junior technical writer resume.

Refer to the best technical resume examples provided in this blog while writing your technical writer resumes.

Go to Hiration resume builder and create a professional resume for yourself. Additionally, reach out to us at [email protected] and you can get 24/7 professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Writing the Personal Statement

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The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
What are your career goals?
Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

Entry Level Technical Writer CV Example

Cv guidance.

CV Template
How to Format
Personal Statements
Related CVs

CV Tips for Entry Level Technical Writers

Highlight Your Education and Training : Mention your degree, especially if it's in English, Communications, or a technical field. Also, include any relevant courses or certifications, such as the Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) credential.
Showcase Your Writing Skills : Provide examples of your ability to write clear, concise, and user-friendly content. If possible, include links to your portfolio or samples of your work.
Detail Your Technical Knowledge : List the technical tools, software, and platforms you're familiar with, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe FrameMaker, or MadCap Flare. Also, mention any technical domains you have knowledge of, like software development, engineering, or healthcare.
Customize Your CV for the Role : Tailor your CV to match the job description, emphasizing relevant experiences and skills. If the job requires knowledge of a specific industry or technology, make sure to highlight your expertise in that area.
Emphasize Collaboration and Communication Skills : Technical writing often involves working with subject matter experts and other stakeholders. Highlight any experience you have in collaborating with teams, managing projects, or facilitating communication between different parties.

The Smarter, Faster Way to Write Your CV

Developed and implemented a new documentation structure for the company's software products, resulting in a 30% increase in user comprehension and a 20% reduction in customer support inquiries.
Collaborated with the product development team to create comprehensive user manuals and technical guides, improving customer satisfaction by 15%.
Conducted regular reviews and updates of existing technical documentation, ensuring 100% accuracy and compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Assisted senior technical writers in the creation of product specifications and user manuals, contributing to a 10% increase in product adoption rate.
Participated in the development of an online help center, leading to a 25% decrease in customer support calls and emails.
Worked closely with the software development team to understand product updates and changes, ensuring all documentation was up-to-date and accurate.
Created and maintained a comprehensive library of technical terminology and documentation, improving team efficiency by 20%.
Assisted in the translation of technical information into simpler language for user guides and FAQs, resulting in a 15% increase in customer understanding and product usage.
Conducted thorough research to understand product features and technical specifications, ensuring all documentation was accurate and comprehensive.
Technical documentation development
Software product understanding
Collaboration with development teams
Creation of user manuals and technical guides
Accuracy and compliance in technical writing
Development of online help centers
Translation of technical information into simpler language
Research and understanding of product features
Maintenance of technical terminology libraries
Improvement of customer understanding and product usage

Entry Level Technical Writer CV Template

Collaborated with [teams/departments] to produce [type of document, e.g., user manuals, technical guides], demonstrating strong [soft skill, e.g., teamwork, communication skills].
Managed [writing project, e.g., software documentation, product descriptions], optimizing [process or task, e.g., editing, proofreading] to enhance [operational outcome, e.g., readability, user understanding].
Implemented [system or process improvement, e.g., the adoption of new writing software, revision of style guide], resulting in [quantifiable benefit, e.g., 20% time savings, improved document quality].
Played a key role in [project or initiative, e.g., website content overhaul, new product launch], which led to [measurable impact, e.g., increased user engagement, improved product understanding].
Conducted [type of research, e.g., user interviews, product testing], employing [research tools/methods] to inform [writing task, e.g., manual creation, FAQ updates].
Instrumental in [task or responsibility, e.g., editing team's work, maintaining style guide], ensuring [quality or standard, e.g., consistency, clarity] across all technical documents.
Major: Name of Major
Minor: Name of Minor

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How to format a entry level technical writer cv, start with a clear objective, highlight education and relevant courses, detail relevant experience and internships, emphasize soft skills and technical proficiencies, personal statements for entry level technical writers, entry level technical writer personal statement examples, what makes a strong personal statement.

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CV FAQs for Entry Level Technical Writers

How long should entry level technical writers make a cv, what's the best format for an entry level technical writer cv, how does a entry level technical writer cv differ from a resume, related cvs for entry level technical writer.

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How to Write a Personal Statement (with Tips and Examples)

Hannah Yang

What is a personal statement, 6 tips on how to write a personal statement, personal statement examples (for college and university), faqs about writing personal statements, conclusion on how to write a personal statement.

How do you tell someone who you are in just a few hundred words?

It’s certainly no easy task, but it’s one almost every college applicant must do. The personal statement is a crucial part of any college or university application.

So, how do you write a compelling personal statement?

In this article, we’ll give you all the tools, tips, and examples you need to write an effective personal statement.

A personal statement is a short essay that reveals something important about who you are. It can talk about your background, your interests, your values, your goals in life, or all of the above.

Personal statements are required by many college admission offices and scholarship selection committees. They’re a key part of your application, alongside your academic transcript, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities.

The reason application committees ask you to write a personal statement is so they can get to know who you are.

Some personal statements have specific prompts, such as “Discuss a period of personal growth in your life” or “Tell us about a challenge or failure you’ve faced.” Others are more open-ended with prompts that essentially boil down to “Tell us about yourself.”

No matter what the prompt is, your goal is the same: to make yourself stand out to the selection committee as a strong candidate for their program.

Here are some things a personal statement can be:

It can be funny. If you have a great sense of humor, your personal statement is a great place to let that shine.

It can be vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to open up about hardships in your life or failures you’ve experienced. Showing vulnerability can make you sound more like a real person rather than just a collection of application materials.

It can be creative. Candidates have got into top schools with personal statements that take the form of “a day in the life” descriptions, third-person short stories, and even cooking recipes.

Now we’ve talked about what a personal statement is, let’s quickly look at what a personal statement isn’t:

It isn’t a formal academic paper. You should write the personal statement in your natural voice, using first-person pronouns like “I” and “me,” not in the formal, objective language you would use to write an academic paper.

It isn’t a five-paragraph essay. You should use as many paragraphs as you need to tell your story instead of sticking to the essay structure you learned in school.

It isn’t a resumé. You should try to describe yourself by telling a clear and cohesive story rather than providing a jumbled list of all of your accomplishments and ambitions.

Here are our top six tips for writing a strong personal statement.

Tip 1: Do Some Serious Self-Reflection

The hardest part of writing a personal statement isn’t the actual process of writing it.

Before you start typing, you have to figure out what to write about. And that means taking some time to reflect on who you are and what’s important in your life.

Here are some useful questions you can use to start your self-reflection. You can either answer these on your own by writing down your answers, or you can ask a trusted friend to listen as you talk about them together.

What were the key moments that shaped your life? (e.g. an important friendship, a travel experience, an illness or injury)

What are you proud of? (e.g. you’re a good listener, you always keep your promises, you’re a talented musician)

How do you choose to spend your time? (e.g. reading, practicing soccer, spending time with your friends)

What inspires you? (e.g. your grandmother, a celebrity, your favorite song)

Doing this self-reflection is crucial for figuring out the perfect topics and anecdotes you can use to describe who you are.

Tip 2: Try to Avoid Cliché Topics

College application committees read thousands of personal statements a year. That means there are some personal statement topics they see over and over again.

Here are a few examples of common personal statement topics that have become cliché:

Winning a tournament or sports game

Volunteering in a foreign country

Moving to a new home

Becoming an older sibling

Being an immigrant or having immigrant parents

If you want to make a strong impression in the application process, you need to make your personal statement stand out from the crowd.

But if your chosen personal statement topic falls into one of these categories, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use it. Just make sure to put a unique spin on it so it still delivers something the committee hasn’t seen before.

Good writing = better grades

ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.

Tip 3: Show, Don’t Tell

One common mistake you might make in your personal statement is to simply tell the reader what you want them to know about you, such as by stating “I have a fear of public speaking” or “I love to cook.”

Instead of simply stating these facts, you should show the committee what you’re talking about through a story or scene, which will make your essay much more immersive and memorable.

For example, let’s say you want the committee to know you overcame your fear of public speaking. Instead of writing “I overcame my fear of public speaking,” show them what it was like to be onstage in front of a microphone. Did your palms get clammy? Did you feel light-headed? Did you forget your words?

Or let’s say you want the committee to know you love to cook. Instead of writing “I love to cook,” show them why you love to cook. What’s your favorite dish to cook? What does the air smell like when you’re cooking it? What kitchen appliances do you use to make it?

Tip 4: Connect the Story to Why You’re Applying

Don’t forget that the purpose of your personal statement isn’t simply to tell the admissions committee who you are. That’s an important part of it, of course, but your ultimate goal is to convince them to choose you as a candidate.

That means it’s important to tie your personal story to your reasons for applying to this specific school or scholarship. Finish your essay with a strong thesis.

For example, if your story is about overcoming your fear of public speaking, you might connect that story to your ambition of becoming a politician. You can then tie that to your application by saying, “I want to apply to this school because of its fantastic politics program, which will give me a perfect opportunity to use my voice.”

Tip 5: Write in Your Own Voice

The personal statement isn’t supposed to be written in a formal tone. That’s why they’re called “personal” statements because you have to shape it to fit your own voice and style.

Don’t use complicated or overwrought language. You don’t need to fill your essay with semicolons and big words, unless that’s how you sound in real life.

One way to write in your own voice is by speaking your personal statement out loud. If it doesn’t feel natural, it may need changing.

Tip 6: Edit, Edit, Edit!

It’s important to revise your personal statement multiple times in order to make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.

A single typo won’t kill your application, but if your personal statement contains multiple spelling errors or egregious grammar mistakes, you won’t be putting your best foot forward.

ProWritingAid can help you make sure your personal statement is as clean as possible. In addition to catching your grammar errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes, it will also help you improve weaknesses in your writing, such as passive voice, unnecessary repetition, and more.

Let’s look at some of the best personal statements that have worked for successful candidates in the real world.

Harvard Personal Statement Example

Love. For a word describing such a powerful emotion, it is always in the air. The word “love” has become so pervasive in everyday conversation that it hardly retains its roots in blazing passion and deep adoration. In fact, the word is thrown about so much that it becomes difficult to believe society isn’t just one huge, smitten party, with everyone holding hands and singing “Kumbaya.” In films, it’s the teenage boy’s grudging response to a doting mother. At school, it’s a habitual farewell between friends. But in my Chinese home, it’s never uttered. Watching my grandmother lie unconscious on the hospital bed, waiting for her body to shut down, was excruciatingly painful. Her final quavering breaths formed a discordant rhythm with the steady beep of hospital equipment and the unsympathetic tapping hands of the clock. That evening, I whispered—into unhearing ears—the first, and only, “I love you” I ever said to her, my rankling guilt haunting me relentlessly for weeks after her passing. My warm confession seemed anticlimactic, met with only the coldness of my surroundings—the blank room, impassive doctors, and empty silence. I struggled to understand why the “love” that so easily rolled off my tongue when bantering with friends dissipated from my vocabulary when I spoke to my family. Do Chinese people simply love less than Americans do?

This is an excerpt from a personal statement that got the applicant admitted to Harvard University. The applicant discusses her background as a Chinese-American by musing on the word “love” and what that means within her family.

The writer uses vulnerable details about her relationship with her grandmother to give the reader an understanding of where she comes from and how her family has shaped her.

You can read the full personal statement on the Harvard Crimson website.

Tufts Personal Statement Example

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry’s “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go,” and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon. Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration. Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear. I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

This is the beginning of a personal statement by Renner Kwittken, who was admitted into Tufts University as a pre-medical student.

Renner uses a humorous anecdote about being a pickle truck driver to describe his love for nanomedicine and how he got involved in his field. You can feel his passion for medicine throughout his personal statement.

You can find Renner’s full essay on the Tufts Admissions page.

Law School Personal Statement Essay Example

For most people, the slap on the face that turns their life around is figurative. Mine was literal. Actually, it was a punch delivered by a drill sergeant at Fort Dix, New Jersey, while I was in basic training. That day’s activity, just a few weeks into the program, included instruction in “low-crawling,” a sensible method of moving from one place to another on a battlefield. I felt rather clever for having discovered that, by looking right rather than down, I eliminated my helmet’s unfortunate tendency to dig into the ground and slow my progress. I could thus advance more easily, but I also exposed my unprotected face to hostile fire. Drill sergeants are typically very good at detecting this type of laziness, and mine was an excellent drill sergeant. So, after his repeated suggestions that I correct my performance went unheeded, he drove home his point with a fist to my face. We were both stunned. This was, after all, the New Army, and striking a trainee was a career-ending move for a drill sergeant, as we were both aware. I could have reported him; arguably, I should have. I didn’t. It didn’t seem right for this good sergeant, who had not slept for almost four days, to lose his career for losing his temper with my laziness. Choosing not to report him was the first decision I remember making that made me proud.

These are the first three paragraphs of an anonymous personal statement by a Wheaton College graduate, who used this personal statement to get into a top-25 law school.

This statement describes a time the applicant faced a challenging decision while in the army. He ended up making a decision he was proud of, and as a result, the personal statement gives us a sense of his character.

You can find the full essay on the Wheaton Academics website.

Here are some common questions about how to write a personal statement.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

The length of your personal statement depends on the specific program you’re applying to. The application guidelines usually specify a maximum word count or an ideal word count.

Most personal statements are between 500–800 words. That’s a good general range to aim for if you don’t have more specific guidelines.

Should Personal Statements Be Different for Scholarships?

Many scholarship applications will ask for personal statements with similar prompts to those of college applications.

However, the purpose of a personal statement you’d write for a scholarship application is different from the purpose of one you’d write for a college application.

For a scholarship application, your goal is to showcase why you deserve the scholarship. To do that, you need to understand the mission of the organization offering that scholarship.

For example, some scholarships are meant to help first-generation college students get their degree, while others are meant to help women break into STEM.

Consider the following questions:

Why is this organization offering scholarships?

What would their ideal scholarship candidate look like?

How do your experiences and goals overlap with those of their ideal scholarship candidate?

You can use the same personal anecdotes you’d use for any other personal statement, but you’ll have a better chance of winning the scholarship if you tailor your essay to match their specific mission.

How to Start a Personal Statement

You should start your personal statement with a “hook” that pulls the reader in. The sooner you catch the reader’s attention, the more likely they’ll want to read the entire essay.

Here are some examples of hooks you can use:

A story (e.g. When the spotlight hit my face, I tried to remind myself to breathe. )

A setting description (e.g. My bedroom floor is covered with dirty laundry, candy wrappers, and crumpled sheet music. )

A funny anecdote (e.g. When I was a little kid, my friends nicknamed me Mowgli because of my haircut. )

A surprising fact (e.g. I've lived in 37 countries .)

There you have it—our complete guide to writing a personal statement that will make you stand out to the application committee.

Here’s a quick recap:

A personal statement is a short essay that shows an application committee who you are

Start with a strong hook that pulls the reader in

Tell a story to engage the reader

Write in your own voice, not in a formal tone

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

Ruth Gotian
Ushma S. Neill

A few adjustments can get your application noticed.

Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.

Make sure you’re writing what they want to hear. Most organizations that offer a fellowship or internship are using the experience as a pipeline: It’s smart to spend 10 weeks and $15,000 on someone before committing five years and $300,000. Rarely are the organizations being charitable or altruistic, so align your stated goals with theirs
Know when to bury the lead, and when to get to the point. It’s hard to paint a picture and explain your motivations in 200 words, but if you have two pages, give the reader a story arc or ease into your point by setting the scene.
Recognize that the reviewer will be reading your statement subjectively, meaning you’re being assessed on unknowable criteria. Most people on evaluation committees are reading for whether or not you’re interesting. Stated differently, do they want to go out to dinner with you to hear more? Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more.
Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren’t great in core courses, or perhaps you’ve never worked in the field you’re applying to. Make sure to address the deficiency rather than hoping the reader ignores it because they won’t. A few sentences suffice. Deficiencies do not need to be the cornerstone of the application.

At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.

Ruth Gotian is the chief learning officer and associate professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and the author of The Success Factor and Financial Times Guide to Mentoring . She was named the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50. You can access her free list of conversation starters and test your mentoring impact . RuthGotian
Ushma S. Neill is the Vice President, Scientific Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She runs several summer internships and is involved with the NYC Marshall Scholar Selection Committee. ushmaneill

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Technical Writer Cover Letter Example and Template for 2024
In this article, we share how to write a technical writer resume and provide an example you can review when creating your own. If you feel ready to apply for technical writer positions, you can upload your resume file or create an Indeed Resume. Amanda Hallows. 732-555-0199 | [email protected] | Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey.
4 Technical Writer CV Examples [+ Free Templates]
Technical Writer Personal Statement Examples. Strong Statement "Detail-oriented Technical Writer with over 7 years of experience in creating user manuals, online help, and technical documentation. Proven ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, concise, and user-friendly content. Passionate about leveraging my writing skills ...
Technical Writer Resume Examples & Writing Tips (2024)
This trend is expected to continue. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 6% increase in jobs for technical writers from 2021 to 2031. This growth rate is just slightly faster than the 5% estimate for media and communication workers overall, and the 5% occupational average.
How to Write a Technical Writer Resume [+Examples]
A golden rule of thumb is to iterate your resume according to a specific job role. For example, if the job role is a senior technical writer on technology, update your resume for that role. Hiring managers prefer candidates who have personalized their cover letters and resumes according to the job roles. 3.
How to Write a Technical Writer Cover Letter (With Template)
Keep it concise: Aim for a cover letter length of 250-400 words. Be succinct in presenting your qualifications and experiences. Use a clean layout: Opt for a professional and clean cover letter format with a standard font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman) and a font size of 10-12 points.
Technical Writer Resume: The 2023 Guide with 10+ Examples ...
All you need to do is: Mention the name of your university. Specify your course of study. Include the dates of your enrollment and completion. Include the location of your university. Create a separate education section in your junior technical writer resume. Here is a sample technical writer resume of the perfect education section: By ...
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Senior Technical Writer Personal Statement Examples. Strong Statement "Accomplished Senior Technical Writer with over 7 years of experience in creating and editing complex technical documents. Proven ability to translate intricate technical jargon into clear, concise, and user-friendly language. Skilled in collaborating with diverse teams to ...
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Example: "Writing most of Ampere Communications' manuals was a great experience...". Show how you'll fill the job requirements in the center of your technical writer cover letter. Next, how to conclude a cover letter: Offer a perk. Example: "I'd love to explain how I contributed to a 25% customer satisfaction boost.".
Technical Writer Personal Statement
THE NATURE OF A TECHNICAL WRITER. Technical Writers need people skills to coax information out of many different SMEs, and a logical mind to translate and structure that information. Most people identify as either "left" or "right" brained, but we need to be both. I test at precisely 50% of each. Spot on!
CV Example for Technical Writers (+ Free Template)
A strong personal statement for a Technical Writer CV seamlessly blends professional achievements with specific technical writing skills, clearly demonstrating the candidate's value through measurable outcomes. It stands out by being highly tailored to the technical writing field, highlighting expertise in areas like software documentation ...
What Does a Technical Writer Do? 2024 Career Guide
Technical writers, also known as technical communicators, are responsible for explaining processes to consumers of various industries, such as health care and IT. As a technical writer, you communicate complicated ideas or instructions through guidebooks, manuals, brochures, or graphics. You'll focus on communicating information and ensuring ...
How to Write an Impactful Personal Statement (Examples Included)
Tips for writing a personal statement. Let's take a look at the tips and tricks to write a personal statement along with relevant examples: 1. Keep it personal. ... Using appropriate technical terms in your field can showcase your expertise and understanding of the subject matter to the admissions committee. But overusing or misusing jargon ...
Writing the Personal Statement
1. The general, comprehensive personal statement: This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms. 2. The response to very specific questions: Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement ...
Entry Level Technical Writer CV Example
A compelling personal statement for an Entry Level Technical Writer CV effectively combines educational qualifications, technical writing skills, and relevant competencies. It should clearly articulate the candidate's ability to create user-friendly technical content, their proficiency in research, editing, and proofreading, and their ...
How to Write a Personal Statement (with Tips and Examples)
Tip 4: Connect the Story to Why You're Applying. Don't forget that the purpose of your personal statement isn't simply to tell the admissions committee who you are. That's an important part of it, of course, but your ultimate goal is to convince them to choose you as a candidate.
How to Write a Strong Personal Statement
Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more. Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren't great in core courses, or perhaps you've never worked ...
How to Write a Personal Statement
Insert a quote from a well-known person. Challenge the reader with a common misconception. Use an anecdote, which is a short story that can be true or imaginary. Credibility is crucial when writing a personal statement as part of your college application process. If you choose a statistic, quote, or misconception for your hook, make sure it ...

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