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Technical writer and editor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Thomas Reynolds,

Ted Anton

Technical writer and editor example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical technical writer and editor skills. We ranked the top skills for technical writer and editors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.7% of technical writer and editor resumes contained technical documentation as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a technical writer and editor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 technical writer and editor skills for your resume and career

1. Technical Documentation

Technical documentation means any documentation that gives a functional, architectural, and handling description of a technical product or a product in use or development.

Here's how technical writer and editors use technical documentation:

Review training material for program to ensure accuracy of material and concurrence with operation and maintenance instruction provided in technical documentation.
Contracted to enhance customer understanding of end-user and technical documentation; developing, enhancing, and maintaining internal documentation and templates.

2. PowerPoint

Here's how technical writer and editors use powerpoint:

Modified graphics and text with documentation development tools to create PowerPoint presentations for the training of installation engineers.
Created PowerPoint presentation of Information Systems material for quarterly meeting of responsible managers and project program sponsors.

3. Technical Specifications

A technical specification is a document that clearly explains the specific requirements needed to get a project, product, material, or system ready for public or private use. It's the preliminary stage of any engineering or product design that must be followed to the letter because it defines the technical standard and safety measures for the product in the field of engineering design.

Here's how technical writer and editors use technical specifications:

Planned, organized, analyzed, and interpreted technical specifications prepared by engineers to determine appropriate content for documentation.
Acquired subject knowledge by interviewing product developers, referring to technical specifications, engineering illustrations, and existing documentation.

4. Subject Matter Experts

Here's how technical writer and editors use subject matter experts:

Accomplished at coordinating with subject matter experts and editing their documents to help communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely.
Collaborated with Subject Matter Experts to create data management procedures that complied with regulatory requirements and company policies.

5. DOD

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of deliverables that are needed to devise software. These deliverables are valuable to the system and can be exemplified by writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, design documents, release notes, and so on.

Here's how technical writer and editors use dod:

Ensured all documentation met contractual obligations, DoD documentation requirements, US Navy documentation requirements, and followed ISO:9001 requirements.
Provided document development cost estimates for additional task requirements for SAIC management to provide DoD customer.

6. Engineering Drawings

Engineering drawings are technical drawings that tell about the requirements for engineering components or equipment. Such drawings have standardized languages and symbols. There are multiple types of engineering drawings such as isometric drawing, orthographic or multiview drawing, schematic drawings, one view, and two view drawings, etc.

Here's how technical writer and editors use engineering drawings:

Compared technical graphics to schematics and other engineering drawings to verify accuracy, request and incorporate specific updates.
Identify errors within technical manuals and engineering drawings and recommend solutions for correction.

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7. Technical Publications

Here's how technical writer and editors use technical publications:

Established standards and guidelines for technical publications, documentation development and user-interface design for both print and electronic processing.
Reviewed shipbuilder/contractor prepared LCAC deliverable data including: project plans, technical publications, and other product related tasks.

8. Proofreading

Here's how technical writer and editors use proofreading:

Managed content development and consistency utilizing exemplary editing and proofreading skills.
Performed in-process quality control proofreading of financial documents at Rivet Software.

9. XML

XML is a medium for storing and transporting data that is independent of software and hardware. XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. XML, like HTML, is a markup language that was created to store and transport data. It was created with the intention of being self-descriptive. There are no predefined tags in the XML language. Another feature is that XML is extensible.

Here's how technical writer and editors use xml:

Led team using ArborText Epic Editor as a single-sourcing solution in project to convert extensive Adobe FrameMaker documentation set to XML.
Documented all client features for the Microsoft Network (MSN) Internet service as HTML, and XML files.

10. User Manuals

Here's how technical writer and editors use user manuals:

Edited/formatted user manuals for Joy Mining Company within style guide and version control guidelines as per established organizational procedure.
Edited/redesigned user manuals for hand held gas detection devices produced in a manufacturing environment.

11. Technical Manuals

Technical Manuals are informative pieces of writing, often including diagrams and images, which educate the person who is using it and assist them in learning how to control, build, fix, or otherwise handle the product or products which it speaks of. A technical manual is also known more commonly as a user manual and it typically comes with most products, especially items such as furniture, electronics, appliances, software, machinery, and even medication and medical devices.

Here's how technical writer and editors use technical manuals:

Monitored the analyses of images and definition of characters to produce editable text of military technical manuals.
Conducted database information research to develop and write content for technical manuals supporting electric hardware/technical procedures.

12. Maintenance Procedures

A maintenance procedure refers to a thorough list of steps that details the way a maintenance task needs to be performed. It also acts as a documented standard that should be maintained when performing the task or job.

Here's how technical writer and editors use maintenance procedures:

Authored Intranet budget and implementation schedule proposals; produced documentation maintenance procedures.
Validated over 250 commercial vessel repair specifications against current maintenance procedures.

13. Training Materials

Here's how technical writer and editors use training materials:

Created training materials to help production personnel understand their maintenance/monitoring responsibilities concerning new projects going into production.
Redesigned and rewrote important training materials for customer orientation meetings and field operator training sessions.

14. Technical Data

Technical data refers to both scientific and technical nature and information recorded and presented in any form other than financial and management information but includes manuals and instructional materials, as well as technical data formatted as a computer database.

Here's how technical writer and editors use technical data:

Work required research, compilation and organization of technical data.
Participated in procedural and functional validation of developed technical data.

15. Version Control

Version control otherwise known as source control is a software configuration management practice responsible for tracking and managing changes to software code and computer programs, files, or set of files so that specific versions overtime could be later recalled and modifications stored in a database.

Here's how technical writer and editors use version control:

Maintained document version control using Rational ClearCase.
Maintained version control of documentation.

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What skills help Technical Writer And Editors find jobs?

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What technical writer and editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Thomas Reynolds

Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Minnesota

Technical writing and communication can span many fields. However, there are specific fields that are especially open to technical communication, such as information technology and computer software (technical documentation, for example), as well as medical and health fields. Many of our graduates work for companies that involve computer technology, such as software companies and content management for web consulting firms. In addition, many of our graduates work in biomedical companies that require technical and global documentation of medical devices.

I can't say that I know of a sure bet, but places that deal with medical technology, healthcare, and related fields are probably going to need people well trained to communicate specialized knowledge to a variety of audiences and in a variety of ways. Telemedicine seems to have gained a more permanent stronghold in the healthcare system, and I imagine that the various communication channels involved in this new way of practicing medicine will open opportunities for well-trained graduates such as ours who are willing to be pioneers in this area.

What type of skills will young technical writer and editors need?

Ted Anton

Professor, DePaul University

They will need to know how to understand and communicate complex information, often contradictory, in a catchy and understandable way. They will have to read professional data online, in business, medicine, health, you name it and then create a sales or summary pitch for investors. So, reading, writing, communication skills will continue to be important. Math, of course, is a big plus, but up to the advanced algebra level... Statistical skills will be helpful. Overall, employers are seeking curious, adventurous, bold, and creative thinkers and communicators for an ever-changing world.

What technical skills for a technical writer and editor stand out to employers?

Aaron DeRosa Ph.D.

Associate Professor, 20th/21st C. American Literature, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

English majors find homes in every major industry because they are trained to think about the precision of language and its impact, to critically think through problems and imagine the implications of the projects they work on, and to conduct sound research while being critical of the material they encounter. They do this whether the field is technical writing, advertising, law, journalism, publishing, teaching, retail, or whatever new positions arise in the years to come.

What soft skills should all technical writer and editors possess?

Jason Whittaker Ph.D.

Head of School of English & Journalism, Lincoln University

Among the key skills for graduates, some of these remain the same as before, particularly in terms of being able to communicate clearly, analyse information, and engage creatively with problem solving. The past year, however, has really brought to the fore the importance of resilience in our students, especially as they will need to be even more flexible as their careers develop in the future. We spend a considerable amount of time working on building confidence among our students, so that rather than being overwhelmed by rapid change they see this as a challenge and opportunity.

Do you want to know more?

List of technical writer and editor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a technical writer and editor resume and required skills for a technical writer and editor to have include:

Technical Documentation
PowerPoint
Technical Specifications
Subject Matter Experts
DOD
Engineering Drawings
Technical Publications
Proofreading
XML
User Manuals
Technical Manuals
Maintenance Procedures
Training Materials
Technical Data
Version Control
SharePoint

Arbortext
Style Guides
Visio
Project Management
Writing Support
SMEs
Web Content
HTML
Adobe Acrobat
Maintenance Manuals
Technical Reports
Meeting Minutes
Configuration Management
Software Applications
National Security
User Guides

SGML
Adobe Framemaker
Content Management System
Windows
Adobe Illustrator
PDF
RFP
ISO
User Documentation
Adobe Photoshop
DOE
Technical Content
Training Manuals
QA
Ietm
Software Documentation

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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