When applying for jobs, showing career growth on your resume can set you apart. It helps employers see how you’ve built skills and taken on more responsibility over time. For technical writers, this is especially important. Each new role usually adds valuable experience, like working with new documentation tools or collaborating with product teams. Here’s how to tell that story clearly and make your resume stand out.

Start with Your Current Role

Your most recent job is often the most relevant. Start with it and use clear language to describe what you do now. Be specific and focus on the responsibilities that matter most for the job you’re applying to. This might include:

• Creating and managing user guides
• Collaborating with developers on API documentation
• Using content management tools like Markdown or Confluence

Highlight Key Accomplishments

In each job, highlight a few major achievements. Don’t list every task; instead, focus on what shows progress and skill growth. Use action words, and if possible, add metrics to show your impact.

• Example: “Improved product documentation, reducing user questions by 30%.”
• Example: “Led a team project to create 15 new support articles.”

Keep sentences short and avoid technical jargon. Metrics help prove that your contributions made a real difference.

Use Bullet Points Wisely

Bullet points make your resume easier to scan. They help busy hiring managers find the details quickly. Use them to list main responsibilities or major achievements, but keep it brief. For each role, three to five bullet points is usually enough. Avoid filling this space with minor tasks. Instead, focus on points that show growth and new skills. For instance:

• Developed onboarding guides for new software tools
• Created training materials for cross-functional teams
• Reduced documentation errors by 25% through regular audits

Show How Each Job Prepared You for the Next

For a technical writing resume, showing progression is key. Try to connect each role to the next by highlighting new skills gained along the way. Did you start by creating basic user guides? Then, maybe you moved to managing full documentation sets or leading training sessions.

• Example: “Started with proofreading tasks; later took on full responsibility for technical editing.”

Don’t Forget Your Soft Skills

Technical writing isn’t just about understanding software. You need strong communication skills, too. Show that you’ve improved in areas like team collaboration, problem-solving, and adapting to feedback. Avoid listing these skills in a separate section. Instead, weave them into job descriptions.

• Example: “Worked closely with product managers to ensure documentation met user needs.”
• Example: “Facilitated workshops to improve writing skills across the team.”

These examples make soft skills feel more relevant and show how they helped you succeed in each role.

Tailor It for Each Application

Lastly, remember to tailor your resume for every job you apply to. Look for keywords in the job description. If the employer wants a writer with “API documentation” experience, make sure that term appears in your summary. Also, include it in your experience sections.

Keep the language simple and natural, so your resume is easy to read. Employers appreciate resumes that tell a story and are clear without needing extra explanation.

In Summary

Career growth is a powerful story on any resume, especially for technical writers. Show how each role helped you grow, list key achievements, and connect each job to the next. This approach gives employers a clear view of your experience and shows how you’re ready to take on new challenges.