How to Show Soft Skills on Your Resume (Without Just Listing Them)

When you’re crafting a resume, it’s easy to list skills like “communication” or “problem-solving.” But here’s the thing: almost everyone does that. For hiring managers, seeing those words by themselves doesn’t reveal much. They want to know how you’ve actually used those skills to make a difference in your job.

For technical writing jobs, this is even more important. Why? Because technical writers work across teams, turning complex ideas into clear information. This means your soft skills, like collaboration and adaptability, are just as valuable as your technical know-how. Let’s break down how to show those skills naturally throughout your resume.

Why Soft Skills Matter (Especially in Technical Writing)

Technical writers don’t just write; they coordinate with developers, product managers, and even marketing teams. You need soft skills to make this coordination effective. According to a recent Glassdoor study, hiring managers look for soft skills that prove candidates can handle these collaborative environments.

Soft skills are essential for technical writing roles because:

• They enhance team communication and project flow.
• They show you can adapt to the needs of different teams.
• They build trust in your ability to handle complex topics and present them clearly.

Instead of listing soft skills, show them through examples. This makes your resume more memorable and paints a clearer picture of your strengths.

1. Weave Soft Skills into Your Experience

Think about times you’ve used communication, teamwork, or problem-solving on the job. When you describe those experiences, emphasize how you used these skills to reach specific goals or solve problems. Here’s how to do it:

• Instead of: “Excellent communication skills.”
• Try: “Led weekly cross-team meetings to align documentation updates, resulting in a 20% faster release cycle.”

By giving concrete examples, you’re showing how you apply soft skills in real-world situations. It’s more engaging and shows hiring managers what you can do.

2. Use Soft Skills to Set Up Your Achievements

Every achievement you mention is an opportunity to highlight a soft skill. When you talk about accomplishments, think about the skills you needed to get there. Did you “collaborate” with a team? Did you “adapt” quickly to new information? These words reveal your soft skills without making them too obvious.

For example:

• Instead of: “Reduced editing time by 15%.”
• Try: “Collaborated with engineers to streamline review processes, reducing editing time by 15%.”

Now, you’re not just listing a number; you’re showing how teamwork helped you reach that goal.

3. Reflect the Company’s Soft Skills in Your Language

Many job descriptions mention soft skills directly. If the job listing emphasizes a “collaborative work style” or a “proactive mindset,” mirror those words in your resume. By using the same language, you’ll match the tone the company values.

Example phrases:

• “Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams to align documentation with product updates.”
• “Proactively addressed gaps in documentation, reducing customer support tickets by 10%.”

These examples resonate because they’re specific to the company’s expectations. It’s not about repeating the words—it’s about showing you understand what they want.

4. Keep Soft Skills in Your Summary Section

Your summary is a great place to blend soft and hard skills in a sentence or two. Instead of just saying, “Strong communicator,” mention an achievement that shows it.

For example:

“Technical writer with 5+ years of experience, skilled in API documentation and cross-team collaboration, enhancing documentation clarity for product users.”

This summary shows both your technical and soft skills in one concise statement. It’s clear, specific, and immediately lets the hiring manager know what you bring to the table.

Key Takeaways

Showing soft skills on a resume isn’t about listing them. It’s about giving examples that make them real. For technical writers, this approach is even more impactful. It aligns with the collaborative and adaptable nature of the job.

• Use examples to show how you’ve applied soft skills.
• Align your language with the job description to reflect the company’s values.
• Blend soft skills into achievements to make them part of your work story.

By highlighting your soft skills in a way that feels natural, you’ll set yourself apart. Remember, it’s about showing—not telling—how you can make a difference.