Skills
Technical Writer Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in technical writers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do technical writers need?
Technical Writers need technical skills such as technical writing, information architecture, and editing, plus people skills like clarity and curiosity. They also use tools such as MadCap Flare or similar authoring tools and Markdown and Git.
Technical (hard) skills
- Technical writing
- Information architecture
- Editing
- Documentation tools
- API documentation
- Diagrams and screenshots
People (soft) skills
- Clarity
- Curiosity
- Collaboration
- Attention to detail
Tools, equipment and technology
- MadCap Flare or similar authoring tools
- Markdown and Git
- Confluence
- Snagit and screen capture tools
- Diagram tools
- Content management systems
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how technical writers put their skills to work:
- How to write a step-by-step procedure
- How to interview a subject matter expert
- How to edit for clarity
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Technical writing” and “Information architecture.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “clarity,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our technical writer glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Technical Writer training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.