10 Kickass Resume writing tricks for technical writers

A resume for technical writers is considered a work sample, so we must do our best and avoid common mistakes. I hope the following suggestions will help you to create a kick-ass resume.

10 tips on what makes a technical writer CV hot:

1) Stick to a maximum of two pages. Always remember the CV hotspot – the upper middle area of the first page is where the recruiter’s eye will naturally fall, so make sure you include your most important information there.UX concept.

2)You can use two types of CVs – chronological or skill-based. For the former, use the last job as the starter and move to academic qualifications; for the latter, describe the skills earned from different work experiences and education.

3) Always include Your name, address, date of birth (in some countries this is not required due to age discrimination laws), and contact details (telephone number and email). For educational qualifications, state your degree, subject, and name of the school, college, and university, plus grades (if you were a topper). Flaunt what you have.

4) Work experience: This is the most important part of the CV because most employers try to select for the current job opening as close as possible to the previous work experience of the candidate This should have two parts – name of employer, roles performed in the company, and duration.

5) Be sure to highlight what you did – quantifiable achievements.  Also, do mention promotions and awards.

6) Part of the Work Experience section should include the skills required for the job. The reason I highlight this separately is so you don’t miss it. 

7) Skip “Interests”. Unless this in some way reflects the value you will bring to the job, I would suggest you skip this. However, if you insist, interests like “networking”, being part of diverse clubs (golf, theatre), sky-diving, mountaineering (displays you move out of your comfort zone), and being captain of the hockey team (team skills, leadership) can be added to bring some color into your CV.

8) References: Again, I would suggest you skip this until you have been called for the final interview. During your interviews, you will realize you need a reference who would be able to substantiate a certain aspect of your experience important to this role. You can then provide relevant names for reference. Usually, a previous supervisor, direct reportee or peer is a good reference.

9) Covering letter: this should accompany your CV. The letter must be addressed to the Recruitment Manager/Hiring Manager/HR Head and should explain in a short paragraph your career objectives and the reason for applying to the company for the particular role. 

10)Avoid “Cut, Copy, Paste”– While you may be applying to different companies at the same time, it’s very important to avoid “Cut, Copy, Paste”. Each covering letter and CV must be customized for the company and role that you are applying. If you expect to be selected amongst hundreds of other CVs, this investment is critical and worth it. 

So what makes a good CV?

The CV is easy to read, well laid out, and not over-crowded.
It’s customized for the job you are applying to 
You highlight the relevant skills you have for the job
It is a concise document with no grammar or spelling mistakes
It is not exaggerated and reads honestly

What are the common mistakes candidates make on their CVs?

One survey of employers found the following mistakes were the most common

Spelling and grammar: 56% of employers found this
Not tailored to the job: 21%
Length not right and poor work history: 16%
Poor format and no use of bullet points: 11%
No accomplishments highlighted: 9%
Contact and email problems: 8%
The objective/profile was too vague: 5%
Lying: 2%
Having a photo: 1%

Download some cool resume templates.

Be positive. Your acceptance of the CV is just the beginning. Soon it will be time to start getting ready for the interview. Good Luck!