Top 10 Writing Skills for Resumes & Examples

Here, you’ll learn about writing skills, their value and how to develop them. We provide 10 top examples and show how to include writing skills on a resume that can help you win your dream job.

Table of contents

• What are Writing Skills + Why Do They Matter?
• Top 10 Writing Skills + Examples
• How to Add Writing Skills to a Resume
• How to Improve Writing Skills
• Key Takeaways

What are writing skills + why do they matter?

Writing skills refer to the ability to craft clear and convincing messages in text. This umbrella term covers various skills, including tone, grammar and reader engagement.

They are communication skills that can be applied to various media, including books, emails, letters, news articles, research papers and websites.

Content is king in our screen-focused world. Many companies depend on writers to craft compelling and clear messages to their consumers, business partners and employees.

Having writing skills can open up many job possibilities! Different jobs require specific writing skills. We’ll outline some top writing skills and provide examples of each.

Top 10 writing skills + examples

There are many types of writing skills, but according to our career experts, here are the top 10.

1. Research
Studying a topic before you write about it is crucial to sounding informed and getting facts right. Research is vital in many fields, including academia, journalism, marketing and business analysis. Accurate, well-sourced information is the bedrock of convincing writing.

Research writing skills examples include: Fact-checking, interviews, vetting, citing sources, footnotes and verification.

See also: Research intern resume samples

2. Editing
Writing and editing work hand-in-hand to deliver a clear message that’s error-free. Editing polishes the rough writing into its diamond form of readability, flow and conciseness. Strong editors have a fine eye for detail and a good ear for natural language.

Editing writing skills examples include: Proofreading, copyediting, link checking, web publishing, grammar authority and style guides.

See also: Editor resume example

3. Marketing
Writing with the intent to sell is a specialized skill that can make people rich. Marketing writing skills involve a mixture of persuasion and focusing on the solutions and benefits that products and services provide. Branding, tone, and voice are critical elements of marketing writing.

Marketing writing skills examples include: Social media, copywriting, email campaigns, UX writing, user research and video sales letters.

See also: Copywriter resume examples

4. Comprehension
To be a good writer, you must have good reading comprehension skills and understand every word. Your grasp of a subject fuels your ability to explain it to readers. Comprehension skills are essential to technical writing, academia, research, journalism and language translation.

Comprehension writing skills examples include: Data breakdowns, subject analysis, essays, translations and summaries.

See also: Translator resume examples

5. Organization
Organized writing has an effective pace, order and breakdown of information. It determines whether your writing is easy to follow and clarifies its points. Organization is beneficial for research writing, analysis, technical writing and scientific reports.

Organization writing skills examples include: Outlining, indexing, email funnel sequencing, content strategy and project management.

See also: Business analyst examples

6. Meeting deadlines
One of the most crucial writing skills is to produce work on time. It’s just as important that your work is timely as it is that it’s good. Meeting deadlines is critical in fast-paced settings like journalism and marketing firms.

Meeting deadline writing skills examples include: Timeliness, punctuality, self-motivation, responsibility, trustworthiness and dedication.

See also: Journalist resume examples

7. Technical writing
This specialized form of writing conveys information about nuanced and complex topics like medicine, technology or science. Technical writing often provides instructions, guides and other information-based tools for readers. In addition to general writing skills, technical writing requires detailed subject knowledge.

Technical writing skills examples include: SEO writing, product knowledge, user persona targeting, scientific writing and audience analysis.

See also: Technical writer resume examples

8. Brand voice
When writing for a company or organization, it is essential to use language that reflects their brand image and tone. This voice must be consistent across ads, web content, emails and promotions. Assuming brand voice takes focus, attention to detail and creative thinking.

Brand voice writing skills examples include: Clarity, consistency, constancy, media coordination, branding and targeting audiences.

See also: Branding consultant resume examples

9. Storytelling
Storytelling refers to holding an audience’s attention for an extended time or text. It’s a specialized form of writing that relies on solid empathy and interpersonal skills to create emotional appeal. Storytelling is famously useful for entertainment, advertising, branding and marketing.

Storytelling writing skills examples include: Authenticity, rapport building, knowing the audience, creativity, brand narration and brand appeal.

See also: Screenwriter resume examples

10. Time management
What sets writers apart is their productivity at the keyboard. Time management requires focus, discipline and dedication, but it is essential to meeting deadlines. Time management skills are desirable for fast-paced environments like the news industry, PR, marketing and digital content.

Time management writing skills examples include: On-time delivery, fast-paced environments, execution, task focus and planning.

See also: Content writer resume samples

Find these and hundreds more crucial skills in our Resume Builder. With a few quick clicks, you can easily weave these employer-sought skills into your resume!

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How to add writing skills to a resume

To put writing skills on your resume, check the job post or ad to see which types the employer mentions first. After all, if the employer requests “copywriting” and your resume only includes the phrase “content writing,” your resume may not pass an applicant tracking system (ATS) scan.

The job ad may mention “writing” or more specific requests like “emails,” “reader engagement” or “storytelling.” The writing skills added to your resume should reflect the keywords used in the ad.

When you’ve spotted the correct keywords, you can add them to your resume in three places:

1. A dedicated skills section.
2. Your work experience section.
3. Your professional summary or objective statement.

Next, we’ll explain the process of including writing skills in these different sections.

Including writing skills in a dedicated skills section

A resume skills section comprises six to eight soft, hard and technical skills.

Copy the language from the job post or ad to pass an applicant tracking system. Studies show that 99% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to filter resumes by scanning them for specific writing skills on the resume key.

Writing skills in job post example:
We’re seeking a talented copywriter to join our remote team. The ideal candidate will have experience in three key areas: technical writing, creative storytelling, and marketing copywriting. In this role, you will create compelling and engaging content across various mediums, including web copy, blogs, social media and email marketing.

Writing skills on a resume skills section

Include writing skills in a resume work experience section

A great way to prove your writing skills is by peppering your work experience with them.

Your aim should be to claim you have writing skills and prove their impact by explaining the results they achieve.

Here are resume examples that you can use as inspiration for how to put writing skills on a resume.

Writing skills on a teaching resume:

Writing skills on a social media manager resume: 

Writing skills on a marketing manager resume:

Include writing skills in your professional summary.

Your professional summary is the first thing an employer reads about you because it’s at the top of your resume. If writing skills are crucial for the role, mentioning some in your professional summary is powerful.

Here are three examples of how to list writing skills on a resume summary.

Writing skills examples in a professor’s resume summary:

See more: Professor resume examples

Writing skills examples in a supervisor’s resume summary:

See more: Journalist resume examples

Writing skills examples in an editor’s resume summary:

See more: Editor resume examples

If you’re ready to prepare a document showcasing your writing skills, check out our Resume Builder. The Builder provides prewritten text options to plug in and customize with your stellar writing skills!

Build my resume

How to improve writing skills: 6 tips

Improving your writing skills is a valuable and rewarding endeavor that can enhance your communication abilities and open doors to various jobs.

Whether you aspire to become a professional writer, want to express yourself more effectively, or wish to refine your writing for personal satisfaction, here are six proven strategies to help you along the way.

1. Read widely and regularly.
Reading is one of the surest ways to improve writing skills. Reading widely exposes yourself to different writing styles, new vocabulary, and other perspectives. Read books, magazines, newspapers and blogs on various topics to improve your writing skills.

2. Write every day.
Writing is a skill that requires practice. The more you write, the better you will become. Make a habit of writing every day, even just for a few minutes. Start a journal, write short stories or blog to practice your writing skills.

3. Get feedback.
Feedback is crucial for improving your writing skills. Ask a friend, family member or colleague to read your writing and provide feedback. Join a writing group or workshop to get constructive feedback from other writers

4. Take a class or course online or at a community college.
Enrolling in a writing class or course can provide structured guidance and valuable feedback from experienced instructors. Many online platforms offer writing courses that cater to various skill levels and interests. Find courses covering creative writing, technical writing, or grammar and style.

5. Edit and revise.
Editing and revising are essential steps in the writing process. Use online grammar tools. Take the time to edit and revise your writing to improve its clarity, coherence, and effectiveness. Read your writing out loud to catch errors and awkward phrasing.

6. Experiment with different writing styles.
Experimenting with different writing styles can help you improve your skills and find your unique voice. Try writing in various genres, such as poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, to explore different writing styles and see what works best.

Key takeaways

Let’s recap writing skills:

• Writing skills are essential for effective communication and can open up many job possibilities.
• Top examples of writing skills include research, editing, marketing, comprehension, organization, meeting deadlines, technical writing, word choice, brand voice, storytelling and time management.
• To showcase your writing skills on a resume, tailor them to match the job post or ad keywords.
• Consider adding writing skills to a dedicated skills section, your work experience section, or your professional summary.
• To grow as a writer, read widely and regularly, practice writing daily, seek feedback from others, take a writing class or course, edit and revise your work, and experiment with different writing styles and genres.
• Incorporating these tips and examples into your writing practice can help you become a more confident and proficient writer and increase your chances of success in various professional endeavors.

In addition to featuring writing skills in your resume, you can feature them when writing your cover letter.

Crafting the perfect cover letter became easier with LiveCareer’s Cover Letter Builder.

Our intuitive platform streamlines the process, helping you create tailored, professional cover letters in minutes. With our user-friendly tool, you can stand out from the competition and land your dream job.

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