Important Writing and Editing Skills That Employers Value

ALISON DOYLE

the balance career

Important Writing and Editing Skills That Employers Value

•••

Table of Contents

Updated September 26, 2020

Written language skills are an integral part of many positions in almost every industry. Even staff positions and freelance opportunities that center around writing or editing skills can occur in multiple fields that don’t overlap.

From textbook proofreading to creative writing for websites, a writer’s profession exists comfortably within every industry imaginable.

Most people in the United States can write, but few can write well. Not all professionals understand the nuance of words, syntax, and style to properly hand out complex ideas in digestible ways for readers from various walks of life.

What Are Writing and Editing Skills?

The article you are reading right now was composed, edited, and redrafted before publication online.

Sometimes writing and editing is done by a team (some writing and some editing) or by one person.

Because written communication can be challenging, taking great care ensures that the content is accurate and read-worthy.

Yet, there are certain core skills that all writers and editors share. It is one thing to write for fun or privately in a diary. It is another thing entirely to write professionally. Even those that are natural writers may not do well professionally unless they practice and improve their abilities. On the other hand, many professional writers were at one time terrible writers.

That being said, writing is an acquired skill that can be developed with practice. Most writers have at least a bachelor’s degree.1 However, most employers want to see samples of your writing before they take a look at your education and work history.

Types of Writing and Editing Skills

Strong Grammar Skills

Even if you are writing with the assistance of an editor, you must make your points clear. As such, you cannot write well if you do not have a good grasp of spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, and all that good grammar entails. Automatic spell-checkers and similar software aids are useful, but they aren’t fully reliable.

Excellent writing and editing still requires an analytical, detail-oriented human eye.

If you are familiar with a specific usage style, such as The Chicago Manual of Style or Associated Press, put that down. And if you're trained in other style guides such as medical or legal, mention those as well.

Proofreading
Revising
Drafting
Spelling
Structure
Style
Punctuation
Strong Vocabulary
Using the Rhetorical Triangle
Devise Structure
Establish Tone
Forming a Thesis
Planning
Building Outlines

Research Skills

As a professional writer, you could be called upon to write on topics you don't know much about. This requires research, sometimes online. If you are good at finding and assimilating large amounts of information quickly, say so—and provide examples from your history to prove it.

Analysis
Reporting
Proper Use of Search Engines
Data Analysis
Interpreting Statistics
Report Writing
Online Searches
Identifying Audience
Content Review
Content Management

Word Processing Software

Some clients require the use of certain word processing programs, file sharing services, collaboration apps, blogging platforms, or website templates. Projects may also require other types of software, such as spreadsheets or video editing. The more of these you already know how to use, the better.

Be sure to list software programs relevant to the job description on your resume, especially if the description specifically states that they are a requirement.

If you can advise your client on which programs, apps, and platforms to use, that is even better.

Content Management Systems (CMS)
Microsoft Office
MS Word
Document Sharing
Google Docs
WordPress
Word Processing
DropBox Pro
Printing Layout
Document Layout
Final Manuscript Production
Mark-ups
Marking Color Breaks
Marking Head Levels
Typesetting
Working Sketches

Collaboration and Communication

Writing is often collaborative, while editing is always collaborative. The reality is that many people hire writers and editors because their own communication skills are poor.

To succeed, you must be able to work effectively with others, even when they are difficult to get along with or understand.

Active listening and assessment skills will go a long way toward building a positive rapport with your clients, no matter what their personality or background.

Conducting Interviews
Note Taking
Coordinating
Project Management
Emotional Intelligence
Teamwork
Author Meetings
Consulting
Contracts
Project Coordination
Verbal Communication
Written Communication
Working with Reviewers

Technical Writer Skills

A technical writer prepares instructional and supporting documents to communicate complex technical information in a user-friendly manner.

They develop and gather feedback from customers, designers, and manufacturers to help identify areas of confusion, and present solutions to the design and development teams.

A technical writer is responsible for creating FAQs, charts, images, and training documents that can be easily understood by people in a wide range of backgrounds.

A technical writer must have strong communication skills, along with exceptional writing and grammar skills. A bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, or Communications is often required.2However, some companies require a degree and/or knowledge in a specialized field, like computer science, engineering, or finance.

Ability to Work Autonomously
Analyze Information and Draw Conclusions
Create Diagrams, Drawings, and Charts to Explain Product Usage
Develop and Maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Develop Style Guide
Ensure Consistency
Excellent Grammar and Punctuation
Excellent Planning and Organizational Skills
Gather User Feedback
Generate Help Files and FAQs
Help Users Understand Intricate and Technical Information
Knowledgeable of Industry Regulations
Limit Product Complexity
Maintain and Update Document Library
Manage Documentation Process
Multitask Assignments
Prepare Internal and External Technical Documents
Provide Solutions to Product Issues
Review Documents for Completeness and Accuracy
Standardize Product Content
Strong Attention to Detail
Strong Understanding of Product Features and User Needs
Product Knowledge
Understand Information Design and Architecture
Work Closely with Technical and Non-Technical Team Members
Work Well Under Pressure to Meet Deadlines
Write and Edit Product Publications
Write and Organize Instructional Documents

More Writing and Editing Skills

Identifying Theme
Ethics
Omni Media
Multi-lingual
Newsletters
Business Storytelling
Blog Writing
Journalism
News Writing
Organizing
Print Writing
Proposal Writing
Social Media
Web Writing
Presentation Writing
Creative Writing
Feature Writing
Magazine Writing
Infographics
Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Logic
Deadlines
Stress Tolerance
Lie Detection
Establishing Rapport
Gauging What Will Interest Readers
Handling Criticism from Editors and Readers
Incorporating the Right Data to Support Storylines
Interviewing Experts
Networking
Protecting the Confidentiality of Sources
Reading Comprehension

How to Make Your Skills Stand Out

PREPARE A PORTFOLIO: Besides a traditional resume, you will likely have to provide a portfolio of successfully completed projects and a collection of writing samples when you apply for work as a writer or editor.

BE READY TO PROVIDE SAMPLES: For some positions, you may be asked to submit writing samples in place of or in addition to a cover letter. Choose those projects and writing samples that are most relevant to the client’s project.

USE SKILL WORDS DURING JOB INTERVIEWS: In many cases, educational or work history or subject matter are not directly related to writing or editing might be relevant to a particular job or project. Always be on the lookout for the possibility that your special expertise may be relevant.

ARTICLE SOURCES

PART OF

ORIGINAL Article