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Writers and Authors resume skills and keywords

In 148 Writers and Authors job postings from 104 employers analysed on October 23, 2026, the most requested skills are Communication (68 %), Copywriting (48 %), Attention to detail (35 %), Collaboration (35 %) and Storytelling (31 %). Of the top 40 skills, 28 are hard skills, tools or certifications and 12 are soft skills.

Download the full list as a CSV or check your own resume against a posting with the free keyword scanner.

Top 40 skills in Writers and Authors job postings

Skills requested in 148 Writers and Authors job postings, by share of postings
SkillShare of postingsType
Communication68 %Soft skill
Copywriting48 %Hard skill
Attention to detail35 %Soft skill
Collaboration35 %Soft skill
Storytelling31 %Soft skill
Creativity30 %Soft skill
SEO22 %Hard skill
Leadership18 %Soft skill
Content Strategy17 %Hard skill
AI Tools15 %Tool
Mentoring15 %Soft skill
Project Management14 %Hard skill
CRM14 %Hard skill
Time Management14 %Soft skill
Content marketing11 %Hard skill
Flexibility10 %Soft skill
Editing and Proofreading9 %Hard skill
Translation9 %Hard skill
Content creation9 %Hard skill
Product marketing9 %Hard skill
Organizational skills8 %Soft skill
Figma8 %Tool
Creative Direction7 %Hard skill
Digital marketing7 %Hard skill
User Experience7 %Hard skill
Localization7 %Hard skill
Google Workspace7 %Tool
Customer Experience7 %Hard skill
Paid social7 %Hard skill
Artificial Intelligence6 %Hard skill
Web Design5 %Hard skill
Ranking5 %Hard skill
Self-motivated5 %Soft skill
Decision making5 %Soft skill
Generative AI5 %Tool
Marketing Campaigns5 %Hard skill
Keyword Research5 %Hard skill
Email marketing5 %Hard skill
Content Management Systems5 %Hard skill
Publication5 %Hard skill

Hard skills vs soft skills vs tools and certifications

Hard skills (24)

Soft skills (12)

Tools and software (4)

Keyword phrases recruiters use

Multi-word phrases that recur across these writers and authors postings, with the share of postings that use each one.

brand voice 30 %long form 20 %art directors 15 %multiple projects 14 %agentic marketing 14 %short form 14 %exceptional talent 13 %marketing platform 13 %writing editing 12 %creative concepts 12 %leading brands 12 %trusted growth 12 %platform wpp 12 %wpp open 12 %growth partner 12 %

How to use this on your resume

Treat the table as a checklist, not a script. Put the skills you genuinely have in your skills section, using the same wording as the posting, and back the top ones with a bullet that shows the result.

Each job posting differs from the average, so compare your resume with the actual ad: paste it into the resume keyword scanner to see which terms you already have and which are missing. The ATS keywords guide explains where to place them so applicant tracking systems read them.

Skip any skill you cannot talk about in an interview; a keyword that falls apart under one question costs more than it gains. For a full layout with these skills in context, see the Writers and Authors resume example. Then prepare for the Writers and Authors interview questions that test them.

Build a writers and authors resume with these skills

Start in the editor, tailor your bullets to the job you want and download an ATS-friendly resume.

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Writers and Authors resume skills: FAQ

Which skills matter most for a Writers and Authors resume?

In 148 Writers and Authors job postings analysed on October 23, 2026, the most requested skills were Communication (68 %), Copywriting (48 %), Attention to detail (35 %), Collaboration (35 %) and Storytelling (31 %). Lead your skills section with the ones you can back up, and show them in your experience bullets too.

Should I list soft skills on a Writers and Authors resume?

Yes, but prove them rather than list them. 12 of the top 40 skills in these postings are soft skills, led by Communication (68 % of postings). Show them through results in your bullets, for example a project you coordinated or a process you explained.

Which tools and certifications do Writers and Authors postings ask for?

The tools and certifications named most often were AI Tools (15 %), Figma (8 %), Google Workspace (7 %) and Generative AI (5 %). List the ones you have exactly as the posting writes them.

Where does this data come from?

From 148 public Writers and Authors job postings at 104 employers, collected on October 23, 2026 from Greenhouse (92), Lever (28) and Ashby (28). A skill's share is the number of postings that mention it divided by 148. The data is updated quarterly and can be downloaded as a CSV.

Method and data

Source: 148 public job postings for writers and authors roles (titles such as Copywriter, Senior Copywriter, Writer and Content Writer) at 104 employers, collected on October 23, 2026 from employer applicant tracking system job boards: Greenhouse 92, Lever 28 and Ashby 28. Employers in the sample include VaynerMedia LLC, WPP Production, Monks, Ogilvy, DEPT® and Kettle. A skill's share is the number of postings that mention it divided by 148. Updated quarterly. Download the data: writers-and-authors-resume-skills.csv (CC BY 4.0). Browse skills for other roles.