Written communication skills: which jobs need them and how to prove them

LiveRec EditorialUpdated

Written communication is writing clearly for the reader: emails, reports, tickets, documentation and messages. O*NET lists Writing among the top essential skills for administrative assistants, computer support specialists, market research analysts, graphic designers, project management specialists, information security analysts and others.

At a glance

ItemDetail
SkillWritten communication
Source of the occupation dataO*NET OnLine (US Department of Labor), accessed 31 October 2026
Occupations in this guide that list it7
Where to learn moreOur career guides and the O*NET pages linked below

What is Written communication?

Employers cannot see your writing until they read your application, so the resume, cover letter and any messages are the proof. A short, specific resume line is a better demonstration than the claim itself.

Which jobs use it?

The occupation pages on O*NET OnLine list technology skills and top essential skills. These occupations from our career guides include this skill or closely related ones:

O*NET examples are illustrative, not a requirement for every employer. Read the postings for the role you want.

How do I show it on a resume?

  • Name what you wrote and for whom: weekly status reports, help articles, customer replies.
  • Keep your own resume short and free of errors; it is the sample.
  • Link a writing sample that has no private details.
  • Match the tone of the posting.

See the administrative assistant resume example and customer service resume example for layout, and our guide to an ATS-friendly resume.

On LiveRec, employers who find candidates for a job see up to five of your skills on your card, with the ones that match the job first. Use the exact name of the skill, as in which skills to put on a profile.

Where can I learn it?

We link only official sources we could verify. The O*NET Skills Search shows skills and examples, and each career guide above explains typical education from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ask your employer or school what training it offers, then add what you complete to your profile.

Frequently asked questions

Is writing a soft skill? O*NET lists Writing among its basic skills. Employers treat it as essential in many jobs.

How do I prove it? With specific lines on your resume, a clean application and a sample you can share.

Which jobs list writing? O*NET lists it as a top skill for several occupations in our career guides.

When you are ready, search jobs on LiveRec.

Sources

  • O*NET OnLine, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive, 43-6014.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-6014.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • O*NET OnLine, Computer User Support Specialists, 15-1232.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1232.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • O*NET OnLine, Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, 13-1161.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1161.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • O*NET OnLine, Graphic Designers, 27-1024.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-1024.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • O*NET OnLine, Information Security Analysts, 15-1212.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1212.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • O*NET OnLine, Project Management Specialists, 13-1082.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1082.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • O*NET OnLine, Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products, 41-4012.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/41-4012.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • O*NET OnLine, Skills Search: https://www.onetonline.org/skills/ (accessed 31 October 2026)