Technical writing about side projects is one of the clearest ways to prove you can solve documentation problems, communicate complex ideas, and work independently—but how do you use those projects to win interviews

Why does technical writing about side projects matter in interviews

Technical writing about side projects matters because side projects are concrete evidence you can show and discuss during interviews. Hiring managers often expect to dive into your portfolio and writing samples, and side projects let you control the narrative while demonstrating process, judgment, and impact Insight Global and I’d Rather Be Writing explain why interviewers use real examples to probe candidate skills. Unlike coursework or hypothetical tests, technical writing about side projects shows initiative: you identified a gap, designed documentation, and shipped results.

• Audience analysis and tone choices

• Research methods for complex topics

• Tool selection and publishing workflow

• Feedback loops and revision practices

• Measurement or outcomes when available

• Use side projects to demonstrate:

When you frame technical writing about side projects this way, each project becomes an accessible story an interviewer can follow.

What should you expect interviewers to ask about technical writing about side projects

• Who was the audience and how did you determine it

• What was your end-to-end writing process

• Which tools and formats did you use and why

• How you handled incomplete or conflicting information

• Examples of feedback you received and the changes you made

• Time investment and trade-offs you managed

Expect interviewers to ask precise, behavioral questions about your side projects. Common lines of questioning include:

These are standard probes for technical writer roles because interviewers want to see systematic thinking and defensible decisions Technical Writer HQ and TimelyText outline similar expectations. Preparing short, specific anecdotes for each bullet above turns general portfolio talk into convincing evidence.

How do you structure a technical writing about side projects narrative for interviews

• Problem: What documentation gap, user confusion, or compliance need existed

• Approach: Research, audience analysis, content model, tooling, collaboration

• Outcome: What changed—less support tickets, faster onboarding, positive feedback, or cleaner handoffs

Structure each story as a clear problem → approach → outcome arc. For technical writing about side projects this looks like:

Start with a one-line hook: “Users were confused by our authentication flow, so I created a step-by-step troubleshooting guide.” Then fill in the details interviewers care about: decisions you made, alternatives you considered, and one thing you’d improve next time. This mirrors the workplace problem-solving mindset and helps interviewers picture you solving their documentation problems Insight Global.

How can technical writing about side projects show you handle feedback and iteration

Interviewers want to know you’re coachable. When describing technical writing about side projects, prepare 3–5 specific examples of feedback you received: who gave it, why it mattered, and how you changed the content. Describe the feedback loop—was it a formal review, user testing, or a support-team squawk—and show measurable or qualitative outcomes.

• Incorporated SME corrections to improve accuracy

• Simplified tone after usability testing to reduce confusion

• Reorganized content after analytics showed low page completion

Common examples:

Mentioning feedback demonstrates maturity and collaboration skills, which is a recurring interview theme in technical writing hiring guidance YouTube interview insights and Technical Writer HQ.

What role do tools and metrics play in technical writing about side projects

Interviewers ask about tools because tool choice reveals workflow fluency and scale awareness. When you discuss technical writing about side projects, say which authoring, versioning, or publishing platforms you used (Markdown, Git, Docusaurus, Confluence, MadCap, etc.), why you chose them, and alternative options you considered. Explain how tooling affected collaboration, review cycles, and delivery.

If possible, bring metrics: reduction in support tickets, page views, completion rates, or time-to-first-success. Even approximate numbers or qualitative improvement statements strengthen your case and show you think beyond words to impact—advice echoed by multiple interview prep resources like Indeed.

How should technical writing about side projects demonstrate audience understanding

• Primary and secondary audiences (e.g., novice admin, DevOps engineer)

• Methods to determine audience (surveys, user interviews, analytics)

• How voice, examples, and scaffolding matched audience needs

One of the central skills interviewers test is audience analysis. For technical writing about side projects, explicitly state:

Show samples or excerpts that highlight readability adjustments: glossary usage, progressive disclosure, or code examples tuned to the audience’s skill level. Evidence that you tailored content—rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach—signals strong product empathy and judgment I’d Rather Be Writing.

How can technical writing about side projects show collaboration and cross functional skills

• Subject matter experts (SMEs) for accuracy

• Designers for information design or diagrams

• Engineers for code snippets or API examples

• Support or onboarding teams for common user pain points

Even solo side projects can showcase cross-functional collaboration. Describe how you engaged:

Explain one collaboration anecdote: the communication channel, the conflict or constraint, and the outcome. Interviewers often ask about collaboration to gauge your ability to integrate with existing teams and processes TimelyText.

How do you address common interview challenges when discussing technical writing about side projects

• “What would you do differently?” — Have a concise reflection showing continuous learning.

• “How did you verify accuracy?” — Describe specific SME checks, automated tests, or user reviews.

• “What constraints hurt this project?” — Explain trade-offs and how you minimized risk.

• “How much time did it take?” — Be realistic—interviewers want to know prioritization skills.

Several tricky questions often come up. Here’s how to prepare:

Practice answering these with real examples from the projects you selected. Recording the decisions you made while building the side project (tools, alternatives, trade-offs) makes remembering specifics easier in the interview.

What actionable steps should you take to prepare technical writing about side projects for interviews

• Select 2–3 side projects that showcase distinct skills

• Write a one-paragraph summary for each project capturing problem, solution, and outcome

• List tools used, audience, timeline, and key metrics or feedback points

• Prepare 3–5 feedback examples showing how you iterated

• Practice explaining what you’d do differently and why

• Research the hiring company’s documentation and prepare targeted improvement suggestions

Make your side projects interview-ready with a short, repeatable checklist:

This checklist converts side projects from casual work into deliberate portfolio assets you can present with confidence. When asked what you’d improve in their docs, use your side project thinking to propose realistic, prioritized fixes—an approach recommended by interview prep guides like Insight Global.

How can technical writing about side projects be tailored to a specific company or role

• Audit their docs quickly and note 2–3 concrete improvements

• Create a mini-sample (one page or article) using their tone and structure

• Explain how your sample maps to their user journeys and metrics

A high-impact tactic is building or adapting a side project to mirror the company’s product or documentation style. For technical writing about side projects targeted at a specific company:

This targeted effort signals enthusiasm and the ability to onboard quickly. It also gives interviewers an immediate example of how you’d contribute on day one, a strategy echoed in interview prep content across multiple sources like Indeed.

How can you present technical writing about side projects during different interview formats

• Phone screen: Prepare 2–3 concise elevator summaries of your projects

• Take-home or portfolio review: Provide links, annotated walkthroughs, and source files

• Onsite interview: Bring a printed one-pager or a short slide to guide discussion

• Panel interview: Tailor highlights to the panel’s roles (engineer-focused, UX-focused, product-focused)

Different interview formats call for different presentation styles:

For take-home or portfolio reviews, ensure your technical writing about side projects is easily navigable and annotated—explain why you made key decisions so reviewers don’t have to infer intent.

How can Verve AI Copilot help you with technical writing about side projects

Verve AI Interview Copilot can help you refine how you present technical writing about side projects at every stage. Use Verve AI Interview Copilot to practice concise project summaries, generate targeted improvement suggestions for company docs, and rehearse answers to feedback and process questions. Verve AI Interview Copilot provides role-specific prompts and real-time coaching so you can tighten your narratives, and Verve AI Interview Copilot helps you prepare measurable talking points and simulated interview questions to build confidence https://vervecopilot.com

What final checklist should you use before an interview about technical writing about side projects

• 2–3 polished project summaries (problem, approach, outcome)

• Annotated samples or links ready to share

• 3–5 feedback/iteration anecdotes memorized

• Tool and metric notes prepared for quick reference

• One targeted sample or audit for the hiring company

• Practice answers for common probes like audience analysis and trade-offs

Final pre-interview checklist:

Following this checklist turns technical writing about side projects into a structured, defensible way to demonstrate your readiness for the role.

What are the most common questions about technical writing about side projects

Q: How many side projects should I present
A: Bring 2–3 side projects that highlight different strengths and prepare one-paragraph summaries

Q: How much detail should I include about tools
A: Mention the tooling, why you chose it, and alternatives you considered in one sentence

Q: Should I build a custom sample for the company
A: Yes—one small, targeted sample shows initiative and relevance to the role

Q: How do I show impact without metrics
A: Use qualitative outcomes: reduced confusion, faster onboarding, or positive SME feedback

Q: What’s the best way to discuss feedback I received
A: Describe the feedback, why it mattered, and the specific changes you made

Further reading and interview frameworks are available from resources such as Insight Global, Indeed, and I’d Rather Be Writing.

By treating technical writing about side projects as deliberate portfolio pieces—documenting decisions, capturing feedback, tailoring samples, and practicing crisp narratives—you move from “I wrote this” to “I solved this,” and that shift is exactly what interviewers are evaluating.