Resume template · Updated October 2026
Speechwriter resume template
Short answer
Leslie suits a speechwriter: a centred header and blue accent lines give a polished look, the way you would present a principal, and experience comes first. The fictional sample writes keynotes, town hall remarks and op-eds for a utility company's chief executive. Show speeches per year, audiences, turnaround, placements and the leaders you have written for, within confidentiality limits.
Download the speechwriter sample
Owen is a fictional executive speechwriter. Replace every detail with your own before you send it.
The files are made in your browser by Resumity's own exporters, from this sample. The builder opens it as your own resume: click any line to replace it. Free plan, no watermark.
Why Leslie suits a speechwriter resume
Leslie prints a centred name and contact line, then summary and experience under blue accent rules. Speechwriting is judged on polish and clear writing, and this neat, measured page shows both before a reader opens your samples.
Second choice: Henrietta. Henrietta is plainer, a fit for government or political roles with long experience lists.
What goes in each section, in Leslie's order
Leslie prints its sections in a fixed order, the same in the PDF and the Word file. Here is that order for this sample, and what to put in each section.
- Professional Summary. Principals you write for (by title), sector, speech types and years of experience.
- Work Experience. Bullets on speeches and remarks per year, audiences, research, turnaround, op-eds placed and message work with leaders.
- Skills. Speech types, research, message development, editing and presentation coaching.
- Education. Degree with the year.
The sample resume as text
The same content as the files above, so you can copy a line or compare it with your own.
Owen Gallagher
Executive Speechwriter
Columbus, OH | owen.gallagher@example.com | (614) 555-0181 | sample-owen-gallagher.example.com/writing
Speechwriter with nine years of experience writing for chief executives and elected officials. Write about 60 speeches and remarks a year for a utility company's chief executive.
Experience
Executive Speechwriter, Buckeye Power and Light, Columbus, OH (01/2021 to Present)
- Write about 60 speeches, remarks and video scripts a year for the chief executive.
- Draft keynote addresses for industry conferences with audiences of up to 2,000.
- Write quarterly employee town hall remarks and talking points for senior leaders.
- Placed four op-eds under the chief executive's name in regional newspapers.
- Coach the chief executive before major speeches and adjust drafts after rehearsals.
- Turned around storm response statements within two hours during major outages.
Speechwriter, Ohio State Senate Majority Office, Columbus, OH (01/2016 to 12/2020)
- Wrote floor speeches and remarks for senators.
- Researched policy issues and constituent concerns.
- Drafted press statements and newsletters.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Ohio University (05/2015)
Skills
Speechwriting, Op-ed writing, Message development, Policy research, Google Docs, Teleprompter scripts, Working with senior leaders, Calm under deadlines
How to make the sample yours
Show volume and range
Speeches, remarks and other pieces per year, and the audiences. Range matters: a keynote and a town hall need different voices.
Name principals by title
Chief executive, governor or minister. Use names only if public and allowed.
Show speed
Turnaround on urgent remarks or crisis statements.
Include placements
Op-eds and articles placed under your principal's name, if public.
Link samples
Public speeches you wrote, with permission, or writing samples of your own.
Keywords to keep where they are true
Terms this kind of resume is usually searched for. Use the posting's exact wording, and only for work you have done.
- speechwriter
- executive communications
- keynote speeches
- remarks
- town halls
- op-eds
- message development
- research
- ghostwriting
- talking points
- presentation coaching
- editorial calendar
Mistakes to avoid
- Confidential remarks or internal plans.
- Claiming public credit your principal holds.
- No volume or audience details.
- Long quotes from speeches.
How the sample PDF reads in text extractors
We exported this sample with Resumity's PDF exporter in Chrome on 2026-10-29 and read the file back with three open-source text extractors. This shows whether software that turns a PDF into text can recover it; it is not a test of any commercial applicant tracking system. How we test templates.
| Extractor | Name, email, phone | Headings | Bullets intact |
|---|---|---|---|
| pdf.js 4.10.38 | All found | 4 of 4 | 9 of 9 |
| pdftotext (Xpdf) 4.00 | All found | 4 of 4 | 9 of 9 |
| pypdf 6.13.0 | All found | 4 of 4 | 9 of 9 |
Frequently asked questions
What should a speechwriter resume focus on?
Principals you write for, speech types, volume, audiences, turnaround and placements. Hiring managers want range and reliability under deadlines.
Can I share speeches I wrote?
Only public speeches, and only if your employer is comfortable with it. Many speechwriters send writing samples of their own instead. If you share a public speech, say what part you wrote, because speeches often pass through several hands.
How do I move into speechwriting?
Show writing for others: press releases, talking points, op-eds or political communications. Volunteer for a campaign or nonprofit to build samples. Even short remarks for a local leader count as speechwriting experience.
Should I name my principals?
Use titles by default. Name public figures only when the work is publicly known and your employer allows it. A short line on the sectors and audiences you know well can say as much as a name.
Is this template right for political speechwriters?
Yes. Replace corporate audiences with constituents and events, and include campaign or office roles. Note the issues you know best, such as energy, health or education, because offices hire for subject depth.
How long should a speechwriter resume be?
One page. A tight, clear resume is itself a writing sample.
Will applicant tracking systems read this Leslie PDF?
The sample PDF read back with its contact details, all 4 section headings and all 9 bullets intact in three open-source text extractors (pdf.js, pdftotext and pypdf). Commercial systems such as Workday, Greenhouse or Taleo were not tested, and each employer configures its own.
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