An English Degree: A Ticket to the World
Technical Writer Kim Celli
by Tere Schmidt
Does graduating with an English degree trigger images of
unemployment and breadlines? Fear not. Kim Celli, a technical
writer, editor, web developer and alumni of Western Carolina
University says, “Tech writers are in high demand because
the technology field is growing faster than there are people
to fill the jobs.”
Finding your path
Kim Celli became an English major because she loved reading
books and writing. “Don’t worry if you don’t
know exactly what you want to do when you get out of school.
Most of us didn’t and still don’t. Things do wind
up working out in the end.” She advises studying, picking
a job you are passionate about, making a realistic plan, and
sticking to it.
When Celli graduated in 1991, the economy was recessed and
editing jobs were scarce. She waitressed at night and did
secretarial work for a small, start-up software company during
the day. The technical documentation she wrote at the software
company gave her the experience to get a better job. Each
successive job added skills and experience, enabling Kim to
rise in her profession and income level.
Internships give job seekers an edge
But having an edge helps. The semester Celli spent as an
intern at Dupont in Brevard, editing and writing a company
newsletter, gave her the edge she needed.
Celli says tech writing is “moving away from print
and more towards electronic and web-based formats.”
She spends long hours at her computer but loves the creative
aspect of her job in web and graphic design. She advises WCU
students to develop their for computer skills.
Celli hopes her English degree may one day become a ticket
to a dream come true: living in Europe.
|
