Shreya Kumar
Shreya is currently a Business Technology Solutions Analyst at Deloitte Consulting, where she reads and analyzes media documents and creates documents for her consulting company that allow them to connect with potential clients.
From Shreya, you’ll learn about great experiences in the Professional Writing minor, AI’s impact on her industry, and advice about getting your first job!
Why did you decide to be a Professional Writing minor, and how was your experience?
I chose the Professional Writing minor because I felt like it was perfectly tailored to the kind of things that I already enjoyed, like writing-focused classes and my communcation major. I knew that the kinds of jobs I wanted would require a lot of writing and creative thinking. The minor courses were perfectly geared toward the professional workplace in a way none of my other classes had been. I really liked that every class I took had real-world applications and that the professors were focused on preparing us for our future careers.
Was there a specific project or experience in the Professional Writing minor that impacted you?
One of my professors, Dr. Carolyn Gubala, was really kind, and I loved her professional editing class (UWP 112A). It was really nice to have professors like Dr. Gubala who would take the time to help their students understand the corporate world. Also, the year I started the minor was when AI really started to take off. Dr. Gubala was really aware of AI’s impact, and instead of teaching the course how she usually did, she updated it to help us succeed. I learned how to copyedit work done by AI and identify when something was written by AI, which are skills I still use today.
What did you learn from your Professional Writing minor internship?
I was the Communcation Intern for the UC Davis Faculty Management Department, and it was a great way for me to keep writing. I wrote the newsletter and interviewed the staff so their voices could be shared. I developed my writing style more and gained real-world experience to put on my resume. Then, when I graduated and came to work for Deloitte Consulting, I wanted to do something similar to that. I feel like this isn’t talked about enough, but employers want to help new hires succeed and do projects they want to do. Part of that thought is being proactive and asking for those opportunities. That's how I ended up writing the weekly newsletter for my company’s project team, and I’ve really enjoyed it!
How does AI impact your current work as a Business Technology Solutions Analyst?
I have been writing my whole life, and I find value in making my work personal. I’m on the side of things where I only want to use AI if I have to, but when you go into corporate nowadays, you will have to interact with AI. When I do use AI, I try to be mindful about my prompting to get the best results and waste as little time and water as possible. In consulting work, we create Requests for the Pursuit of More Work (RFP), which your company sends to other companies to show you’re interested in providing them with consulting services. These are 30-40 page documents, and some parts are made by AI so they can be sent out on time. I always take the time to go through the AI content so I can correct and personalize it. I think a lot of people should be aware of how important it is to edit AI documents. Think of the generated content as a first draft rather than a finished product.
What advice do you have for current students?
If you don’t know what you want to do yet or are feeling afraid about the job market, know that no matter what your career goals are, professional writing helps you stand out. It is so special that this minor is attuned to helping you find your place in the professional world. Your professors have a wealth of experience to share, and the minor has people who can help you find an internship. Also, don’t lose hope! When I noticed the AI trend and saw it was harder to get a job, I felt scared. Even though things feel uncertain, know that writing isn’t going away; it’s just changing. The world still needed writers, people to check other people’s work, and people to check the AI’s content. Have confidence in knowing you’re building skills that are critical to your success in the future. Keep working hard and keep writing because things will work out!