Sharon Adewusi

Technical Writer, Twilio

Tell us about your current job. Describe what you do on a typical day

I currently work as a Technical Writer in the technology sector, creating documentation and user guides for software products and integrations with third-party tools. My work focuses on translating complex technical concepts into clear, digestible content for different audiences.

On a typical day I'm usually drafting product documentation, working with engineers and product managers to understand new features and review how they work from the user's perspective, or improving and updating existing content. I work in a docs-as-code environment using tools like GitHub, VS Code, Markdown, and Jira, which means the documentation process is more like a software product update than working in a traditional document editor.

My work revolves largely around clear communication. Since documentation is closely tied to new releases and major product launches, my role requires close collaboration across engineering, product, and support teams. So, if I'm not working through a Jira ticket or opening a pull request, you can usually find me in meetings with my team and colleagues discussing problems, planning projects, and figuring out next steps.

What skills from your degree do you think you use most in your current job?

The skills I use most from my degree are written communication, report writing, teamwork, and problem-solving. Although my career path didn't end up being Chemical Engineering-related, taking the Year in Computer Science helped me become more comfortable working with technical systems and understanding how software products are built. I might not be the person responsible for writing code snippets or building APIs, but I have enough foundational knowledge to understand what I'm looking at at first glance. 

My degree also helped me develop analytical thinking and the ability to break down complex information into something more structured and understandable, which is a large part of technical writing. Group projects and presentations were also valuable preparation for working collaboratively with different teams and communicating ideas clearly.

Completing a foundation year also taught me resilience and adaptability early on in my academic journey. It helped me build confidence in approaching unfamiliar technical topics, which is something I still do regularly in my current role. Throughout my career as a Technical Writer, I've had to quickly learn new products, technical concepts, and various tools to maintain high-quality documentation.

How has your career developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham? Did you need to take additional training on top of your degree?

I graduated in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the start of my career was heavily shaped by lockdowns and remote working (which I've since grown to love). After completing a remote internship and spending a year in Germany working as a Language Assistant with the British Council, I realised I wanted to pursue a communication-focused role. I eventually discovered Technical Writing, and my career has developed within the technology sector. 

Most of my additional training has happened on the job through self-learning and adapting to new technologies and tools, which is a key part of working in tech as it is such a fast-moving industry.

What would you recommend students should do at University, over and above their academic study, to make them more employable in the graduate market?

I'd say pursue your strengths and stay open-minded about career paths. There are so many roles and industries that I didn't know existed when I was at university, and I'm still discovering new opportunities now.

Beyond academic study, I think it's important to gain experience where possible, whether through internships, societies, volunteering, or part-time work. Those experiences can help you build confidence, develop communication skills, and discover what you genuinely enjoy and are naturally good at.

You don't need to have your entire career planned out at university. A lot of people find their niche over time.

Did you take advantage of support services offered by the University, for example Careers Network and Wellbeing, and if so what impact did they have on you?

I completed the Personal Skills Award, which I still find very valuable. I can be quite shy and anxious about interviews and job applications, and it helped me build confidence in my communication and job-seeking skills. I still use many of the tips and tricks I learnt back then.

What are your fondest memories of the University, and what would you say to anyone currently considering studying at Birmingham?

My fondest memory from UoB is becoming friends with my course mates. I made a group of friends who helped me through coursework, exams, and some very challenging moments, and they are still some of my closest friends today.

I also miss the social side of Birmingham, especially lunch trips to the Guild (that pizza!) and weekends at the Bullring. Those moments and friendships were a huge part of my university experience.

To anyone considering studying at Birmingham, I would say that it's not just about your degree. It's also about the people you meet, the experiences you have, and the personal growth that happens along the way. Even now, I hear certain songs playing and I'm right back at Fab n Fresh all over again!

What extracurricular activities did you get involved in as a student?

One of my favourite parts of my time at UoB was being part of the Cameroon Catalyst society, a student-led group focused on supporting water and sanitation projects in rural Cameroon. We travelled to Cameroon with the charity alongside students from the University of Southampton’s CamCat chapter. During the trip, we got to visit communities where previous well projects designed by the Southampton chapter had already been completed, and worked on plans for future latrine projects led by the Birmingham chapter.

I was the Birmingham chapter's Trip Coordinator, which helped me develop organisation and teamwork skills while managing different parts of the experience. We also completed a hike to fundraise for the trip and projects while carrying a toilet (a new, clean one!) the entire way, which my feet are probably still recovering from years later.

Please tell us about your experience studying and living away from home

Although I stayed in Birmingham, I spent a lot of time travelling back to Essex because I was working part-time throughout most of my degree. Balancing university, work, and commuting taught me a lot about independence, time management, and responsibility. 

Living away from home also helped build my confidence and adaptability. I think those experiences are a large part of why I later felt comfortable moving abroad to Germany and feel more confident navigating new environments now.

Why did you originally apply to Birmingham?

I applied to Birmingham partly because of its strong reputation for Chemical Engineering, but also because of the foundation year. It made the course feel more accessible to me in a way that some other universities did not.