As a summer intern with Cornell IT, Kendria Miller was challenged to balance technical accuracy with reader accessibility. While she edited, revised, and proofread documentation for Cornell’s TeamDynamix (TDX) and IT@Cornell platforms, she had to bear in mind the distinction between those two audiences: the TDX content would be utilized by engineers and technicians while the IT@Cornell pages would address the needs of students, faculty, and staff.

Tailoring her writing to meet the different needs of each group was a perfect fit for Miller, a Technical and Scientific Communications senior at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. “The TDX platform is highly technical, serving as a backend resource for IT professionals, while IT@Cornell is designed for end-users who need straightforward, concise information. To make sure the articles were effective and understandable for both audiences, I implemented several strategies,” she said.

Miller’s approach included drafting revisions based on the target platform and ensuring technical jargon was appropriate for TDX but simplified for IT@Cornell. She sought input from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to verify the accuracy of the content and to clarify complex topics. Regular feedback from her manager and supervisor helped refine her work, and understanding the tone and purpose of each article was crucial in her edits.

Leaning on these strategies, Miller rewrote over 20 articles during her 10-week internship. “Initially, the volume of articles needing revision was overwhelming, but as I became more familiar with the platforms, asked questions, and drafted rewrites, the process became more manageable,” she said.

Miller enjoyed her experience and it solidified her career aspirations in technical writing and possibly user experience (UX) writing. “Before taking the job, I worried that my school’s small program had not laid enough groundwork for this role, but I quickly realized I was well-prepared and ready to jump in. This internship definitely made me feel ready to take on similar roles in the future,” she said.

The internship not only enhanced her technical writing and editing skills, but also expanded her knowledge of Content Management Systems (CMS), IT infrastructure, and project management. “These skills will be invaluable in my future roles, as I now have a better understanding of what the job entails and the expectations that come with it,” said Miller.

She discovered the opportunity through the Cornell Alliance for Diversity and Inclusion Student Intern Program. Her advice for future candidates includes remaining calm and confident throughout the application and interview process.

“Once working as an intern, recognize the importance of networking, asking questions, and preserving work for a portfolio—with proper permissions. Using the internship to develop your skills and network is an essential opportunity that shouldn’t be missed,” Miller said.