I work in the technical writing field, and we have enough strong candidates with specialized degrees in technical communications that we don't need to hire English graduates. The fact is, both education and the workforce have become highly specialized. Pretty much every job you can think of now has a degree or diploma program associated with it, and employers hire almost exclusively from among those who have that specialized education.

The author may very well end up writing technical manuals. But only after she has gone back to school to get another diploma or certification.