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CosmoCom, Inc.
121 Broad Hollow Road
Melville, NY 11747 USA
Phone: +1 (631) 940-4320
Fax: +1 (631) 574-3161
EMAIL: RSchwarz -at- cosmocom -dot- com <mailto:chwarz -at- cosmocom -dot- com>
URL: http://www.cosmocom.com <http://www.cosmocom.com/>
________________________________
From: Ronald Schwarz
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 10:31 AM
To: 'Renee Moore'
Subject: RE: Definition of Technical Writer
I am receiving a smaller number than usual of applicants. My problem is
applicants whose experience includes technical writing interleaved with
experience in other fields, such as writing specifications (engineering)
or business plans and presentations (that's a gray area). Then they
bloat up their total years of experience as Tech Writers. I also
interviewed a fully qualified technical writer who once worked for IBM
but is totally unqualified for work in Information Technology (now
that's a paradox) because he wrote chiefly reference documentation that
I have not seen for 25 years. The man is only in his mid thirties and is
totally out of date!
Ronald Schwarz
Senior Technical Writer
CosmoCom, Inc.
121 Broad Hollow Road
Melville, NY 11747 USA
Phone: +1 (631) 940-4320
Fax: +1 (631) 574-3161
EMAIL: RSchwarz -at- cosmocom -dot- com <mailto:chwarz -at- cosmocom -dot- com>
URL: http://www.cosmocom.com <http://www.cosmocom.com/>
________________________________
From: Renee Moore [mailto:rkmoore1 -at- yahoo -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 6:03 PM
To: Ronald Schwarz
Subject: Re: Definition of Technical Writer
Good afternoon Ronald,
Your message left me curious.
As a senior technical writer, don't you already know the expectations
for someone at the same level? Their experience could differ from yours
in terms of industries, companies, and some applications, however, as
you have specific skills that separate you from someone with less
experience, aren't there specific skills and expectations of someone at
your level?
Does the job description (in your ad or query) list required skills and
experience? You can eliminate anyone who lacks those requirements. Some
applicants may write to your requirements while having none of the
experience. Applicants are supposed to target their cover letters to job
descriptions and company needs.
Considering the U.S. economy, you may receive a larger than usual number
of applicants who apply--knowing they lack the experience and perhaps
figuring they can sell themselves into the position. Qualified
applicants should quickly distinguish themselves during screening
interviews. For most people, it's difficult to fake experience during a
conversation. Get applicants to talk about their experience, approach
and execution.
Good luck!
Renee Moore
Senior Technical Communicator
Thanks!
Renee Moore
Ronald Schwarz <RSchwarz -at- cosmocom -dot- com> wrote:
I am attempting to recruit a "senior" technical writer. I am
finding
people who respond to my job announcements who have accomplished
all
sorts of things and claim to be technical writers so that they
can be
hired by my company.
What is a technical writer? I need a definition so when I turn
someone
down I can give a short answer.
Ronald Schwarz
Senior Technical Writer
CosmoCom, Inc.
121 Broad Hollow Road
Melville, NY 11747 USA
Phone: +1 (631) 940-4320
Fax: +1 (631) 574-3161
EMAIL: RSchwarz -at- cosmocom -dot- com
URL: http://www.cosmocom.com
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