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Subject:Re: How do hiring companies view TW resumes? From:jennysubs -at- mac -dot- com To:techwr-l List <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:45:24 -0700
I once, in a fit of pique, wrote a resume that contained three spelling errors and sent it off to every job in the newspaper. (This was the 80s.)
It got me the best fulltime job I've had. One of the interviewers, a rather curmudgeonly guy, came into the interview room, put his feet up on the table, and said, "Why would I hire a tech writer with two spelling errors on her resume?"
"There are actually three, sir."
I got the job. At Apple. When nobody got jobs through newspaper ads at Apple. The curmudgeon and I remain friends to this day, and I did teach him how to spell liaison correctly.
When I became a hiring manager, I didn't throw out resumes because of a spelling error unless I wanted to for some other reason.
So, I guess it depends on the manager. I always looked for personality, smarts, and good basic writing skills. The rest can be learned on the job.
Jenny
On Mar 16, 2010, at 9:34 AM, Barbara wrote:
> Having been on the receiving end of resumes, writers don't always
> get it right; I have been appalled at some, so HR has some right
> to think they can spell better.
>
> I have been guilty ... I once sent a cover letter for a
> copywriting position that launched off with "I have strong
> experience copyrighting..."
>
> Doh! Guess what, didn't get that job!
>
> Keeps me humble :-)
>
> Barb
>
> Barbara Philbrick
> Caslon Services Inc.
> Aurora, OH
> 330-995-0499
>http://caslonsvcs.com
>
>> --- On Tue, 3/16/10, Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> From: Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
>>> Subject: How do hiring companies view TW resumes?
>>> To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
>>> Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 8:23 AM
>
>>>
>>> Does anyone else have evidence that HR people might be so
>>> misaligned with reality as to assume that they can spell
>>> technical
>>> terms better than tech writers?
>>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
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and Doc-To-Help does the rest. Free trial: http://www.doctohelp.com
Explore CAREER options and paths related to Technical Writing,
learn to create SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS documents, and
get tips on FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION best practices. Free at: http://www.ModernAnalyst.com
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