TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I hear this all of the time, and it makes me wonder. Prospective employers cannot be so naive as to think conflict does not exist, and that workers never leave because they are unhappy or are released because the are invaluable. My last employer recruited heavily from competitors, some of whom where known to have very disgruntled employees.
That being said, one former coworker almost had his termination agreement revoked after speaking ill to an interviewer who happened to know our former boss and got back to him with the comments. I guess it is not what you say but how you say it.
Of course we want to work with positive people, but no one is happy all of the time and stress and conflict are inevitable. I think it takes guts to get out of a horrible situation, and not just stay there because you need a job.
>
> The best policy in interviews is never speak ill of a former employer.
> Reduce conflicts to generic statements like "our goals were no longer the
> same,"and if by some chance interviewers are already aware that your former
> employer's work environment had degenerated into a
> post-apocalyptic dystopia, admit that "it did become difficult to focus on
> doing good work there." Save the shock and horror stories for lunchtime
> banter with any of your new co-workers you find to be kindred souls AFTER
> you get the job.
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help. Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need.
Try Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
