Re: Tech writing interviews (Naive Interviewers)

[Beth Agnew <bagnew -at- INSYSTEMS -dot- COM>]

Shannon Folena wrote in part:
>If I were to have experienced this type of
>interview, I would not have wanted to work for these individuals.  They
>obviously didn't know what type of professional they needed, so why did
>they waste Mona and other technical writer candidates' time?  They
>should have researched the answers to their questions and decided on
>what types of professionals they needed before even considering
>interviewing.

Although the situation is changing, there are still many companies who are
hiring technical writers for the first time. Previously, they've had no
documentation, or bad documentation written by a (fill in any job here) who
could "write". Sometimes, they don't even know what it is they want.

When I was contracting full time, I was often the first techwriter my
clients had worked with. Each job was a continual process of educating them
in information development standards, processes and techniques, and helping
shape their expectations as to what a techwriter should be producing for
them.

In an interview where the employer is clearly unacquainted with the
profession, it's as much a sales effort on behalf of the profession as it is
for the individual hoping to be hired. It can be a great opportunity to
break new ground, or it can be the worst headache you ever had. Depends on
what kind of challenge you're looking for. :-)

--Beth

Beth Agnew
Senior Technical Writer, InSystems Technologies Inc.
65 Allstate Parkway, Suite 100  Tel: (905) 513-1400 ext. 280
Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 9X1        Fax: (905) 513-1419
mailto:bagnew -at- insystems -dot- com    Visit us at: http://www.insystems.com

See my friendly face at:
http://www.bayside.net/users/cbsites/techwr-l/a.htm#agnewb

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