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.
At 06:42 PM 10/20/98 -0400, Cassandra Parker wrote:
>
> What are some good Interview Questions I can ask a Tech Writer
>candidate?
Ooh, one of my favorite questions. I have a reputation here for being a
tough interviewer. The first answer to your question is the ubiquitous "it
depends." It depends on what you expect the candidate to do if you hire
him/her; it depends on what products your company makes; it depends on what
you value in a tech writer...
That said, here are some of the things I like to ask, in no particular order:
* When you are given a new writing assignment, how do you approach it?
* What's the most technical thing you've ever documented?
* What is the project you've worked on that you're the most proud of?
* What do you like most about the day-to-day part of tech writing?
* What do you like the least?
* What kinds of documents have been the hardest for you to write?
* How good are you at editing your own work? (At this point, I often point
to something in the candidate's resume that's inconsistent, confusing, or
otherwise invites critique, to see how he/she reacts to feedback.)
* What software tools do you prefer to use in your writing projects?
* Do you prefer working with other writers on a team, or being the only
writer?
* How do you go about learning new things you have to document?
* How did you come to be a tech writer?
* What audiences do you like to write for? How do you focus your documents
for different types of readers?
* How much do you know about typography?
And a bunch more... If I don't hear an answer that satisfies me, I've been
known to ask the same question in two or three different ways, to see if I
can elicit more information.
Hope this reaches you in time; have fun at the interview!
martha
--
Martha Jane {Kolman | Davidson} mailto:editrix -at- slip -dot- net
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?"
--Hillel, "Mishna, Sayings of the Fathers 1:13"
