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Re: Request for Resume samples and Writing samples
Subject:Re: Request for Resume samples and Writing samples From:Peter <pnewman1 -at- home -dot- com> To:Chris Fitzgerald <chrisfitztex -at- hotmail -dot- com> Date:Sun, 02 Apr 2000 18:54:43 -0400
Chris Fitzgerald wrote:
>
> I want to reply to this thread because I'm in a similar position as the
> original poster. I read her/his request for samples and thought that it
> sounded a bit odd, too. However, about a year ago, I wondered what a "help
> system" written with RoboHelp looked like. So, I requested to see a
> person's from another list. She gladly sent me a PDF version of her original
> help system. It was simple, incomplete, and just enough for me to ask some
> intelligent questions about the product.
>
> I know technical writing sounds self-explanatory, but it's not from a new
> person's perspective. I know. Even my tw professors were a bit vague. I've
> learned that it's a simple term for an expansive topic.
>
Chris, I want to wish you good luck. Quite often obtaining that first
position is a function of how well you impress the interviewer.
Many years ago when I was young and more foolish, I was being
interviewed for the position of adjunct professor at a university. I
knew that they had a publish or perish policy. Although I was a former
editor, at that time I had only three published articles. Some of my
competitors for the position had many more. I brought a large heavy
briefcase filled with magazines to the interview, the rags with my
articles were carefully tagged and placed at seemingly random points in
my briefcase. I nonchalantly reached into my briefcase as I said "I know
you like people who publish, here is one of my articles." The department
chairman carefully read my article. I repeated the process with a second
magazine and he skimmed the article. Holding my breath I asked if he
wanted to see another. Thankfully, he looked into my carefully
positioned briefcase and told me it would not be necessary. (I was
offered the position on the spot.) I am not sure that I would even
attempt to pull the same scheme today and I certainly don't recommend
that anybody else try something similar, except at their own risk.
Please note that no time did I ever say that all those magazines
contained articles written by me.
--
Peter
Arguing with an engineer is like mud wrestling with a pig.
You soon realize they both enjoy it.
