RE: Advice for Job Seekers

Subject: RE: Advice for Job Seekers
From: Roger Morency <rogerm -at- ontario -dot- com>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 11:18:11 -0500

Should we really advise or coach these pompous asses? Perhaps it would be
better if we did not give them this advice. Then we might be lucky enough to
catch them before we hire them, instead of having to deal with them after
the fact. Just a thought...

Roger


-----Original Message-----
From: Ruth Lundquist [SMTP:rlundquist -at- prosarcorp -dot- com]
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 10:29 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Advice for Job Seekers

Now is the time when many eager, soon-to-be graduates are hoping to
land their
first tech writing jobs. We will see (and have seen) an increase in
questions
about resumes, writing samples/portfolios, networking, and
interviewing.

As a hiring manager, I have some advice about what *not* to do in an
interview.
I would love to see examples/advice from other hiring managers about
what not
to do in an interview. I hope that newbies find this useful, and
that
experienced writers find it entertaining.

An applicant for an entry level writing job had no experience, but
an
intriguing resume and good cover letter. Because he lacked any
professional
writing samples, I asked him to create instructions for backing a
car out of a
driveway. The audience was English-speaking, 16-17 year olds who
were familiar
with American driving practices but who were learning to drive for
the first
time. He refused to create this writing sample. Now this is not
someone with a
wealth of experience & writing samples, but someone with no
experience
whatsoever.
ADVICE: Do what is asked of you in the interview (within reason)
even if you
don't want to. It shows your ability and willingness to perform
tasks when
asked to do so.

When I asked him if he had ever used a style guide, he informed me
that style
guides were not "used" but rather "applied". I never did find out if
he had
ever followed a style guide.
ADVICE: Don't correct your interviewer's grammar. Answer the
questions asked.
If you don't understand the question, ask for clarification.

Finally, he offered a writing sample. It was a proposal for changing
time
keeping to metric. I am not kidding. Something about dividing days
into 100
units, and further dividing those units, years would consist of 10
months
instead of 12, etc.
ADVICE: When creating a writing sample, don't be obtuse. You won't
look clever
by trying to be smarter than the next guy; rather you'll come off
looking like
an pompous ass.

Oh I have so many more great stories, but I'll stop there for now.
What kind of
behavior have you encountered in an interview that made you sure you
would not
hire a candidate?

Ruth Lundquist


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