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Subject:RE: Ethics and Job-Hunting From:"Susan W. Gallagher" <SGallagher -at- akonix -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 29 Nov 2001 11:01:33 -0800
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Baresch [mailto:baresch -at- earthlink -dot- net]
>
> >> With so many people losing jobs and everyone else worried
> about keeping
> >> them, I'm curious: are there any types of tech-writing
> jobs that people
> >> wouldn't take?
> ...I do have another filter that I haven't seen mentioned: I'd have to be
> desperate to take a job that requires a drug test for other
> than safety
> reasons (e.g. operating heavy equipment). That aversion to unwarranted
> intrusion has made me virtually unemployable except as a
> contractor...
Three words: Ab So Lutely! I have, AAMOF, walked out of job interviews
when they passed me that consent form. And the good news, Brian, is that
I've been able to remain gainfully employed in the software industry for
over 18 years without ever having to pee in a cup. (Okay, this *is*
southern California, but still, it's possible.)
The question of what a company produces is a minor one for me. I've
worked in defense, albeit teaching word processing to secretaries at
the local Navy base and ordering drawings for conveyor repair manuals,
but still... And I really can't think of much in the way of software
that would disturb me to work on. For me, the question is whether the
company respects and trusts its employees; and companies who want to
muck about in my pee just don't strike me as the trusting and respectful
type. And yes, that means I'd write about snooper software sooner than
I'd work for a company that used it.
Just my opinion.
-Sue Gallagher
sgallagher -at- akonix -dot- com
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