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.
I had a number of interviews in during January (after dead silence in Nov & Dec). Only two gave me a formal test, although one did ask me a few questions (such as what is an em-dash) in the phone interview. The first company gave me an editing and writing test; the second gave me a standardized logic test, which they told me repeatedly was simply a formality they give to all interviewees.
Although I knew up front that I was to be tested, I didn't know what type of test it would be, and I did not prepare in any way.
Two points:
1) For the writing test I had to hand write a set of instructions in a short amount of time. If you're like me and your handwriting is atrocious, you might want to offer an alternate suggestion--maybe take a laptop and spare floppy!
2) Sometimes the type of test given offers a clue as to what the hirer is most anxious about. Are they most concerned about personality issues (I had one company, hiring for a very technical position, that spent four hours asking me how I work with people), or do they want to make sure you can really copyedit? A well prepared copyedit test can reveal more than you knowledge of symbols--do you rewrite someone else's prose just for the hell of it, are you consistent, etc.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Collect Royalties, Not Rejection Letters! Tell us your rejection story when you
submit your manuscript to iUniverse Nov. 6 -Dec. 15 and get five free copies of
your book. What are you waiting for? http://www.iuniverse.com/media/techwr
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
