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Subject:RE: What do you ask the interviewer? From:"Sharon Burton-Hardin" <sharon -at- anthrobytes -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 9 Oct 2002 12:26:30 -0700
A woman I know asked the group of perspective co-worker technical writers
the following question:
"Knowing what you know now about working here, would you take this job?"
After people looked away, shuffled their feet and mumbled about how great it
was there, her decision was made. She turned down their excellent offer.
We heard thru the grapevine later that the place was hell to work at - no
corporate investment in product docs, no product specs, no code freeze,
expected all people to work 60+ hours a week as normal, and actually
publicly verbally abused people.
And, no, it is not a start up and they are still in business. I have never
forgotten that question.
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-71429 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-71429 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com]On Behalf Of Sean
Brierley
Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 11:55 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: What do you ask the interviewer?
How 'bout these:
What are the top three things you like about your employer?
What is the environment like? For example, suit-and-tie, dress-down
Fridays?
Are there any family events, like a Halloween party, Christmas party,
summer picnic?
In what way does the employer support my personal, professional
development. For example, is there a training budget and how is it
rationed out?
In what way does the employer support me doing my job. For example, say
I determine I need some software or hardware to do my job and can
document the need and ROI. What need I do to make that purchase happen?
When you hire me, I'd really like to have a trackball and MS Natural
Keyboard instead of a mouse and regular keyboard. What do you think
about that? (Ask this even if you don't want those things.)
I understand technical writing is at the bottom of the food chain, that
tech docs relies on other things happening, and I understand that a
certain amount of overtime is needed at the end of projects and that
some slack may develop at the beginning of a project. What are your
thoughts on that? How would my need or desire to perform overtime be
handled?
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