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.
RE: Providing Samples (Was RE: Why they don't ask for candidates by technology skills.)
Subject:RE: Providing Samples (Was RE: Why they don't ask for candidates by technology skills.) From:Samuel -dot- Beard -at- tdcj -dot- state -dot- tx -dot- us To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 19 Feb 2003 16:05:52 -0600
Hey John and Bonnie,
John Posada
<JPosada -at- book -dot- com> To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent by: cc: bounce-techwr-l-117504 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
bounce-techwr-l-117504 -at- lists -dot- Subject: RE: Providing Samples (Was RE: Why they don't ask for candidates
raycomm.com by technology skills.)
02/19/03 01:44 PM
Please respond to John Posada
ID Number:
>> John wrote:
What about taking the proprietary document, but everywhere there is a
product name, company name, specification, etc., replace it with XXXX.
Might
end up looking like something from the Freedom of Information act, but the
process and procedure content would still be there, proving you know how to
write (and know how to perform search and replace).
>> I reply:
The problem was that when I asked, I was denied the possibility of
taking a document with me, or even part of a document, due to its
proprietary nature. I even volunteered to either let them pick whatever
portion they wanted, as long as it was something that I worked on, as well
as removing any sorts of proprietary information. Didn't work and I left
with nothing. Short of theft, I had no other recourse.
And this brings up the question that if you explain that you couldn't
get much of a document because of the proprietary nature and yet you DO
have something, does that mean the interviewer would think you stole the
sample? Would they also infer that if you couldn't be trusted with
protecting the assets of a previous employer, why would they think you
could be trusted with their information? See what I mean?
>> Bonnie wrote:
Shareware?? Lots of good shareware and freeware developers write their own
docs and love having help. Some might even pay.
>> I reply:
This is probably a better alternative, I think, than open source. Open
source DOES have some merits, as have been mentioned quite extensively.
But, as has also been mentioned, if you're out of work and need SOMETHING
to come in, the potential for that is greater with shareware than with open
source, I'm thinking.
Buy or upgrade to RoboHelp X3 today and receive the WebHelp
Merge Module for FREE ($299 value). RoboHelp X3's all-new
features include conditional text, completely re-engineered
printed documentation output, Context-sensitive Help Toolkit,
single-source layouts, and more!
Order online today at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
---
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.