Re: Tips for finding and hiring the right Technical Writer

["Caroline Tabach" <caroline -dot- tabach -at- gmail -dot- com>]

I am sure that you want "real" people to answer you,
but I know that the hiring topic has come up many times, so if you
have time, in addition to the answers you get, it is probably worth
searching the archives for tips as well.

On 9/22/07, SB <sylvia -dot- braunstein -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> This is the first time that I will in the position of hiring a Technical
> Writer.
> In the past, I hired someone that I knew rather well and on whom I knew I
> could rely. He is still working for me.
>
> However now, I have to hire an additional Technical Writer.
>
> I would like to get some recommendations regarding:
>
>
>   1. The best way to write recruiting adds
>   2. Criteria for interviews. For example, I feel that a resume says a
>   lot about the Technical writer, both as far as format and contents contents
>   are concerned. If the formatting is not impressive, I always feel that it
>   says a lot about the Technical Writer. Am I being too harsh?
>   3. Interview skills
>   4. Test?
>   5. Recommendations - how do I know that I will be able to rely on that
>   person to get the job done?
>   6. Knowing that THIS is the right person
>
> In addition, I would like some advice and recommendations on:
>
>   1. Management skills - now I will have to actually manage two
>   technical writers
>   2. Outsourcing
>   3. We are still using MS Word :-( and do have a template but I am not
>   very happy with it. My boss wants to redesign the first page of the
>   documents to look more professional.
>   4. I am pushing to move onto a more professional tool (Authoring tool
>   or Wiki for documentation. I am leaning towards Wiki). I need to make a
>   presentation to convince the management to make the move and to explain what
>   are the pros and cons of each tool and why I think one is better than the
>   other.
>   5. We don't have content or knowledge management and our company is
>   growing very fast. We are in different parts of the world and there is
>   often a lot of redundant work being done, which I think is very unfortunate
>   and due to the fact that we are still using a file server instead of an
>   intranet.
>
> Any recommendation or useful pointers would be highly appreciated.
>
> Thank you very much,
>
> Sylvia
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
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-- 
Caroline Tabach
Technical Writer
e-mail: caroline -dot- tabach -at- gmail -dot- com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

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