Typos in resumes

["M. David Orr" <whitears -at- INTERACCESS -dot- COM>]

Wayne Douglass wrote:

>All this is very fine, but like many ISO-like processes it only >guarantees a
>predictable outcome, not necessarily a quality outcome, because it >depends
>on the definition of quality.

There is no guarantee of a quality outcome in any process, but
optimizing a process tends to raise the average level of quality.
Individuals will still vary in output and quality, but an optimized
process means the variance is at a higher level of excellence.

>Who does *not* "try to hit drafts right on the mark the first time?"

Wayne, you obviously have a lot of pride in your work, but not everyone
is like you. Many people "play" whatever system or process they happen
to be in, particularly if their compensation system or evaluation
system  rewards and punishes certain behaviors. For example, if first
draft production speed is emphasized by management ("We expect first
drafts to be completed in 45 minutes to meet our company standard."),
many writers crank out the draft and say to themselves, "Nah, I won't
fix the little stuff, the copyeditors will find it."

>BTW, putting my editor cap on, I would delete "existing" from the >"Train
>existing writers in writing skills" bullet item, following the logic >that
>training non-existent writers would be a waste of time and money.

Yeah, but think of the challenge! You'd have to be REALLY clever.

>I'm not going to get into the discussion of whether you can "train" >somebody to write (and this from somebody who once taught Freshman >Composition in college).

Should I get into the difference between sex education and sex training?
Nah! Seriously, I took a short letter writing training course while I
was in the Navy. They taught us a few principles, then gave us drills to
practice the principles. This went on for two days. At the end, I could
write much more clearly and concisely, even though I was already a
college graduate. I've also seen tech writer skills improve with similar
drills in seminars.

--
M. David Orr
Orr & Associates/Usability Management
7366 N. Lincoln Ave. Suite 101
Lincolnwood, Illinois 60646, USA
Phone: 847-677-1920
Fax:   847-677-7878
Email: whitears -at- orrnet -dot- com
Web:   http://www.orrnet.com

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