Long-distance contracts

[Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- AXIONET -dot- COM>]

Janet Manry <bioedit -at- CONCENTRIC -dot- NET> wrote:

>*) Do you need to have at least one meeting in the initial >stages in order to have someone go over the software with you >in person?

That would depend on the project, of course. However, I've done
cross-continent work without ever meeting the people I was doing the
work for.

>*) How do you make sure the development team remembers you and >remembers to send you timely updates and information?

The same way you do on-site, but with different tools: keep the e-mail
and phone calls coming. It's not a bad idea to plan on at least one
contact per day.

>*) What do you do if you can't run their software on your own >computer?

Again, by phone or e-mail, just as if the company was another technical
support line.

>*) How do developers view this arrangement if you suggest it >to them?

It depends on what their needs are. In my trans-continent case, they
were glad enough to get me because of the special requirements of the
job. I'd imagine that, most of the time, that would be the reason they'd
hire you, rather than somebody closer.

--
Bruce Byfield (bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com)
Technical Writer / Job Bank Team, STC Canada West Coast Chapter
h: (604) 421-7189

"Pharaoh  sits in his tower of steel,
The dogs of money all at his heels,
Magicians cry, 'O truth, O real!'
We're all working for Pharaoh."
--Richard Thompson

 TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot-  Send commands
   to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
  Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/  or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html