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Be careful when using references as a basis for hiring. How many of
you would refer a prospective employer to someone who was likely to give
you a bad reference?
Many companies will not allow managers to give references other than to
say that the individual did work there and the dates of employment. The
reason? Two examples:
* If an employee performs poorly at the new job as well as the old
one, yet was given a good reference, the new employer could sue the
previous one for providing false and nmisleading information.
* The reverse is also true (true story): An employee performed
well, but was assigned to a new manager who did not match well with
the employee. The employee left the company and the new manager gave
the employee a bad reference because of personal differences. The
employee sued the former manager for providing false information and
won.
-dg
----------
From: Jon Leer [SMTP:jleer -at- LTC -dot- MV -dot- COM]
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 1998 6:24 AM
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Subject: Re: WRITING SAMPLES
You are absolutely right. Without seeing the writing, how can
you possibly
know the person's ability. Certainly references are crucial.
Let me ask the list, if you needed a photographer or
illustrator, would you
hire without looking at samples?
Jon Leer
----------
> From: Kimberly Ferri Cakebread <kim -at- ASPECTDV -dot- COM>
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Re: WRITING SAMPLES
> Date: Monday, March 23, 1998 8:50 PM
>
> I'm a working Documentation Manager, and I always require
writing
samples.
> If someone can't give me sufficient samples, I give them a
writing test.
> I've been burned too many times.
>
> Kimberly Ferri Cakebread
>
>
>
> At 05:48 PM 3/23/98 -0800, you wrote:
> >Hi All,
> >
> >I'm in transition from independent to captive. (Currently a
contractor,
> >with negotiations going on regarding a "permanent" position.)
> >
> >When the question of writing samples came up in my
interviews, I told
them
> >that my government work was all classified and that I did not
have
> >permission from other clients to use their documents for this
purpose.
> >
> >Nothing more was said of the issue and we went on to discuss
their
problems
> >and my abilities to help solve those problems.
> >
> >I believe that only HR-types ask for samples because they
don't know
what
> >else to ask. Documentation managers are more interested in
you and your
> >abilities.
> >
> >John Gilger
> >
>
