Re: WRITING SAMPLES

[Marvin Cochrane <cochrane -at- TSUFL -dot- EDU>]

Ah, I feel obliged to delurk.

I have had only a few tech writing jobs, and have hired only a few tech
writers. I was never asked for writing samples nor did I ever ask for them.
I never was asked to take a test or write on some demeaning topic, like how
to sharpen a pencil, nor did I ever ask for such tasks. Unlike an
illustrator or photographer, writers, as has been pointed out in this
discussion, submit a work sample in the form of a resume and, often, in a
cover letter. And then there's the interview ... If anyone had brought
proprietory material from another company to me, I'm sure the interview
would have been very short. Now, for my last job interview, which was
succesful, I did offer as samples some pieces of mine from my STC chapter's
newsletter.

Marv Cochrane


>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
>> >
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