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Subject:technical writing and the conspiracy theory From:William Swallow <WSWALLOW -at- COMMSOFT -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 11 Aug 1999 09:53:32 -0400
I honestly can't believe how crazy this list gets at times...
It's OK to leave samples with your interviewer provided that the samples are
not proprietary in nature. Use common sense. You can build an electronic
portfolio on the Web as well, just don't post your company's user manuals
there.
When I was interviewing for a new job (and landed this one with Aptis) I
didn't have any samples to show. Why? I was a Help author at the time,
creating custom Help for clients running PeopleSoft. I couldn't very well
bring this info to an interview as it contained my clients' vital HR, GL,
Inventory and policy information.
I did, however, mention in the interview that if they wish to judge the
quality of my work then I would prepare documents on topics of their
choosing within a given time. No one took me up on this offer. Instead they
admired my honesty and my honor to confidentiality.
Bill Swallow
Technical Writer
Aptis
a subsidiary of Billing Concepts
phone: 518.433.7698
fax: 518.433.7680 mailto:wswallow -at- commsoft -dot- net http://www.aptissoftware.com
