Definition of Technical Writer?

[Rick Bishop]

Here's what I use:
  Dear ///:  Thank you for your interest in working here at xyz.com. The
advertised position is for a Senior Technical Writer. We do not have any
other positions open at this time. A minimum of 3 years documented
experience as a Technical Writer in the software/medical/electronics
industry is required. I noted that this was not listed on your resume. If
you do meet this qualification, please forward a new resume that includes
this information along with professional references for each position
listed.
Thank you,
Joe Johnson, Documentation Mgr.

Note that you should list the requirement in any published job description
and that lots of people just broadcast their resume to any recruiter email
they get hold of. There are also new services for hire: companies that troll
for email addresses associated with recruiting and agree to send your resume
to 50,000 recruiters for $200 spoofed from your email address. The applicant
doesn't get it until they receive 3,000 reject emails in return from honest
hiring managers trying to be the nice guy that responds to every applicant.
You have to do a quick scan and have a few ready reply templates for people
that use these services.
==========
HTH, Rick


-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+rickbishop=austin.rr.com at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+rickbishop=austin.rr.com at lists.techwr-l.com] On
Behalf Of Geoff Hart
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 1:32 PM
To: TECHWR-L; Ronald Schwarz
Subject: Definition of Technical Writer?

Ronald Schwarz reports: <<I am attempting to recruit a "senior"  
technical writer. I am finding people who respond to my job announcements
who have accomplished all sorts of things and claim to be technical writers
so that they can be hired by my company.  What is a technical writer? I need
a definition so when I turn someone down I can give a short answer.>>