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> Within your technical writing group, job candidates
> take formal technical knowledge tests
> * Never
Of course my technical writing group consists of me,
myself, and I. ;)
I've never been a big fan of technical writing tests,
at least not for positions above entry level. If
you're hiring someone right out of school, I think a
precursory test is a good idea. But, if hiring a
mid-level or senior writer, asking the writer to take
a test is, IMHO, downright insulting. This person has
worked hard (assumingly so) to earn the experience
he/she posesses. I think any samples that writer
brings to the interview plus references should be more
than adequate.
Now, what about people using rigged references? Well,
as the interviewer, it's your job to flush these
things out in the open by comparing statements from
the interviewee and the reference, and by asking
pointed or brutally honest questions at the
appropriate times.
I took a technical writing test during my first real
job hunt. It was no big deal. I won't do it again, as
I don't believe it's worth my time. My history,
experience, and references speak for me quite well -
better than any finite test.
=====
Bill Swallow
Information Design & Development Professional
bill_swallow -at- yahoo -dot- com - www.geocities.com/bill_swallow
List Owner, HATT <www.groups.yahoo.com/group/hatt>
List Owner, WWP-Users <www.groups.yahoo.com/group/wwp-users>
Editor, InFrame Magazine <www.inframe-mag.com>
WebWorks Wizard
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IPCC 01, the IEEE International Professional Communication Conference,
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CALL FOR PAPERS OPEN UNTIL MARCH 15. http://ieeepcs.org/2001/
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