Re: Speaking of having "lots of references"

["Tom Sullivan" <tsullivan -at- netexpress -dot- net>]

Hey Miranda,

A quandary, indeed, yet my question(s) would be...

How would anyone receiving, or using the references have any way of knowing
that those providing the references are in fact incompetent?  Wouldn't
positive references from "incompetent" managers carry just as much weight as
positive references from "competent" managers?

The only way I see that using the reference of an incompetent manager would
be detrimental is if the reference is negative in nature.  And one has
little or no control over what a manager says about an employee in that type
of situation.

There are objective means of determining whether a writer is competent or
not.  But how would one determine if a manager's opinion of one's skill(s)
and/or talent(s) was competent?

Take care and be good to yourself!

T

----- Original Message -----
From: "Miranda O'Connor" <tecwright -at- netscape -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2001 6:28 AM
Subject: Speaking of having "lots of references"


Bruce Byfield wrote:
>Personally, I'd rather built up a solid resume of good work delivered
>on time, with lots of references. That takes time, but I think it gets me
>more jobs and gives me a better reputation than calling myself "senior"
>anything (although maybe Senior Cynic would be valid).

   -Who can a technical writer use as a reference if his (it's my husband's
quandary, not mine)immediate managers (in all his jobs, believe it or not)
have been incompetent? His current manager's manager is not incompetent, but
does a reference of that sort carry any weight?

   -How can he ask at his current job for references without telling them
he's looking for another job?

   -How can he get references at all, if most of his managers have been
incompetents?  Would it help him to join STC and could his contacts there be
used as references?

   I suppose the question is really how he can get references if his career
so far has been among persons he would not *want* as references, even if
they'd agree it it.

   My husband is a bit leery of posting himself, so I've chosen to speak for
him, with his permission.

   Not having viable references makes applying to places like Microsoft
awkward, because it asks for references up front.
--
Miranda O'Connor


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