TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Dude...I feel your pain. About three years ago I recommended writer (who
was an ardent NWU / STC person) to a client. I took my recruiting fee and
the guy turned out to be a grand larceny butthead.
He tried to change everything on day one, argued over every edit, and
sulked in his office never talking to the engineers about anything. EVERY
f-ing thing this guy did had to be mapped, planned, theorized, concepted,
and plotted into his elaborate and utterly nonsensical writing paradigm.
He was so infuriating. He just would not do his job. All he did all day
was plan and fiddle with fonts. God help them if they had hired him during
a crunch. Fortunately they were between cycles so he didn't cause much
damage.
Fortunately, my client was very understanding and tolerant. They fired his
ass and I gave them their money back. We got a good person in there and
life has been dandy since.
You got to be careful who you hire. You got to grill the hell out of
people. I torture candidates with this technology test these days. I hate
to do it, but you can't just take people at their word.
In the meantime, sorry about your troubles. Best thing I can recommend is
put her way out in front of you on a project so she can hang herself. Most
morons will hang themselves when presented with nobody else to blame.
Good luck.
Andrew Plato
"Ed Manley" wrote...
> Of course you could do what I did - convince management you need a TW to
> take over various technical documentation tasks.
> They approved the hire.
> I went to the STC (Society of Technical Communicators) and asked for
> candidates.
> Was given some member contacts. Found one ready willing and able.
> Talked to her on the phone. Great - she says she meets all the
> qualifications and has experience with most of my needs.
> Recommended her to my boss.
> She's hired.
> Bills herself as a Word and RoboHelp expert. Knows how to document
software
> development.
>
> Two months now.
> She doesn't know a damn thing about documentation. Has no clue what the
> software development lifecycle is or what documents it calls for, much
less
> how to create them. Has no idea what goes in a Technical Specification,
nor
> how or why one would be created.
>
> When asked to do anything she acts like she knows what you are asking.
Very
> personable. Very helpful. Sure. Can do. Management thinks she's great.
Then
> operates in secrecy with passwords on her files. Ask to see them and
it's an
> emotional nightmare.
> Ask her how I can assure management that we'll meet deadline if nobody
can
> see her work. Get "Don't worry about it - I got it under control".
>
> Asked her how to do something in RoboHelp (I am a novice). She can't
open
> the document!!!!
>
> Totally useless - worse - dangerous.
>
> Now management thinks we got time - there are two of us now so obviously
we
> can handle more work...so now I have to do it all. I am an anlyst, not a
> writer.
>
> She has claimed responsibility for my work twice already.
>
> Spends her day reformatting headers for old documents and "creating a
> documentation plan".
>
> I have to get this User Guide out by the 4th...no ifs ands or buts.
>
> God help me if I ever ask for help again. How can I tell management this
> woman I interviewed and recommended for hire is incompetent? Dishonest?
That
> there's no way I can work with her? I RECOMMENDED HER!! What's more, I
took
> a $1500. finders fee for doing so!!
>
> If you can do it yourself - do it!
>
> Ed
>
>
>
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions! http://auctions.yahoo.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Attention ForeHelp and Doc-to-Help Users! Upgrade your existing product to
RoboHelp for only $299, through January 31st. RoboHelp can import your
existing Help projects! Learn how else RoboHelp can benefit you. www.ehelp.com/techwr
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
