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.
"Mike O." <obie1121 -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote in message news:198778 -at- techwr-l -dot- -dot- -dot-
> I experienced the same thing in the dot-com era. Desperate and
> muddle-headed clients, who couldn't manage to keep their FT staff
> from fleeing, would post frantic requests for 'consultants.' But
> when an actual consultant showed up, the client treated them as
> job applicants instead of businessmen/women. There's the arrogance.
Ummm, I think the person made it clear it was a staff job. Considering a salary
was posted and benefits.
Moreover, just because you fancy yourself a "consultant" doesn't mean you can
just walk in and be taken at your word as an expert.
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> but he really had no technical credentials or
> qualifications outside of the writing experience.
> --------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Well, duh-h... you advertised for technical writing consultants -
> Who did you think would show up?
Some people outside of technical writing think a person with the word
"technical" in their job/profession title should actually have technical
skills.
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Turned out that he had also refused to fill out an application or
> sumbit references or speak to the HR department.
> --------------------------------------------------------------
>
> The interviewer seems confused about the difference between a
> consultant and an employee.
>
> The consultant reacted exactly the right way. When a consultant arrives
> for a sales call it is *extremely* unprofessional to channel them
> through the HR process like a regular job applicant.
Hence, a lot of "consultants" are laughed at and shown the door. Take the
attitude elsewhere. Nobody has the right to walk into an interview and be a
prick. I have had people apply for jobs and then refuse to be interviewed or
refuse to take a technical test. I shook their hand and said goodbye to them. I
have no time in my life for people like that.
> Andrew, when you make a sales call to a prospective client, do you fill
> out job applications?
I don't apply for salaried positions. Some places do ask for references and for
me to fill out standardized forms (like RFPs). And I do so (or at least
somebody at my company does).
> He wasn't there to be hired. He was there to qualify a prospect. The
> prospect didn't qualify.
>
> I'd say the interviewer very quickly provided the consultant with all
> the information he needed to get the hell out of there. In '99 I
> imagine the consultant drove straight to another more promising sales
> call with a serious client.
Yes. He probably found some easily intimidated company with 200 million in VC
funding to drill for $95 an hour. He milked that for 9 months until it dawned
on the company that he couldn't document himself out of a paper sack. His
contract was termed and our friend was rapidly promoted through the hierarchy
of the NWU and STC. He now probably advises other writers on how to earn the
respect they deserve as a certified "life skills" coach. Our friend teaches the
chronically underpaid, overworked, and self-absorbed how to more effectively
leverage their inner strength for sustained and healthy success. And for only
$29.95, you can get his 9 tape set "Realizing Me - A Guided Journey Into the
Soul of the Master Communicator" coupled with his 6 week intensive course "The
Path of Fonts - How To Unleash the Writer Mythos Inside your Heart."
You're off the deep end on this one, Mike. This guy was pretty clearly a
dipstick.
Andrew Plato
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search.yahoo.com
---
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.
