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Subject:Re: (Non)Degreed and... From:BurkBrick -at- AOL -dot- COM Date:Thu, 2 Jun 1994 20:11:38 EDT
>So ... when interviewing prospective writer-folk, don't just
>peruse the samples. Ask detailed, probing questions about the
>technology, the layout, the tools, the graphic decisions ... anything you
>can think of to determine the individual's degree of involvement
>in generating the work.
On the flip side of this, whenever I interview with a prospective client and
they look at my samples (BTW, I'm surprised at how many don't), I always
offer information about the different projects and problems or successes I
thought I had in getting the projects done. I actually began doing this as a
defensive measure - some of my work was compromised (to my mind) by bonehead
management decisions. Interviewers react positively to this - sometimes they
are not comfortable with what technical writing is or what questions they
should be asking, so it gives them a springboard to getting the right
questions.
You do have to be careful with this - they need a chance to review the stuff
without me running off at the mouth, but overall I have found that initiating
the discussion is worthwhile.