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Subject:Putting the Thumbscrew on Another Hand From:Daniel Wise <dewise -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 15 Jan 1997 21:34:13 -0800
Colleagues,
I am crossposting this, so please bear with me if you see it in multiple
locations. And, Eric, if this is deemed off-topic for techwr-l, I'm sorry.
I consider it pertinent since techcommunicators are constantly changing
jobs, whether voluntarily or not.
I am beginning to grow weary of the personality tests that have become the
fad of the HR folks--at least here in the US of A. I would like to be able
to chuck a bit of a query back at them concerning their corporate culture,
but I am not sure just what all to put into my personal bank of questions.
For example, I plan to request a copy of the company's vision statement, the
company/division/department mission statement, the company's view of ISO9000
(if applicable), and the company's commitment to TQM. I might consider
requesting workforce statistics such as percentage of the workforce in
each decade age bracket. I might ask for information on the percentage of
positions in each tier of management occupied by women, blacks, and other
minorities. I might also inquire about the possibilities (probabilities) of
a technical communicator being able to move onto other promotion ladders.
But I am not sure what else would be good to ask.
If I am asked why I want this information, I plan to say that I am trying to
determine whether this company presents the kind of working environment
which I wish to enter. If the company can screen me, I certainly want to
make certain I screen the company just as carefully.
Of course, this may be using a 155 howitzer to trim my toenails, too.
Comments? Suggestions?
Dan Wise
dewise -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com
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