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.
Subject:Re: Interview Questions - the dancing TW From:"Hutchings, Christa" <cwhutchings -at- HOMEWIRELESS -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 12 May 1998 15:43:47 -0400
Hey gang, as I said, in this particular instance, the guy did me a
service by correctly discerning this candidate's priorities in life. If
he hadn't figured out that she was a party animal, I would have been
stuck with a writer who 1) was late almost every morning, and 2) fell
asleep at her desk on a regular basis. Not my idea of a good employee,
whether the cause is dancing or surfing the web all night!
And in response to those who thought this guy was a chauvinist for
asking this kind of question - he did hire me, and my response to
"What's your LEAST favorite thing to do?" was "Answer telephones!" (my
way of letting him know that I was being hired to write tech docs, not
be a part-time receptionist).
Chris Welch-Hutchings
Sr. Technical Writer
Home Wireless Networks, Inc.
Norcross GA (USA)
cwhutchings -at- homewireless -dot- com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roger Mallett [SMTP:roger -at- CSICAL -dot- COM]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 1998 3:34 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Re: Interview Questions
>
> A promotion to VP -- Good for him!!!
>
> A man with keen insight, and the ability to ferret out a potential bad
> employee, a man who discriminates for the good of his company, a man
> whose skills of discernment have once again saved the company money
> and
> added to the bottom line, gets a well deserved promotion. Yeahhhh!!!
>
>
>
> From the sound of this thread, there seems to be a contingency that
> would subscribe to a form interview completed through the web. An
> interview that doesn't permit one to be exposed to the personal
> discernment of others. An interview where a quick mind is not needed
> to
> survive.
>
> Is that really what you want?
>
> Should interviews be restricted to only a few questions authorized
> under
> color of law?
>
> Having said that, I am in concert with Bill Swallow who said:
> <snip>
> As far as the boat and cannonball question, I believe you had my
> answer. Any left-field question deserves nothing more than a
> left-field answer.
> <snip>
>
> Remember it is *your* interview, not just the employer's. Have fun
> with
> it and run the show.
>
>
> ---------------------
> Roger Mallett
> Control Systems
> (714) 458-5040 x 239
>
> >----------
> >From: Hutchings, Christa[SMTP:cwhutchings -at- HOMEWIRELESS -dot- COM]
> >Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 1998 12:07 PM
> >To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> >Subject: Re: Interview Questions
> >
> >
> >Elna -
> >I see your point, however, as my post indicated, this guy was right
> in
> >his assumption about that particular candidate. And no, he has not
> >moved
> >on - he is now a company VP.
> >
> >Chris Welch-Hutchings
> >
>
>
> &^~~~
> Send commands to listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g., SIGNOFF
> TECHWR-L)
> Find contractor info at
>http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/contractors.htm
>