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: Questions for doc managers -Reply From:David Spiteri <DSPITERI -at- TUC -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 22 Oct 1998 11:36:31 -0500
>>> GhostWolf wrote
What questions would you ask the prospective manager during an interview?
Here are some questions that can yield valuable clues:
1) What is your personnel turnover rate over the last 12-18 months?
2) Is that an increase or decrease over the prior period?
3) To what do you attribute the attrition?
4) What projects are currently active in your group? Internal and external?
5) Where do you see the group going in the next 6 months, 9 months, year, 5 years?
6) If you could make it so instantly, what skillsets would you add to the current staff?
7) How do your customers perceive your group? your results?
8) What is the largest or most imposing obstacles in the way of your group goals?
9) How do you demonstrate the value added by your group to the rest of the corporation?
10) Do you employ dotted line assignments or matrix management techniques? (Do you loan people out?)