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: Writing Test? From:Peter -dot- Harbeson -at- nokia -dot- com To:eddy_skau -at- mailcity -dot- com, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Wed, 17 Nov 1999 20:03:19 +0200
>A written test will not reveal all, but it is a step closer to finding out
if the candidate has >the required skills
While this may seem to be true, it depends on the similarity of the skill
"completing a test in an interview situation" to the many skills involved in
"performing well in a job". The biggest danger of using tests is the belief
that you are measuring what you THINK you're measuring. This is not easy to
do, and I would suggest that it's considerably harder when you're trying to
assess a broad range of skills that are subtle, complex, and not completely
understood -- for example, the ability to perform well in a technical
writing job.
Now, if the job you're hiring for involves taking writing tests during
interviews, DEFINITELY go for the writing test!
Thought for the day: "It's not what you don't know that gets you. It's what
you DO know that ain't so." -Will Rogers
