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Subject:Re[2]: Contractors: Would you do this? From:"Kasie Snyder" <Kasie -dot- Snyder -at- pulse -dot- com> To:"Jeanne A. E. DeVoto" <jaed -at- jaedworks -dot- com>, "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 22 Nov 1999 10:02 -0500
From an employer's perspective, I feel differently. I do not think that the
potential client is trying to gain from your expertise on the subject, but
rather have you prove that you really know it. The document is part of the
evaluation of your abilities. Companies often take large risks in trusting that
a contractor really knows what they claim to know. Oftentimes, this comes back
to haunt them. I gues it depends on how badly you want to get the contract.
-Kasie Snyder
Lead Technical Writer
Pulsecom DSL Information Development Team
____________________Reply Separator____________________
Subject: Re: Contractors: Would you do this?
Author: jaed -at- jaedworks -dot- com (Jeanne A. E. DeVoto)
Date: 11/20/99 5:58 AM
At 6:51 AM -0800 11/19/99, Tammy Sudol wrote:
>I was asked to write a document entitled, "The Methodology
>for Creating On-line Help" for a perspective client. The
>client would be hiring me to modify their existing on-line
>help (3 week assignment). While I wrote the document (7
>pages), I felt kind of funny about having to provide this
>detailed information before I get the contract.
That's reasonable of you.
The question I'd ask myself when facing this kind of situation is: Would
providing this information normally call for payment? It seems to me that a
7-page description of methods for creating online help is valuable to the
company in itself and would normally be paid for (either contracted out as
an independent project or assigned to an employee). It's not the same sort
of information as a resume, bid, or list of references.
This being the case, you need to decide whether offering this client a
freebie is a good business decision for you. I'd probably clarify for the
client what I provide as part of the bid, and what I consider work product
that must be billed for, and (diplomatically) let them know that I do not
work for free. But you know your prospective client and the situation
better than I do.
--
jeanne a. e. devoto ~ jaed -at- jaedworks -dot- com http://www.jaedworks.com
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