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.
Sherri wrote:
>"Well to go along with that, I was actually given a typed out spelling >and
>grammar test along with my writing skills test. I'm actually a good
>speller
>but I felt totally vulnerable without my spellchecker."
I've never refused to take a writing test. Nothing else shows you so well
what the company (and the technical writing department) is *really* like.
All those questions both you and the interviewer dance around, trying not to
ask or answer out loud, get answered. ("Yes, you'll be using the latest
cutting-edge technology and respected as a professional." / "Here's a piece
of paper and a pen, make sure you can spell 'submission to our whims'
correctly.")
I've had some really good writing tests, and some really good discussions
*about* writing tests at interviews. Once (like Sherri) I was given a
spelling test, and I stopped the test and explained to the interviewer that
no, I couldn't spell maneuver without looking it up, and I always checked
words with "ent/ant" endings to make sure that I'd got the right one - but
that, in my opinion, was what a dictionary and a spellchecker were for, and
I *did* know how to use both.
(I didn't get the job, but this had to do with a best friend of one of the
directors being interviewed for the same job, not with my ability to
spell...)
Jane Carnall
Technical Writer, Compaq, UK
Unless stated otherwise, these opinions are mine, and mine alone.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Learn how to develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver!
Dec. 7-8, 2000, Orlando, FL -- $100 discount for STC members. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Your web site localized into 32 languages? Maybe not now, but sooner than
you think. Download ForeignExchange's FREE paper, "3 steps to successful
translation management" at http://www.fxtrans.com/3steps.html?tw.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
