RE: Is TW Still Hospitable to Novices? A Dilemma

[Christine -dot- Anameier -at- seagate -dot- com]

C. Crowley wrote: "Find(1) some little startup company that doesn't know
anything about writers
or how to hire people."

Geez, that's grim. It sounds like you're saying that a company that DOES
know anything about writing or hiring will never hire a beginner. I would
argue that a bright, hardworking newbie can actually be a good deal for a
company... if the company is willing to look closely at the person's
potential instead of simply counting years on the resume. My first TW
employer got me at a bargain rate. I went in with no TW training or
experience and taught myself the necessary tools and methods.

Someone--I forget who, sorry--mentioned giving inexperienced candidates a
test where they would rewrite a chunk of bad documentation. If I were in a
position to hire, I would do the same thing. It tells you much more than a
resume would.

There are newbies out there with a talent for this kind of work; there are
also some experienced hacks with 3 years of Tool X and puffed-up resumes.
Which would you rather hire? IMO, a company that "doesn't know anything
about writers or how to hire people" would go for the hack every time.



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