Re: Hiring an entry-level writer

["Susan Guttman" <sguttman -at- semantix -dot- com>]

From: "Smith, Martin" <martin -dot- smith -at- encorp -dot- com>

> I was wondering what kind of advice others on the list might want to offer
> when it comes to recruiting entry-level writers, as well as helping them
to
> succeed once on the job.


For an entry-level position I'd say (against the opinions of many on the
list, I know!) that you should give them a writing test. However, don't
think of it as a way to see what kind of final product/procedure they can
write, but how they approach problem-solving and how well they can organize
information in order to write that procedure.
At my current job, I was given a writing test, and I used it in exactly that
way: I wrote out my compete process, and then made sure they understood that
that was what I was giving them - my process -  and *not* a final product.
It worked rather well. :D

A good way to weed out the disorganized and those incapable of analysis (one
of the most important skills for a TW, in my opinion).

Just my 2 cents worth.

S/B




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