RE: Strange Interview Practices?

[SIANNON -at- VISUS -dot- JNJ -dot- com]

Given the analogies to dating practices, I was struck by some interesting 
ideas (perhaps only interesting because it is Friday, and I'm feeling a 
little like a mix between a sports anchor, a maverick investigative 
reporter and an absentminded professor).

The furor (for those expressing dissatisfaction) on "unusual" interview 
practices hinges on differences in expectations.  The initial flurry seemed 
to focus on the idea of a standard or proper interview format.  Thus, that 
part of the argument is effectively one of diversion from an expected 
template of behavior.  The next flurry seems to insist on advance knowledge 
of the interview content/format. Thus, that part of the argument is 
effectively one of non-communication of diversion from an expected template 
of behavior. Both of these presume that template to be real, just and 
good.

Gee, we're back to design issues. This shouldn't be too bad.  ;)


What is the purpose of an interview?


As some folks have already expressed, there are different perspectives at 
work here as to the scope and purpose of an interview. Some see it as an 
audition.  Some see it as a means of making contacts.  Some see it as a 
behavioral test of one's capacity to deal with a specific group of people, 
or a specific work environment. Some see it as a test to verify that the 
resume isn't just a work of fiction. Some see it as an opportunity for the 
company to evaluate a potential employee, while others see it as an 
opportunity for a person to evaluate a potential employer (hint: it's 
usually both).

What you determine the scope and purpose to be colors your effectiveness at 
an interview as much as it colors the effectiveness of a document you 
write. They are both forms of communication. They can both be spoiled by 
bad content or bad presentation. They can both offer opportunities for 
creativity.

They are also both within your control to shape.  Yes, you (as an 
interviewee) are stuck working within a template you do not control, but 
that is where your skill and craftsmanship come into play as writers, as 
designers of information.  That is where tone and meter and audience 
analysis meet to convey the content within whatever confines of style and 
presentation you are given.

How many people, when in an unstructured interview, lead the direction of 
discussion?  How many even dare to ask questions?  As a tech writer, you 
are often called in to bring order to chaos, and turn data into 
information.  If you can do that in the interview, you prove in an 
immediate manner what is difficult to show in a resume.

How many convey themselves as experts trying to identify the needs of the 
client, and determine whether they meet those needs? or do they convey 
themselves as someone seeking work for the sake of money?  The first makes 
you the alpha, the second makes you the beta, or submissive party.  This 
makes a difference in negotiations the same way tone can make a difference 
in proposal writing.



Basically, I guess my thoughts boil down to amusement that we have this 
glaring parallel to challenges we face in our jobs every day, and yet we 
rarely see someone discuss it, or approach it, in the same manner we 
discuss or approach those challenges.

Granted, I'm one of those oddballs who used to daydream of unusual 
interviews I'd like to _give_ when I became a mega-business owner one day, 
so I guess I look at them as more of a canvas than others may.  Heck, this 
discussion first made me wonder what the reaction would be if I brought 
flowers to give my interviewer(s) at an interview, or donuts...no one 
expects that, but it would certainly stick in one's mind.  Believe it or 
not, a tech writer I helped to interview for another team won the 
interviewing programmer's favor by seriously answering the question "How 
would you deal with trying to get information from a programmer if they 
won't give it to you?" with "First, I'd bribe him with cookies,..."

:)


Shauna Iannone
----------------------------------------
verbosely looking forward to the weekend

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