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.
>
> On the flip side, how many people go to job interviews when they
> are not really interested in the job? Maybe they're trying to provide
> themselves with some ammunition for an upcoming salary review or
> are feeling a tab bit disgruntled and decide to look around to see
> what's out there. In your view is this unethical?
>
> I would suggest that the practice of prospective employees wasting
> employers' time with bogus interviews is much more likely than the
> reversed situation...
The thought of putting myself through the purgatorial process of interviews
when I really don't want a job or am not interested in the job, or for
salary review(!) data, is unnverving. It's like going to the dentist when
you really don't need to, just to check out the latest technology in tartar
removal.
[Note use of serial comma in above]
How does one get salary review data from an interview, or several? In my
experience, dollars aren't discussed during the first couple of interviews -
and how can you possibly use the data during negotiations? "Recent salary
data suggests that a raise of twelve percent is fully warranted. What's the
source of the data? Uh, when I went looking for another job, but don't
worry - I really didn't want the job - I was just getting data..."
If you are disgruntled and looking around for another job, that is clearly
not in the category of "not really interested in the job." In this case, if
a good offer comes up you are probably going to jump. It's why people
switch jobs. They're disgruntled. They interview. They choose to stay or
leave.
I give good interview, so when necessity rears its ugly head and I must
interview, I do so. But the thought of all the work that leads up to the
interview -- the CVs, resumes, mailings, searches, phone calls, appointments
rescheduled -- just for the heck of it doesn't make a lot of sense.
Does this mean that others go on interviews with little interest in the job?
I suppose that anything's possible... BTW, I saw a new dental office near my
home. I wonder what sort of instruments this guy's using? I have some
spare time next week. Huh...
Paul Strasser
Windsor Technologies, Inc.
2569 Park Lane, Suite 200
Lafayette, Colorado 80026
Phone: 303-926-1982
FAX: 303-926-1510
E-mail: paul -dot- strasser -at- windsor-tech -dot- com
