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I doubt it's the *best* question for assessing a candidate, but it
really helps me get to know the person and what their real interests
are, and what they most want to get out of their work environment:
"What do you enjoy most about technical writing?"
The answers I get vary widely, but they tell me about the candidate.
If they immediately mention the teamwork and interviewing smart
people, then I know their strength is going to be in that process. If
they mention playing with new technology, then I know they should be
put into a process that gives them lots of hands-on time with the
product. If they say they love the methodical details, the elegance of
a well-written reference, or they appreciate well-designed products
and documentation, then I know they'll thrive in an environment that
plays to those interests and strengths. If they can't give me an
answer beyond the hours and telecommute options, then my guess is that
they'll continue to be a tech writer until they can sell their first
novel (so I probably have a potential long-term employee on my hands).
The other question I ask is "so, what do you enjoy overall-- what
jazzes you?" This is a good one for any type interview (even SME
interviews), because it gives people a chance to talk about their
passions, and to show themselves in a good, positive light (none of us
is so animated and enthusiastic as we are when talking about the
things we love). It's open-ended enough that they can steer away from
mentioning their family if they wish, and I'm not evaluating them on
the basis of their answer, so much as what the answer tells me about
them (if their answer is 100% kids and family, for example, then I
know they want a regular schedule with few late hours, but also that
they will be motivated by having a stable employment situation).
Also, it's easy to tell when they're lying and to use that as a
baseline for other questions. If they're not genuinely impassioned
when given such an open-ended, 100% positive question like that, then
they're probably not being honest when they have to answer the tough
ones, either.
I should note that I've only been in an advisory capacity in the
hiring process, never a decision-maker or manager.
On 5/16/07, Kay Honaker <khonaker -at- accela -dot- com> wrote:
> I've been invited to sit in on an interview for a new technical writer being added to my team. What are the best questions you've been asked? The questions you've asked yourselves, that have gotten the most telling responses?
--
Stephanie Bryant
Author, Videoblogging for Dummies
mortaine -at- gmail -dot- com http://www.mortaine.com/
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