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If I didn't have this local job that finally turned up I might seriously consider it.
And now for my soapbox moment: why not allow telecommuting? You know as well as I that in most jobs, 95% of what we do can be done remotely. If the guy in this job needs to get hands on a particular model to write about it, have him go to the nearest rental yard. There are plenty of software tools available for communications and managing a remote worker; you can even have video conferencing when you want it since it seems like everything made today has a web came built in. And remote working can save you a ton of money. You don't have to supply the worker with space, furniture, a computer, a phone, or even electricity or water. You don't have to pay rent on a break room for him. You have no insurance liability issues if he slips and busts his butt during working hours.
Down off soapbox now. Good luck on your hiring.
--- On Thu, 4/1/10, Ken Poshedly <poshedly -at- bellsouth -dot- net> wrote:
From: Ken Poshedly <poshedly -at- bellsouth -dot- net>
Subject: Re: How do hiring companies view TW resumes?
To: "Keith Hood" <klhra -at- yahoo -dot- com>, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com, "Dan Goldstein" <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>
Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010, 5:25 PM
FWIW, we've been looking to hire another tech writer here in metro Atlanta (heavy equipment manufacturing) and have contacted nearly a dozen good candidates, men and women, all from out of state because those are where the resumes are from. We've talked with some and left repeated voicemails for others to call back at their convenience. Only two that I know of have returned calls. These are folks who know up front where my company is located.
Two candidates were contacted by my supervisor after my initial phone interview; I explain during my phone call that relocation is required and tele-commuting is not acceptable. Both said relocation was not a concern; some new-hires rent an apartment nearby before moving spouse and kids here (if any).
But then both of those two candidates backed out after getting a solid offer by telephone from my boss; both said their spouse was against it; one was a woman and the other was a guy.
We finally have someone (from out of state) coming in on Friday a.m. to interview (we're covering all expenses). With great experience in this field of heavy equipment tech writing as a writer and later as a supervisor and even manager, I really do believe he's overqualified to be just a _TECH WRITER_, but my boss wants him because of that experience. Will he stay? Will he look to climb into my or even my boss's job? Time will tell. Otherwise, he's great.
-- Kenpo in Atlanta
From: Keith Hood <klhra -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com; Dan Goldstein <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>
Sent: Thu, April 1, 2010 4:27:59 PM
Subject: RE: How do hiring companies view TW resumes?
I think when someone tells a candidate he is "overqualified," that is also something of an indication of how things go at that company. A hiring decider often uses "overqualified" to mean "I'm afraid you'll find a better job and leave too soon and we'll have to start the hiring process all over again." But that can't be so much of a problem in a down market like this where any job is damn difficult to find, much less a better job. And that isn't so much of a problem at companies where employees like their work and the environment. Even in
a good market, leaving for a better job is less of a consideration if you enjoy the current job and like the people. If the hiring decider fears you won't stick around long enough to give him a return on the time/money spent in the hiring process, it may be he realizes but doesn't like thinking the company has a tendency to give people incentive to look elsewhere.
"Overqualified" also sometimes translates as "we're afraid there would be personnel management problems because you'd embarrass the 2nd-raters we already have working here." If they start using "overqualified" *after* you interview, you can be certain this is the correct translation.
--- On Thu, 4/1/10, Dan Goldstein <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com> wrote:
> From: Dan Goldstein <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>
> Subject: RE: How do hiring companies view TW resumes?
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010, 2:58 PM
> An update on this from the NYT:
>
>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/29/us/29overqualified.html
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dan Goldstein
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 2:31 PM
> > To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: RE: How do hiring companies view TW resumes?
> >
> > AFAIK, "overqualified" rarely means, "Someone less
> qualified
> > than you would do a better job." It usually means, "We
> can't
> > afford to hire someone as qualified as you." At least
> they're
> > acknowledging how qualified you are.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Bill Swallow
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 2:16 PM
> > > To:
> > > Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > > Subject: Re: How do hiring companies view TW
> resumes?
> > >
> > > ... I've never heard "overqualified" more than I
> have in the past
> > > 15 months.
> > >
> >
>
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