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Re: Tools experience

Subject: Re: Tools experience
From: "Dave C" <davec2468 -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "Tech Writing" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 04 May 2017 14:51:16 -0700

Thank you Bee for your testimonial from the trenches. Wow.

This employer is winding up for a new product intro so, no, theyâre not letting people go but scouring the earth for new help. And no, they donât want to train anyone unless that person is otherwise gold-plated. And it would probably be self-training. There is no training in place (that Iâm aware of) in the company for writers. Thatâs why they are so âonâ about having experience in all areas.

Itâs my parody of a recruiter: âHave you written a manual for a product exactly like ours?â âNo, butââ âI see. Have you used exactly our toolset before?â âPartially, Iââ âI see. Well, weâll be in touch.â [Click.] Unrealistic expectations. But we (employers and writers) will both, hopefully, bridge the void, meet somewhere in the middle and live happilyâ er, copacetic-ly ever after.

Dave

-=-=-=-

The only useful result is that now I can tell the tale, so colleagues and friends of mine don't take a job that will drop them into a career-ending hole. I hope this helps.


Bee



On Thursday, May 4, 2017 11:30 AM, "Wright, Lynne" <Lynne -dot- Wright -at- Kronos -dot- com> wrote:


I hope this isn't too obvious, but given that they've been explicit about wanting someone with experience in content management systems, you'd best do some research so that you can talk about CMS theory/best practices or otherwise give them the sense that while you may never have DONE it, you have a solid understanding of what its all about, how you would structure such a system, etc.Â

Otherwise, somebody who also has good writing skills but can also talk the talk about CMSs will put you out of the running.

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Dave C
Sent: May-04-17 2:20 PM
To: Tech Writing <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Subject: Tools experience

The interview tomorrow will include questions about my experience with content management systems. I have none. They want someone âto hit the ground runningâ.

This company uses Framemaker with DITA XML standards. While Iâve used Frame (long ago) I have no experience with DITA or other tools they are asking about: Live Content, Knowledge Center (which I think are not tools they use, just another way of asking if Iâve used any CMS).

My strengths are in my 15 years (a decade ago) of experience as a
writer: information collection including SME interviews; development of the document (comes with experience, as we all know); and my experience working with electronics (not just writing about it)âIâm a target audience of one.

Iâm going to emphasize that tools come and go but writing is a skill that outlasts all these. Not the best basis for an interview at a company that uses modern CMSâs but I have to go with the strengths I have.

Observations?

Thanks,
Dave
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References:
Tools experience: From: Dave C
RE: Tools experience: From: Wright, Lynne
Re: Tools experience: From: Bee Hanson

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