RE: Re[2]: Contractors: Would you do this?

Subject: RE: Re[2]: Contractors: Would you do this?
From: "Wally Glassett" <wallyg -at- flashcom -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 08:14:27 -0800

Kasie's comments are apropos. Most of us who've been in this game very long
already have a document(s) similar to the one you describe, and when you're
done with this exercise you'll have something you can use in the future,
too. Your situation is a little unusual for what you describe as a very
short term contract. If I were you I would try to make the document as
general as possible so your prospective client won't get too much benefit
out of it if they decide not to use you.

Wally Glassett
Tech Doc-It, Inc.
wallyg -at- flashcom -dot- net <mailto:wallyg -at- flashcom -dot- net>



-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-9988 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-9988 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com]On Behalf Of Kasie Snyder
Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 7:02 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re[2]: Contractors: Would you do this?


From an employer's perspective, I feel differently. I do not think that the
potential client is trying to gain from your expertise on the subject, but
rather have you prove that you really know it. The document is part of the
evaluation of your abilities. Companies often take large risks in trusting
that
a contractor really knows what they claim to know. Oftentimes, this comes
back
to haunt them. I gues it depends on how badly you want to get the contract.
-Kasie Snyder
Lead Technical Writer
Pulsecom DSL Information Development Team

____________________Reply Separator____________________
Subject: Re: Contractors: Would you do this?
Author: jaed -at- jaedworks -dot- com (Jeanne A. E. DeVoto)
Date: 11/20/99 5:58 AM

At 6:51 AM -0800 11/19/99, Tammy Sudol wrote:
>I was asked to write a document entitled, "The Methodology
>for Creating On-line Help" for a perspective client. The
>client would be hiring me to modify their existing on-line
>help (3 week assignment). While I wrote the document (7
>pages), I felt kind of funny about having to provide this
>detailed information before I get the contract.

That's reasonable of you.

The question I'd ask myself when facing this kind of situation is: Would
providing this information normally call for payment? It seems to me that a
7-page description of methods for creating online help is valuable to the
company in itself and would normally be paid for (either contracted out as
an independent project or assigned to an employee). It's not the same sort
of information as a resume, bid, or list of references.

This being the case, you need to decide whether offering this client a
freebie is a good business decision for you. I'd probably clarify for the
client what I provide as part of the bid, and what I consider work product
that must be billed for, and (diplomatically) let them know that I do not
work for free. But you know your prospective client and the situation
better than I do.

--
jeanne a. e. devoto ~ jaed -at- jaedworks -dot- com
http://www.jaedworks.com
Morning people may be respected, but night people are feared.



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sponsored by Weisner Associates Inc., Online Information Services
Training & consulting for RoboHELP, Dreamweaver, HTML, and HTML-Based Help.
More info at http://www.weisner.com/train/ or mailto:training -at- weisner -dot- com -dot-

Sponsored by Rose Hill, Your Business and Career Coach.
"Assume Success! Live Your Passion!" Get the gist at
www.coachrose.com then call 503.629.4804 for details!

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: Kasie -dot- Snyder -at- PULSE -dot- COM
To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst('Email.Unsub')
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sponsored by Weisner Associates Inc., Online Information Services
Training & consulting for RoboHELP, Dreamweaver, HTML, and HTML-Based Help.
More info at http://www.weisner.com/train/ or mailto:training -at- weisner -dot- com -dot-

Sponsored by Rose Hill, Your Business and Career Coach.
"Assume Success! Live Your Passion!" Get the gist at
www.coachrose.com then call 503.629.4804 for details!

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: wallyg -at- flashcom -dot- net
To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst('Email.Unsub')
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.






Previous by Author: RE: On-the-spot writing test during a job interview?
Next by Author: RE: he/she thread
Previous by Thread: Re[2]: Contractors: Would you do this?
Next by Thread: Re: Contractors: Would you do this?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads