Hiring and being hired

Finding a good technical writing job isn't as easy as some polls  would have you believe. Part of the problem is that the position and title "tech writer" is fairly generic and can encompass a wide range of expectations and responsibilities. In some cases, the position is little more than a glorified secretary. (These are usually easy to spot, the job description will often specify a minimum words-per-minute typing speed and only require a high school diploma.)

On the other side of the fence, hiring a good technical writer isn't easy either. Again, part of the problem is that previous job experience isn't sure-fire, thanks to the variance in the position itself. Will Kelly's article will be a big help, it offers advice on how to assess candidates and their writing samples. It also touches on one of my favorite subjects--the myth that technical ignorance is an acceptable attribute for writers to have.

Posted: December 23, 2006 link to this item, Tweet this item, respond to this item