atw: Re: Strange job advertisements/skills combinations
- From: "Matilda Reich" <matildar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 13:21:26 +1100
Bruce,
I agree that this could be a 'fishing for info' exercise for some party
involved in a project tender. Makes sense.
As for accreditation for TWs, I think that's a great idea. Other
professions have it. Ok, where do we start?
Matilda Reich
----- Original Message -----
From: bja <bashley@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:36 PM
Subject: atw: Re: Strange job advertisements/skills combinations
> Since I guess I started this, I'm going to have one last say on it.
>
> (BTW Geoff, I'm fully back on the air again - thanks)
>
> Interestingly, I note the agency involved has not commented.
>
> Anyway, despite everyone agreeing that testing is a good thing, they miss
> the point of the original email: The company gave no details in their ad.
> The company requested a "page per day rate".
>
> There are only two reasons (in my suspicious, beady little eyes) that a
> company would ask for this: 1. To get rough estimates they were unable to
> get for themselves (and the main reason would be for quoting in a tender)
> and 2. So that they can tie a TW to a contract where remuneration is based
> on that rate.
>
> To use this figure as some form of measure to apply against different
> applicants would be stupid and therefore is an unlikely reason.
>
> Having seen a few trawlers and shonky people in the employment agency
> business over the years, I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that I'm right
on
> this one.
>
> Also, in relation to the subsequent comments, I personally believe we
should
> have system of certification based on a skills matrix (listing all skills
> possible) where those accredited have been formally tested by their peers
(a
> once-a-month panel of ASTC members et al). It would be difficult at first
> but as more TWs became accredited, it would become easier and this would
> reduce the need for companies like HCi to run tests (although I would
> probably still test an applicants knowledge and I will always use a resume
> as the first test of a writer's abilities).
>
> Certification could even be an income generator for the ASTCs and a one
time
> fee would apply. TWs could go for re-accreditation for a reduced fee once
> their skills or experience change.
>
> But this is an old argument of mine and others.
>
> ASTCs..... ? <Jab> <Jab> - it's been a few months now. :)
>
> Regards,
>
> Bruce Ashley
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
> > joe_zolin@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > Sent: Wednesday, 25 February 2004 10:24 AM
> > To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: atw: Re: Strange job advertisments/skills combinations
> >
> >
> >
> > Yeah, I hear what you say, CBK, and I'm not saying bja's
> > concerns aren't
> > relevant..
> >
> > IMNSHO though, I like the ad. If taken from the perspective that they
> > might actually know what a tech writer does, and know what a good tech
> > writer should produce, it would act as a magic filter system...
> >
> > Say fer instance a newbie applies and states they can produce
> > 20 pages a
> > day... immediate fail... unrealistic self-expectations.
> >
> > Say perhaps a reasonably experienced tech writer applies and
> > stating they
> > can produce 5 pages per day, but does not mention that this can vary
> > depending of difficulty of app, availability of SMEs and variations in
> > toolsets provided by company... Fail again, seemingly unaware of the
> > variations from task to task.
> >
> > Then someone like bja, or cbk comes along, states a range of possible
> > page-per-day results, lists the possible factors affecting
> > production rate,
> > queries the need for such a tight skill set... Immediate
> > second interview
> > because these people obviously have what it takes to
> > realistically assess
> > and plan for a task...immediately exhibiting the level of tech writer
> > knowledge and skill required for a serious tech writing job...
> >
> >
> > Sure as hell would cut through the several hundred wanna be
> > applicants.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Joe Zolin
> > Technical Communicator/Tech Comms MYOB
> > E-mail: JOE.ZOLIN@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > Phone (work): (03) 9222 9992 Ext. 7429
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "BIRTLEY-KENT,Christine"
> >
> > <Christine.BIRTLEY-KENT@de To:
> > <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > wr.gov.au> cc:
> >
> > Sent by:
> > Subject: atw: Strange job advertisments/skills
> > combinations
> > austechwriter-bounce@freel
> >
> > ists.org
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 25/02/2004 10:11 AM
> >
> > Please respond to
> >
> > austechwriter
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >Keep smiling, not everyone is out ta get ya!=20=20=20=20
> >
> > Nonetheless, it is still impossible to quote a pages per day rate
> > without assessing the environment for which you are developing those
> > pages. My rate can vary from 1 to 16 depending upon degree of
> > difficulty and quality expectations.
> >
> > Perhaps someone who is applying for work in Melbourne will
> > apply and let
> > us know what happens. It doesn't hurt to stay informed.
> >
> > There is an ad in Canberra at the moment asking for an e-learning
> > developer. The third requirement is:
> >
> > 3. Provision of an eLearning tool that has an inbuilt tool to track
> > learning administration and can interface with Aurion and meet IT
> > infrastructure requirements=20
> >
> > How can anyone provide this tool without first knowing the
> > infrastructure and other variables? And how many training developers
> > are software vendors? Realistically they need to be asking
> > for someone
> > with 'the skills to find' an appropriate eLearning tool....
> >
> > I would be interested to know if these people get inundated
> > by the wrong
> > type of applicants too.
> >
> > ck
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: joe_zolin@xxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:joe_zolin@xxxxxxxxxxx]=20
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 9:45 AM
> > To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: atw: Re: New Pay Scales for TWs?
> >
> >
> >
> > I thought they were asking how many pages a day you could produce, not
> > the expected charge rate per page.
> >
> > Direct quote from ad:
> > "please quote an approximate pages-per-day rate"
> >
> > Still vague, though, but I've got a feeling that bja migyht be jumping
> > the gun a bit here.
> >
> > Also, consider the reasons for not stating company name... If the
> > company actually said who they were, there would be flock (or should I
> > say
> > murder..) of agencies descending upon them trying to get the
> > listing and
> > subsequant placement fee for their own.
> >
> > =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=2
> > 0=20=20=20=20
> > =
> > =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=2
> > 0=20=20=20=20
> > =
> > =20
> > =20=20=20
> > =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=2
> > 0=20=20=20=20
> > =
> > =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=2
> > 0=20=20=20=20
> > =
> > =20
> > =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=2
> > 0=20=20=20=20
> > =
> > =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=2
> > 0=20=20=20=20
> > =
> > =20
> > =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=2
> > 0=20=20=20=20
> > =
> > =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=2
> > 0=20=20=20=20
> > =
> > =20
> >
> >
> > Joe Zolin
> > Technical Communicator/Tech Comms MYOB
> > E-mail: JOE.ZOLIN@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > Phone (work): (03) 9222 9992 Ext. 7429
> >
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