October Meeting Minutes
by Kathryn Rudolph

The SWO-STC October meeting centered on employment issues for technical communicators in all stages of their professional life, from students to experienced professionals. Don Moon and Cheryl Puterbaugh of Convergys and Steve Wicinski of NCR served as panelists and shared tips and advice based on their experiences as interviewers and interviewees. Each shared stories and advice before answering questions from the audience and stressed the importance of showing enthusiasm in an interview, asking questions, and researching the company before taking the first step of sending your resume.

Their other important points include:

Each panelist stressed the importance of “telling your story.” In telling your story, you might want to discuss how you got into the field, how you advanced to where you are today, and the results of your work. The panelists stated that they are looking for people who are flexible, display problem-solving skills, discuss their experience using specific examples, and show that they have “done their homework” about the company.

After each panelist had the opportunity to share his/her experience, the floor was open to questions from the audience.

Q: What advice would you give to students or people searching for entry-level positions?
A: For students, activities and transferable skills are very important, as are displays of leadership and enthusiasm. In addition, consider putting your GPA on your resume, if it’s a good one, if you do not have a lot of experience. Interviewees must “look the part” when going to an interview and should demonstrate forethought and investigate. Above all, networking is the key to finding a job.

Q: Have you seen a trend toward specific college degrees over experience?
A: Usually, companies put desired degree types and years of experience on their job postings. However, experience is often more important than a degree and interviewers tend to look for people who are professional interested in what they do. Certifications, professional courses, skills that are current with technology, and a demonstrated commitment to learning can outweigh the value of a degree. For example, one panelist said that he was more apt to hire a candidate with scads of experience and technical knowledge than he was apt to hire a candidate with a Computer Science degree earned decades ago.

Q: Is it acceptable to send multiple resumes to one company through multiple sources (i.e. – recruiter, website, contact inside company, etc.)?
A: The answer to this is dependent upon the company. Submitting your application through an agent and through an HR department may pose ethical and legal problems for the company; if they hire you, they may be bound to pay agent fees. Additionally, you should be careful when you apply for multiple jobs at any one company. Above all, you should follow the application rules on a job posting.

Q: What tips do you have for being a better interviewee?
A: Before even going to an interview, take the time to educate yourself about the company with which you are interviewing; it is okay to take notes and bring them to your interview to act as prompts. While interviewing, be conscious of your body language; be careful about not appearing arrogant, closed off, or negative in any way. You should also take the time to thoughtfully answer and ask questions and interact confidently with the interviewer(s). Above all, do not interview the interviewer too much or “consultantize” the questions by restating the question as an answer.

If there is only one point to take away from this meeting and the panelists, it’s that you should not try to fit the position. The position should fit you. As Don Moon said, “If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit”.

For more information about each of the panelists, please visit www.stc-swo.org/meetings/oct_04.htm.