Obtaining Information Through Interviewing  

In every organization, people are the primary sources of information. The technical communicator interacts with people to collect knowledge about the organization's products and procedures. Through interviews, the communicator queries sources and documents how people accomplish tasks. The communicator “mines” information by chiseling out the facts. The information miner must practice the art of asking questions, observing actions, and recording answers and observattbns. In this task, the tech&al communicator acts as a reporter. This workshop teaches skills in informational interviewing, based on the principles ofjournalistic interviewing. The guidelines apply to everyday interviewing situations.

Strickland, Charlene J. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Interviewing

Phone Interview

A semi-structured or structured interview that is conducted over a phone or Internet audio line. Phone interviews can supplement other HCI methods and allow HCI specialists to follow users over an extended time.

Usability Body of Knowledge. Resources>Usability>Interviewing

Phone Interviews: New Skills Required  

Suggests how technical communicators can excel at the increasingly common practice of interviewing by phone.

Ford, Donna A. Intercom (2002). Articles>Interviewing

Portfolios: Tools for Acing the Interview  

Molisani explains how technical communicators can use their portfolios to take charge of an interview.

Molisani, Jack. Intercom (2003). Careers>Portfolios>Interviewing

Preparing for an Overseas Job  

If you have ever considered accepting an overseas contract, you may have already looked into the issues of visas, work permits, inoculations, and compensation. But to really thrive in an overseas job, you must learn as much as possible about the host culture so that you are prepared for the cultural rules and expectations; if possible, learn the language. This workshop raises a number of cultural issues and uses value-assessment exercises to help you determine whether an overseas job is realistic for you.

Guren, Leah. STC Proceedings (1999). Careers>Interviewing>International

Preparing for User Research Interviews: Seven Things to Remember

Interviewing is an artful skill that is at the core of a wide variety of research methods in user-centered design, including stakeholder interviews, contextual inquiry, usability testing, and focus groups. Consequently, a researcher’s skill in conducting interviews has a direct impact on the quality and accuracy of research findings and subsequent decisions about design. Skilled interviewers can conduct interviews that uncover the most important elements of a participant’s perspective on a task or a product in a manner that does not introduce interviewer bias. Companies hire user researchers and user-centered designers because they possess this very ability.

Hawley, Michael. UXmatters (2008). Articles>Interviewing>Usability>User Centered Design

Professional Interviews: A Few Brief Tips

Here are a few brief, practical tips for preparing for your first interview.

beyondwords (2008). Careers>Interviewing

Question Negotiation and the Technological Environment    

The information world is a very different place in 2003 than it was a few years ago. It is possible, for example, to find information more quickly and easily than ever before, using new tools, and drawing on sources of information unavailable or even nonexistent not so very long ago. People seeking answers or providing them now have many more options for 'question negotiation', in the broadest Tayloresque sense. Consulting an information professional continues to be one of those options. In fact, such professionals can now be much more accessible via these new tools and technologies.

Janes, Joseph and Joanne Silverstein. D-Lib Magazine (2003). Articles>Interviewing>TC

Questions for Designers

Anne-Marie "HerGeekness" Concepcion wrote about 'Telling Questions' prospective design employers may ask the job applicant. Some of the questions are obvious -- others not so. So, we teamed up with Anne-Marie to find out if YOU can correctly answer these Questions for Designers.

Concepcion, Anne-Marie. Design, Typography and Graphics (2006). Careers>Interviewing>Graphic Design

Recruiting a Quality Technical Communicator  

In this technical communicator’s market the average time it takes for a professional to get hired in less than 30 days. Due to the short time these professionals are on the market hiring managers, in order to find and quickly bring on board quality people, may need to adjust their expectations and their hiring strategy.

Murphy, Stephen W. STC Proceedings (2000). Careers>Interviewing

Sample Thank You Letters

The thank you letter is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of job hunting. Don’t fall in to the trap of thinking it isn’t important. A handwritten note is best but a thoughtful email will suffice. And like your resume, your thank you letter should be customized to reflect the mood and content of the interview.

Monster.com (2001). Careers>Interviewing>Correspondence>Business Communication

The Samples Conundrum  

Olive examines the ethical and practical problems associated with providing writing samples to potential employers and suggests possible solutions to these problems.

Olive, Eric G. Intercom (2001). Careers>Interviewing>Ethics

Secil Watson Tells Jesse James Garrett About Experience Design at Wells Fargo

When I joined the company, they were making the transition from being an online servicing group, where people could access their accounts and check their balances, to one where they could start a relationship with their customers, through selling anything from checking accounts to brokerage accounts to services on those accounts.

Watson, Secil and Jesse James Garrett. Adaptive Path (2008). Articles>Interviewing>User Experience>Case Studies

Secrets of Successful Interviewing  

To conduct a successful interview, you must create a comfortable atmosphere, provide an honest review of the job requirements, and probe into the candidate’s qualifications and experience. By asking appropriate, focused questions and engaging the candidate in both detailed and general dialog, you should be able to gather enough information about the candidate to either eliminate him/her or move forward with the hiring process.

Hartman, Peter J. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Interviewing

Selection and Interview Procedures at a Multinational Company    

Creating policies and procedures for selecting and interviewing job candidates is usually the responsibility of a company's human resources department, often with the guidance and approval of its legal affairs office. Such requirements are designed in accordance with U.S. federal and state laws related to civil rights, gender and ethnic rights, age discrimination, disabilities, and family leave, among others. These laws govern the conduct for companies during the recruitment process (Andrews and Baird, 2005), and though federal laws affect companies with US$50,000 or more in federal contracts and more than 15 employees, most U.S. companies tend to comply because of the threat of litigation. In speaking with Jim Olson, a retired auto industry executive, it became clear that compliance with employment laws regarding recruitment practices are largely influenced by corporate culture.

Burgess-Wilkerson, Barbara. Business Communication Quarterly (2008). Careers>Interviewing>Policies and Procedures

Selling to the Hidden Job Market  

Describes ways that technical communicators looking for work can identify and pursue job leads before the openings are publicized.

O'Donnell, Pat. Intercom (2004). Careers>Interviewing>Marketing

Selling Your Skills: Tips from a Technical Interviewer  

Demonstrate your skills. Make your information relevant. Provide justifications to accept you with no obvious reasons to reject. Present your best work. Show enthusiasm and interest.

Roach, Jane. STC Four Lakes (2002). Careers>TC>Interviewing

Setting Up Business Stakeholder Interviews Part 2

In part one, Michael shared how to navigate company politics to set up great stakeholder interviews. Here he covers his five tips for navigating company politics, avoiding client bias, and eliciting the information you need to inform your design.

Beavers, Michael. Boxes and Arrows (2007). Articles>Interviewing>Project Management>User Centered Design

Setting Up Business Stakeholder Interviews, Part 1

Gathering business requirements from stakeholders is critical to good design, but setting up quality interviews can be tough. Tossing out the org chart may be the best way to figure out who really wields influence over a company's website.

Beavers, Michael. Boxes and Arrows (2007). Articles>Interviewing>User Centered Design

Steps to a Successful Interview: Follow-Up

Send a thank-you note for every interview. It can be an email, a handwritten note on good-quality (neutral color) stationery, or a standard business letter.

O'Keefe, Karen, Rebecca Forrest and Jean Fudge. Between the Lines (2007). Careers>Interviewing>Correspondence>Business Communication

Steps to a Successful Interview: Preparation

In an interview, you want to find out about the position and the environment, give job-related information about yourself, and leave a good impression, all while being relaxed. That’s a tall order for anyone, so we hope our advice and anecdotes will help you survive—or even thrive—in an interview.

O'Keefe, Karen, Rebecca Forrest and Jean Fudge. Between the Lines (2007). Careers>Interviewing>Planning

Steps to a Successful Interview: Presentation

Give yourself a hand. Your presentation starts with your handshake. Make it firm, business-like, and brief. Your hand should be thumb up with fingers straight. The interviewer isn’t going to kiss your hand or lead you into a waltz.

O'Keefe, Karen, Rebecca Forrest and Jean Fudge. Between the Lines (2007). Careers>Interviewing>Rhetoric

Strategies for Successful Job Interviewing  

Good interviewing skills are critical to your professional success. Taking inventory of your own strengths and weaknesses is essential to preparing for any job interview process. The following strategies will help you navigate the job interview with success: do your homework on the company; when asked about a skill you do not possess, answer by drawing attention to a related competency; engage in active listening; exhibit calm and poise; try to meet the rest of the team; and be skeptical of the information furnished by the interviewer. These skills will keep you well prepared for job transitions.

Mason, Catheryn L. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Interviewing

Survive and Thrive at a Job Fair

Job fairs can be powerful tools in the search for employment after graduation. There are a lot of opportunities for entry level computer related jobs at these fairs, but coming prepared is the key. You serve as your cover letter, so be at your best.

Ledbetter, Jessica. ACM Crossroads (2001). Careers>Interviewing

Take Control: What To Do When Your Job Interviewers Are Tongue-Tied

When interviewing with a technical writing manager or with others who are familiar with the role of technical writers, the interview process can be a natural and productive information exchange. In such cases, interviewers can often readily define needs, assess a candidate's experience and qualifications, peruse a portfolio with their needs in mind, and initiate questions in the interview that are relevant to the position and candidate. But, what happens when interviewers are less familiar--or unfamiliar--with the role of technical writers or the technical writing position they seek to fill?

Russell, Liz. TECHWR-L (2008). Careers>Interviewing