What if we hired writers like we hire developers
1–10 of 97 posts
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#2The tongue twister was a dead giveaway. Personally, I'd walk out (or hang up) as soon as the Oxford Comma came up, but I have less patience than most.
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#3I had to hire a writer previously. Not being a writer, and never having done this before I was wondering what I could ask them. But it seems more relevant just to ask them to write something than to quiz them or ask them to repeat tongue twisters (I don't understand the benefit of that). So I did 2 rounds where I asked candidates to write a short article on a topic with some loose instructions. I figured, whatever they answer in interview questions the real candidate I wanted will be found based on what article they chose to write and the actual quality of their writing.
For the more typical Q&A interview process all I wanted to find out was would they be a good cultural fit.
Perhaps I oversimplified it but it worked out quite well.
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#4The tongue twister was a dead giveaway. Personally, I'd walk out (or hang up) as soon as the Oxford Comma came up, but I have less patience than most.
Really? I thought the Oxford Comma question was the only useful one there. You might have to define the term but it's good at showing basic knowledge of grammar conventions.
Anyway this article has a point that this process isn't effective for finding good writers, but I'll be damned if asking people to write one or two sentences doesn't filter out the illiterate people that wander in your door (think FizzBuzz).
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#5edit: I should be less eager to click buttons
----
Where do I begin…
'spelling of conscientious'
This would be covered in the first editing pass when I turn the spell checker on. I don't see what this is meant to demonstrate. Even good writers have trouble remembering how some words are spelled.
'explain oxford comma'
What's the point of this?
'repeating a tongue twister; I like the “Betty Botter bought a bit of butter” one.'
What's the point of this?
'Questions about rules in ‘Elements of Style‘'
Elements of Style is not a rulebook. It's a stylebook.
'A few puzzles to test their creativity.'
A good writer is like a good designer. You either like their style or you don't. If you don't, you'd never ask them in for the interview. A quick writing sample is the only test of creativity you need.
'More spellings and grammar questions.'
A writing sample is all you need to assess grammar and spelling competence. My grammers is fine, but I couldn't recite rules and practices in a test.
'Some domain related question, for e.g. ask sports writer, the dates when the last football world cup was played.'
A good writer knows how to research. If you need an x writer for some cultural reason then you'd ask for that in the ad. This is a poor filter since it doesn't tell you how well a writer can write on the subject.
'Question on lexical roots of some words.'
Is this an English class or an interview?
I would show myself the door pretty quickly and advise all my writer friends not to consider your company. Your interview questions display a serious ignorance of the craft of writing. Save yourself some headaches and ask the best writer in your office to hire other writers. The sort questions you ask are easily rehearsed by a bad writer with good memory.
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#6edit: I should be less eager to click buttons ---- Where do I begin… 'spelling of conscientious' This would be covered in the first editing pass when I turn the spell checker on. I don't see what this is meant to demonstrate. Even good writers have trouble remembering how some words are spelled. 'explain oxford comma' What's the point of this? 'repeating a tongue twister; I like the “Betty Botter bought a bit of butt…
Did you stop reading halfway? The entire point of the article is that you would never hire a creative writer using these criteria, and yet they are the types of criteria being used for 'creative developers'.
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#7The tongue twister was a dead giveaway. Personally, I'd walk out (or hang up) as soon as the Oxford Comma came up, but I have less patience than most.
Really? I thought the Oxford Comma question was the only useful one there. You might have to define the term but it's good at showing basic knowledge of grammar conventions. Anyway this article has a point that this process isn't effective for finding good writers, but I'll be damned if asking people to write one or two sentences doesn't filter out the illiterate people that wander in your door (think FizzBuzz).
A writing sample is a great filter. Any good writer will jump at the chance to write out a quick (and good) piece of text if it means they might get paid.
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#8edit: I should be less eager to click buttons ---- Where do I begin… 'spelling of conscientious' This would be covered in the first editing pass when I turn the spell checker on. I don't see what this is meant to demonstrate. Even good writers have trouble remembering how some words are spelled. 'explain oxford comma' What's the point of this? 'repeating a tongue twister; I like the “Betty Botter bought a bit of butt…
I don't think you read the last portion, "For the Naysayers" although I think you prove the authors point pretty well (in sort of a good way?)
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#9edit: I should be less eager to click buttons ---- Where do I begin… 'spelling of conscientious' This would be covered in the first editing pass when I turn the spell checker on. I don't see what this is meant to demonstrate. Even good writers have trouble remembering how some words are spelled. 'explain oxford comma' What's the point of this? 'repeating a tongue twister; I like the “Betty Botter bought a bit of butt…
Did you stop reading halfway? The entire point of the article is that you would never hire a creative writer using these criteria, and yet they are the types of criteria being used for 'creative developers'.
Apparently I did! I should be less eager to click buttons. I've edited a little note in at the top so I won't get any impulsive downvotes.
Re: What if we hired writers like we hire developers
#10> Good spellings and knowledge of grammar rules does not indicate a good writer, and there are tools (spelling/grammar check) and (editorial) processes to take care of that.
Good grammar doesn't indicate a good writer, but bad grammar does indicate a bad one[1]. (Good grammar meaning, in this case, an ear for language. Good writers avoid grammatical errors because grammatical errors sound wrong, like an off-pitch note to a musician[2]. Explicit knowledge of grammar isn't particularly important. For example, good writers may not know what the subjunctive mood is, but they know how and when to use it. Conversely, a writer who has the knowledge but lacks the ear is in for a rough ride.)
1. Unless it's for effect, obviously, which can range from Rimbaud's "Je est un autre" to Zora Neal Hurston.
2. Which, of course, may also be done for effect. Which is why listing out rules (about writing, about music, etc.) is so fruitless. Which is true even if the rule is "Don't start three sentences in a row with the word 'which.'"