I've been involved in handling staffing and recruitment for technical communication departments of several companies, and I've seen job candidates say or do some baffling, and yes, distressing things. I've also interviewed candidates who impressed me so much that I wanted them to hire me. Technical communicators are so savvy these days that you'd think none of us would have trouble selling ourselves and our skills. But that's just not always so.

With many companies starting to think about staffing up for fall, and with newly-graduated technical writing students hitting the streets, some timely advice about what technical communication departments typically look for when hire may be in order.

Interview-generating resumes and letters
Obvious as it seems, you won't get that interview unless your resume and cover letter catch the eye of the person or people who will screen candidates. Neatness counts when you're applying for a technical communication position. I know many managers who toss aside any resumes containing typos and other errors, no matter how impressive the candidates' skills and experience. Why? Because if you don't take the time to make the document that represents you perfect, these managers reason that you won't be overly concerned about mistakes in the manuals and online help you create.

Your cover letter should tie your qualifications as closely as possible to those required for the open position. If you don't have everything an employer is looking for, emphasize your ability to get up to speed quickly. But don't send out that resume if your skills have nothing to do with the advertised job. I once received a resume for a senior software documenter's job from a m an who managed a plumbing company, who thought he was qualified to write about software because he used Quicken. Needless to say, he didn't get an interview.

Do your homework
Before an interview, always find out as much as you can about the hiring company, and, if possible, about the documentation group there. Look up the company's Web site. Seek out and talk to people who work for the company or have friends who do. Lack of knowledge about a company's products makes interviewers question the sincerity of a candidate's interest in a position.

It's also wise to ask questions during the interview about what it's like to work at that company, what a normal or crunch-time work day is like, who writers typically deal with on the job, etc. This has two benefits: it gives you a better idea of whether the job is right for you, and it allows interviewers to see that you clearly understand what's involved.

A favourite interviewer's trick is asking questions that the candidate can't answer with "yes" or "no" and that require some thought. For example, a question might be, "Describe a situation in the past where you successfully…" Try to anticipate such questions, and rehearse one or two good answers.

If a question stumps you, don't sit silently; interviewers may perceive this as inability to think on your feet. Instead, either say honestly, "I don't know," or ask for a moment to collect your thoughts before answering. By doing so, you reinforce the impression that you're a person who chooses their words wisely.

Look and act like a professional
The workplace in general is becoming more casual, and that's certainly true of the technical communication groups I know. But, it's worth noting that the old rules about professional dress for job interviews still apply. Leave the fishing vests and halters at home; dress as if you're being considered for management. And always bring samples of your work. If your samples contain proprietary material, it's better to black out company and product names than to carry no samples.