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Re:Why Google Employees Quit by indiejade on Sunday January 18, 2009 @08:20PM (#439898)
So what kind of technical writer does Google hire?

I tried, twice upon a time: first in 2005 and later in 2006, for the advertised position of a "technical writer," both times subsequently told via email (no personal interview) that "we don't have a position which is a strong fit."

Who writes this form-mail content? Surely you'd best practice honesty in your rejection emails, perhaps something like "We pride ourselves in making a torturous psychological game out of hiring people, and therefore interview only for positions which don't actually exist."

I still do love Google, though, and can't even begin to bring myself to apply there again, out of fear of hating it for one last rejection. All the while do I figuratively starve to death.

I didn't get it then, and still don't get it now.

Surely you guys must know that writers aren't by nature people people. Even six unpaid interviews with actual people seems like too much for a career in writing web-friendly code.

Re:Why Google Employees Quit by cdibona on Sunday January 18, 2009 @08:30PM (#439907)
Honestly, I have no clue. I've not sat in those committees and I've only seen a few of the tech writer packets, and I was at best observing (I don't know much about that group).

If I were you I'd track down Tom Galloway, he used to work in that team and he's on the internets. He's a friendly guy and likely to reply substantively to you. I've heard the writing test is....something.

Re:Why Google Employees Quit by indiejade on Sunday January 18, 2009 @09:03PM (#439939)
Your use of four ellipses is in poor syntax. ;) It should be: three periods with one space in between each.

. . .

But nonetheless; thank you for replying. I very much appreciate the content of your reply.

Re:Why Google Employees Quit by blasdel on Sunday January 18, 2009 @09:40PM (#439968)
It should be: three periods with one space in between each.

No! There's an ellipsis character: '…'

Re:Why Google Employees Quit by hollerith on Wednesday January 21, 2009 @07:57AM (#443146)
Yes! That way users relying on non-Unicode software or without huge font packages installed correctly see garbage.
Re:Why Google Employees Quit by anonyreliant on Monday January 19, 2009 @03:07AM (#440217)
It should be three periods when it comes in the middle of a sentence, and four periods when it finishes a sentence....
Re:Why Google Employees Quit by cdibona on Sunday January 18, 2009 @10:41PM (#440018)
really, with one space between each? That's probably one of the many reasons I'm not a tech writer :-)