I don't know if this is the proper place for this, but it is related to tech writing.
After a respite from tech writing, I took a contract assignment through an agency in October of 2005.
All I can say is this has been the tech writing job from hell, however maybe this is the way that they all are??
Feedback is appreciated on this, because either I'm going insane, or something odd is going on here.
I was interviewed by four managers, with rapid fire questions, like, "have you ever not gotten along with people you work with, and how did you handle it?"
Suffice it to say, I had this gut feeling that this was not a good contract, however I needed the money.
Well, as soon as I am hired I ask: "Where is the software, so I can start documenting?" since I was told it was only a three month job, and they needed a lot of documentation written.
I was told--only after I was hired remember--"oh, there is no software, yet. We are still developing it."
So, I say, "then what am I to use, in order to write software documentation?" I was handed a huge scope document, and flowcharts and told to create documentation from that.
I thought about leaving then, but I had some bills to pay. Working with sample screen shots, created by a graphic artist, I tried my best to document the software, even though it was being developed at the same time.
I created a lot of documentation, for developers and the managers for whom I was writing, to look at, edit, etc. It sat on a share drive for over two months.
Finally, the developers--about a month ago--create a model office environment of the software, but I'm not allowed to put information in, or see how the process works, in order to keystroke the existing documentation.
All three managers don't get along, so when I ask questions, I get answers like, "why do you need to know that? That doesn't need to be documented." etc., from one of them, then the other will say, "yes it does need to be in there."
At the same time, the manager who wants this documentation tells me I'm doing a great job, then there are meetings held without me--when I need to be involved--and I'm not told anything, until after the meetings.
I've been asked unprofessional questions by this manager such as, "How much are they paying you per hour?" and one day, a conversation arose about deadlines and he basically asked me if I took anti-depressants!!!!??? I thought he was joking. He wasn't.
I said, "Um, I don't think I need to discuss things like that, whether I do or don't."
I've continued to just do my job, but my project manager isn't much of one. I've continued to tell them all that unless I can actually use the software, I'm not going to have accurate documentation.
They don't care.
So, suddenly a QA person is brought on board, and everyone on the team goes out of their way to let me know that there is a meet and greet with the QA person, but I am not invited to that meeting.
However, they all make sure--after the meeting--to walk by my desk and say "Hi Lisa." Nobody bothers to even introduce me to the QA person. I end up doing it myself.
The red carpet is rolled out for her. Quickly, she demands a whole team of QA people, and suddenly she is allowed an environment that allows her to put in information, etc.
Everytime my project manager, the manager/owner of the product (the one who asked me if I was on anti-depressants), and the QA woman get together, they make sure to do it in front of me, when I know I'm going to be needed at some point for the discussion.
What really got to me was when I was looking for jobs on craigslist.org, and I found an exact listing for my current position, down to the deadline dates.
It was really weird. I decided not to say anything to my project manager, but he met with me and, after weeks of saying, "oh, you are doing a great job," he says, "do you think we need to hire another writer?"
How am I supposed to answer that? I said to him, "Well, that really isn't my call, you know?"
He sort of backed off, but I noticed that he and QA woman were having all sorts of meetings after that.
So, I ask, "don't I need to be working with QA?" I was told last week, "oh, no...she's testing the software."
All of a sudden, this week, I'm told, "Oh, you need to send all of your documentation to her, she's going to edit it."
Hmm..interesting.
Then, when I ask for the same testing environment that QA has, I'm told, "gee, sorry. I know you need to test the software, in order to document it, but I don't want to go over QA's head."
All this adds up to be a very frustrating environment. Now, I'm told I have to have all first drafts of documentation finished by April 4th for Beta testing. That means the developer/owner has to edit the documentation, and it has to be keystroked.
I told them that unless they okay overtime, that's not going to happen. They refuse to comment on that.
Honestly, I'm ready to just tell them I found another job and quit, however I've never done that before on a contract job.
The people are game players, etc., and I often feel like I'm on "The Apprentice," and the QA woman is Omorosa. The weirdest conversation was when the owner/manager of the software, after I was attacked in a meeting for no real reason, said to me, "Look, you aren't going to be friends with any of us after this, and we aren't going to hire you fulltime."
????!!!
I said, "Um, I don't believe I've ever said I wanted to be 'friends' with anybody here, nor was I considering a full-time job here."
Okay, am I just going insane and in need of anti-depressants, or is this job just weird, in general, as far as tech writing jobs go?
How should I handle this situation? I'm ready to go, period, with or without another job.
Thanks,
Boo
After a respite from tech writing, I took a contract assignment through an agency in October of 2005.
All I can say is this has been the tech writing job from hell, however maybe this is the way that they all are??
Feedback is appreciated on this, because either I'm going insane, or something odd is going on here.
I was interviewed by four managers, with rapid fire questions, like, "have you ever not gotten along with people you work with, and how did you handle it?"
Suffice it to say, I had this gut feeling that this was not a good contract, however I needed the money.
Well, as soon as I am hired I ask: "Where is the software, so I can start documenting?" since I was told it was only a three month job, and they needed a lot of documentation written.
I was told--only after I was hired remember--"oh, there is no software, yet. We are still developing it."
So, I say, "then what am I to use, in order to write software documentation?" I was handed a huge scope document, and flowcharts and told to create documentation from that.
I thought about leaving then, but I had some bills to pay. Working with sample screen shots, created by a graphic artist, I tried my best to document the software, even though it was being developed at the same time.
I created a lot of documentation, for developers and the managers for whom I was writing, to look at, edit, etc. It sat on a share drive for over two months.
Finally, the developers--about a month ago--create a model office environment of the software, but I'm not allowed to put information in, or see how the process works, in order to keystroke the existing documentation.
All three managers don't get along, so when I ask questions, I get answers like, "why do you need to know that? That doesn't need to be documented." etc., from one of them, then the other will say, "yes it does need to be in there."
At the same time, the manager who wants this documentation tells me I'm doing a great job, then there are meetings held without me--when I need to be involved--and I'm not told anything, until after the meetings.
I've been asked unprofessional questions by this manager such as, "How much are they paying you per hour?" and one day, a conversation arose about deadlines and he basically asked me if I took anti-depressants!!!!??? I thought he was joking. He wasn't.
I said, "Um, I don't think I need to discuss things like that, whether I do or don't."
I've continued to just do my job, but my project manager isn't much of one. I've continued to tell them all that unless I can actually use the software, I'm not going to have accurate documentation.
They don't care.
So, suddenly a QA person is brought on board, and everyone on the team goes out of their way to let me know that there is a meet and greet with the QA person, but I am not invited to that meeting.
However, they all make sure--after the meeting--to walk by my desk and say "Hi Lisa." Nobody bothers to even introduce me to the QA person. I end up doing it myself.
The red carpet is rolled out for her. Quickly, she demands a whole team of QA people, and suddenly she is allowed an environment that allows her to put in information, etc.
Everytime my project manager, the manager/owner of the product (the one who asked me if I was on anti-depressants), and the QA woman get together, they make sure to do it in front of me, when I know I'm going to be needed at some point for the discussion.
What really got to me was when I was looking for jobs on craigslist.org, and I found an exact listing for my current position, down to the deadline dates.
It was really weird. I decided not to say anything to my project manager, but he met with me and, after weeks of saying, "oh, you are doing a great job," he says, "do you think we need to hire another writer?"
How am I supposed to answer that? I said to him, "Well, that really isn't my call, you know?"
He sort of backed off, but I noticed that he and QA woman were having all sorts of meetings after that.
So, I ask, "don't I need to be working with QA?" I was told last week, "oh, no...she's testing the software."
All of a sudden, this week, I'm told, "Oh, you need to send all of your documentation to her, she's going to edit it."
Hmm..interesting.
Then, when I ask for the same testing environment that QA has, I'm told, "gee, sorry. I know you need to test the software, in order to document it, but I don't want to go over QA's head."
All this adds up to be a very frustrating environment. Now, I'm told I have to have all first drafts of documentation finished by April 4th for Beta testing. That means the developer/owner has to edit the documentation, and it has to be keystroked.
I told them that unless they okay overtime, that's not going to happen. They refuse to comment on that.
Honestly, I'm ready to just tell them I found another job and quit, however I've never done that before on a contract job.
The people are game players, etc., and I often feel like I'm on "The Apprentice," and the QA woman is Omorosa. The weirdest conversation was when the owner/manager of the software, after I was attacked in a meeting for no real reason, said to me, "Look, you aren't going to be friends with any of us after this, and we aren't going to hire you fulltime."
????!!!
I said, "Um, I don't believe I've ever said I wanted to be 'friends' with anybody here, nor was I considering a full-time job here."
Okay, am I just going insane and in need of anti-depressants, or is this job just weird, in general, as far as tech writing jobs go?
How should I handle this situation? I'm ready to go, period, with or without another job.
Thanks,
Boo
