On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:29:29 +0100, Orchid XP v8 wrote:

>>> I'm puzzled as to how somebody with no formal qualifications gets to
>>> write a book.
>> 
>> Well, I said "co-author".  My co-author asked me if I was interested
>> because he was impressed with my level of knowledge.
> 
> Ah. So it's a question of knowing the right people then.

Sometimes.  Not always.  I know others who have been published who just 
started with an idea and shopped it around to different publishers until 
one took the project on.  In some cases, it helps to have a manuscript, 
in some cases, an outline is sufficient.  We started with an outline and 
a proposal rather than a manuscript.

But for fiction writers that I know, having a manuscript is generally 
considered the norm (so it seems to me).

>>> If there's a box asking what qualifications you have, and another box
>>> asking what commercial experience you have, it's very hard to convey
>>> that you're not just some loser kid who wants a job, and that you
>>> actually know stuff about stuff, even though you don't have the
>>> credentials "on paper" to prove it.
>> 
>> The 300 word application box is a foot in the door.  It's not the
>> entire interview process.  They learn the details after the first step
>> is done.
> 
> Not if you're unsufficiently impressive to get an interview.

It's important to choose your words carefully.  One of the things about a 
limited space to enter that in is you can get an idea (as a prospective 
employer) about the ability of the candidate to say a lot with few 
words.  At the same time, as a prospective employer with a form like 
that, you also have to not require a thesis in that space, so it's a 
balancing act.

>>>> If you'd expand the scope of your search, that would certainly help.
>>> Such as...?
>> 
>> Broader scope of locations for a start.  If I limited myself to
>> businesses within a 4 block radius (not saying you are that restricted
>> in your scope, but I live in a larger city), I'd probably have a hard
>> time finding something, too.
> 
> Well, I'm currently looking at Wolfram in Oxford. That's about 30 miles
> or something. I'd prefer a job in my home town, but I don't mind
> something slightly further away.
>
> I don't care how much you pay me, I am NOT working in London.

Well, nobody said London.  But you also have a strong desire to not 
relocate, so that limits you pretty much to what you can drive to from 
where you currently are.

You have stated that it would be impossible for you to find a job in 
another geographic area because you don't have a place to live there 
first.  However, consider this:  People do this all the time.  They go on 
job interviews with companies in other countries, other parts of the 
country they're in, and on the other side of the planet.  Logically, it 
must not be impossible to do.
 
>> Yes, and that's a starting point.  Call the number and say you'd like
>> to speak to someone about your submitted application on the
>> Wolfram|Alpha site, and if that person is in that office location,
>> they'll connect you.  If they're not, then ask if they have a phone
>> number that you can call for the other office because you'd like to
>> follow up on your application.
>> 
>> That shows initiative (and follow-through), and employers like that.
> 
> All true in theory. In practice, applying to such a vast company, I
> doubt anybody is going to notice. I also rather suspect most of their HR
> will be in the USA. But it's worth a go I guess...

You'd be surprised.  I work for a pretty big company (compared to 
Wolfram, certainly; Wolfram reportedly has about 400 employees, at least 
in their US headquarters), and things like this do get noticed (I know 
because I've referred people for jobs here before).  Independent 
initiative/self-motivation is a very strongly sought after characteristic 
in employees because it means less time having to manage the employee, 
which equates to a more productive employee.

Jim

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