PROUDLY PRESENTS

Jacob P. Sartz
Resident of The United States and 3-DNET® VIP member
Email contact : jacob@exec.org

      

VIDEO INTRODUCTION®

  

 

INTERVIEW WITH 3-DNET®

Listen to sample sound "bites" from the interview:  

Question 1 : Tell me about yourself

I am a 37 year veteran of the high technology industry. Trained in university as a writer and person of arts and literature, I quickly discovered early in my career as a technical writer, publications manager and information architect that I have a great passion for things engineering. I have applied both training and passion to documenting everything from software programs to missile systems. As my role has evolved from documenting complex military and manufacturing systems to documenting web-based products, I have kept my skills up to date.

In private life, I continue to be a student of things historical and political. This continuing interest combined with an active outdoors-oriented lifestyle has enabled me to keep my love of writing fresh. Will and Ariel Durant, who published their greatest work late in life, have inspired me to keep writing. I am convinced that I have a lot of work yet to do.

Question:  "Tell me about yourself....?"  

Question 2 : What can you offer to your next employer ?

I offer hard work, communications/documentation skills, intense loyalty and mission focus. Extensive experience in writing everything from executive speeches to 1,000 page reference manual in a variety of high tech environments is the wellspring of my professional expertise. If you have a proposal team, sales promotion organization or a product documentation organization, I can contribute as an individual or as a manager. As companies are required to be more agile in response to market demands, their staffs, in turn, are required to be more versatile. My own versatility derives from my education, intelligence, personal drive and extensive industry experience.

Question:  "What can you offer....?"  

Question 3 : What are your strengths ?

I am a mentally tough, disciplined professional who can document a product or concept from start to finish. I can create and manage proposals, sales communications and technical documentation. Well informed through media and web sources, I posses good analytical and problem solving skills. I am intensely curious and energetic and am relentless in driving projects.

Question:  "What are your strengths?"  

Question 4 : What are your accomplishments ?

My published output of user manuals, reference manuals and other forms of technical documentation runs to tens of thousands of pages. I have changed with the industry – starting as a logistical documentation specialist at RCA and rising to department manager in different industry areas. My career has taken me from documenting defense systems to semiconductor manufacturing to software R&D environments. Throughout my career I have retained my love of writing and belief that effective business communication is important to a company’s existence.

In personal terms, I have earned a Bachelors degree in English, Masters degree in Science Communication, had a career as a small town civil servant and raised two wonderful children. My personal global view comes from having lived abroad and having close personal ties to Asia. Recently, I have begun to travel extensively both in the US and overseas.

Question:  "What are your accomplishments?"  

Question 5 : What are your limitations ?

Everyone has limitations that they prefer not to dwell on. But I suppose I sometimes get too engrossed in projects and push too hard to accomplish goals. I am not always patient enough with those who do not know my field as well I do.

Question:  "What are your limitations ?"  

Question 6 : How much are you worth ?

My professional worth is defined by my ability to document and publicize products, services and concepts. Effective proposals and sales communications can help keep a company viable - poorly documented products expose a company to liability. I contribute to organizations by having mission focus, knowing my discipline, driving projects hard and understanding the company's goals.

Question:  "How much are you worth ?"  

Question 7 : What are your ambitions for the future ?

I wish to work in a situation that will allow me to use my experience, intellect and personal drive to the fullest. I would enjoy working as a communications specialist or department manager where I can contribute to proposals, sales literature and product documentation. I am also open to opportunities in sales and or public relations.

Question:  "What are your ambitions for the future ?"  

Question 8 : How long would it take you start contributing to the firm? 

I can be productive immediately.

Question:  "How long would it take ... ?"  

Question 9: What is your management style?

My style is decidedly hands-on and detail-driven. Writers are not always easy to manage but I do so my understanding their psyches and molding their creative talents into the same mission focus that I have.

Question:  "What is your management style .... ?"  

Question 10: Why do you think you have a good potential to be a manager?

My potential is grounded in extensive industry experience and personal drive. I have managed writers and artists in the past. I know how to motivate and reward them and I know how to keep them focused on projects and company goals.

Question:  "Why do you think you..... ?"  

Question 11: What would you look for in hiring people?

I always look for common-sense, personal integrity and the willingness to dedicate themselves to the company’s mission. Candidates for my organization must also posses a willingness to embrace change. In short, I always seek motivated team players. Above all, he/she must want to write. Professional passion cannot be taught or coached. It is innate.

Question:  "What would you look for hiring .... ?"  

Question 12: As a manager, have you ever had to fire someone?

No, fortunately, I have not had to fire anyone but I came close a few times. Generally writing talent is fairly scarce so you do not want to burn a resource or hurt a person. I prefer to manage people by re-directing, re-educating and re-doubling their efforts.

Question:  "As a manager, have you ever..... ?"  

Question 13: What do you see as the most difficult task of being a manager?

Keeping the department focused on its mission while simultaneously embracing change is always a major challenge for a manager. On a personal level, you sometimes must manage an individual who clearly has some talent but who seems bent on professional failure by not applying their gifts to needs of the organization. Managing someone who is not self-motivated takes extra patience, something you tend to run out of during tight project deadlines.

Question:  "What do you see as...... ?"  

Question 14: Describe what you feel is the best work environment?

Generally speaking, there are no best environments. I have worked solo, as part of a small team and as a small part of a large organization. What I prefer is a set of sharp tools and the opportunity to use them to further corporate goals. Given a choice, I like a small team but can be happy in other scenarios as well.

Question:  "Describe what you feel..... ?"  

Question 15: Looking back how do you describe your past employer?

I enjoyed their technology and culture. .

Question:  "Looking back how do you ..... ?"  

Question 16: What have you done to increase productivity, performance, efficiency, etc..?

Wherever I have served as a senior contributor, I have streamlined document formats and publications policies. As an information architect, I developed effective document formats that were easy to use, reduced the amount of time required for revisions and reduced costs.

Question:  "What have you done to .... ?"  

Question 17: Whether you are a "computer wizard", how do you respond to the financial side of your responsibilities?

Documentation is a product - its costs can be managed and amortized. As a manager, you must look for ways to recover and minimize costs and generally simplify processes so they can be accomplished as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Question:  "Whether you are a "computer wizard".... ?"  

Question 18: How many people have you supervised in your recent job?

At CSPI, I managed two other writers. At BTU, I managed two writers and two support staff. At Inforex, I managed two writers plus contractors. .

Question:  "How many people have you .... ?"  

Question 19: What do you like more, working with figures or words?

The term "writer" says it all. Although I'm not math averse, I'm definitely linguistic!

Question:  "What do you like more ..... ?"  

Question 20: How do you think that your subordinates receive you?

I always had good rapport with my staff. I was supportive and understanding though I worked them hard.

Question:  "How do you think .... ?"  

Question 21: What do you think of your previous boss?

I admired his energy.

Question:  "What do you think .... ?"  

Question 22: Describe a situation in which your work was criticized?

My experience has been similar to that of many others. I have had managers who questioned my project driving style. Where their criticism was warranted, I was grateful for that and used the experience to work harder and improve. Where the criticism was unwarranted, or given out of personal frustration, I still tried to understand his/her point of view. Projects and deadline sometimes cause tensions which need to be carefully managed.

Question:  "Describe a situation .... ?"  

Question 23: If I spoke with your boss what he would say about your greatest strength and weaknesses?

My favorite recent manager would tell you I am enthusiastic, work really hard, and am a good writer and a good person.

Question:  "If I spoke with your boss.... ?"  

Question 24: How can you handle life under pressure and with tough deadlines?

My professional life has been all about meeting pressure and deadlines. I thrive in that environment. I've accumulated the life and professional skills to cope with it.

Question:  "How can you handle .... ?"  

Question 25: What do you think you do better: staff work or line work?

I am comfortable in either role. As a consultant and document architect, I usually make recommendations to a line manager.

Question:  "What do you think.... ?"  

Question 26: In your current position, what problem have you identified that was previously overlooked?

At my last company, I realized that many fields in the company's primary database were not properly documented. This was leading to customer service reps and programmers having to take too much time to get answers. I researched the fields and indexed them properly in a 1,000 page manual. Problem solved!

Question:  "In your current position .... ?"  

Question 27: If you had a choice of job and a company what would you choose?

I am open to nearly any organization that will allow me to apply my experience and efforts to their communication issues.

Question:  "If you had a choice of job.... ?"  

Question 28:Do you have any objection to take a psychological test?

Not at all.

Question:  "Do you have any objection.... ?"  

Question 29: Do you consider yourself as a creative person?

Absolutely. The term "writer" says it all. I am probably more creative than most because experience shows that creativity is a necessary problem solving skill. And I am not alone. Many programmers and engineers are accomplished musicians and artists.

Question:  "Do you consider yourself.... ?"  

Question 30: How do you describe your personality?

I am intense, driven but warm-hearted. I am always open to new ideas and adventures. I enjoy being in new situations, meeting new people and learning about their interests and ideas, conversing and sharing. My enjoyment of outdoor activities has put me in some risky and dangerous situations which I have overcome with resourcefulness and creativity. I can fairly be described as curious, liberal-minded and energetic.

Question:  "How do you describe.... ?"  

Question 31: What is your outside reading you do?

I consume all manner of media relating to my many interests and hobbies. Some 30 monthly periodicals and six daily newspapers are regularly consumed here.

Question:  "What is your outside.... ?"  

Question 32: What are some of your outside activities?

I have served my community as a Town Meeting Representative, Water Commissioner and Cable Commissioner. Our family enjoys outdoor-action sports, including golf, tennis, kayaking, canoeing, cycling and camping.

Question:  "What are some of.... ?"  

Question 33: Are you continuing your education?

While I am not currently pursuing any formal degree programs, I read incessantly and use published and web-based resources to research topics.

Question:  "Are you continuing your.... ?"  

Curriculum Vitae  Confidential

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