Tim Warner’s Post

Working with Penthusiasts is fun! . . . . As long as you love writing about finance, fintech, healthcare, deep tech, IIOT, sports technology, investments, banking, funding, SaaS, and anything that has the TECH element to it. Earlier in May, we had put up a hiring post. Here's a sneak peek at the hiring and interview process that's happening (straight from our HR desk). 60 candidates applied 20 got shortlisted and were given a written test as a task Written test details: -To write a blog outline for a topic from Fintech -To write a 400-word short article on a topic from Deeptech -To write LinkedIn Content on a topic from Finance The deadline was 2 days to submit the task. Only 4 reverted with their written samples. The best part is after receiving the task emails, the HR even got replies like: "I'm currently occupied with something. I won't be able to proceed with the task". Here's something I'd like to tell the candidates. Be it any company you apply for: 1. Make sure you are prepared for the process. 2. Check the company's portfolio if it is available online. 3. Doing the first two will help you avoid surprises when you receive the task 😀 Specific to Penthusiasts: -Writing about and for the industries I mentioned above will demand intense research leaving AI out of the picture. But less number of candidates turning up has caused a disappointment. -We handpick writers only who can understand, research and deliver outstanding content for these industries mentioned (from Project Managers). -Only shortlisted profiles shall be responded to with tasks/interview schedules. -Our social media manager has been bombarded with messages by the candidates asking about their application status even after receiving the task email which they didn't revert for. If you are a company from any of these industries and not able to find the best writing team, YOU have stopped by the RIGHT POST on LINKEDIN. Thoughts? #Linkedin #hiring #techwriters #b2bwriting #contentwriters #penthusiasts

I was rejected for a job in what felt like a particularly unique and cruel way today: Was told I was the “best candidate by miles”: best interviews, best test, best management experience, best culture fit, etc. But that ONE of my answers “didn’t fully align” with the studio’s mindset of heavy data driven design. This was for a Lead Writer position btw. I tried explaining that I have always and would continue to adapt to whatever framework a studio that employs me works under, but it was still a no. They hoped it “put my mind at ease” that they haven’t made an offer to any other candidate. It didn’t. The only thing that would put my mind at ease is knowing how I’ll pay my bills in the coming months. Also, I don’t believe you should shut down good opportunities because one aspect out of many isn’t perfect or exactly what you expect. Unicorns don’t exist. This was the best opportunity I’ve had for weeks or even months: put in over a dozen hours of (unpaid) work/time, aced the test, had the best interviews, had the most experience and still didn’t get an offer. I could really use a break.

Some organisations are approaching with a #hiring tag, just because they cannot wrap their heads around idleness, it seems! The other day I was approached by a #company. They also conducted a #test that was through their portal, with an MCQ-based #questionnaire . I have answered them. They were to test my #grammar, #syntax, and #semantic sense, and not that hard to complete though. However, just after I submitted the assessment, and let the sip of black coffee seep into my senses, I got a reply, and guess what? I was rejected!!! Then I discovered that this company has played the same game with many other writers previously. What do you think these companies are up to? Okay! They are stealing #data! But is there any other hidden mission lurking within their sinister ploy? Are they also using your skills to complete their clients' #tasks for free? Content writers, and others, look before you LEAP!!! #contentwriting #contentwriter #mindrift #assessment #randomcompanies #AI #AIfirms #AItutor #contentwriter #writer #evaluation #hiringwriter #hiring #hiringrounds

In what context is AI a conversation with you right now? In which industry?

"Meera, what you are doing is completely wrong." This was the statement I received from one of my relatives during a family get-together. It left me with mixed feelings. It was a surprising and somewhat jarring comment. I come from an architecture background, but now I am a writer. This decision has brought me immense satisfaction and a better pay scale. This shift not only aligned with my interests but also improved my quality of life, both financially and emotionally. During this conversation, he said, "Core fields like architecture and engineering don't promise good salaries immediately. It will take years to see substantial financial rewards." This perspective, while pragmatic, felt somewhat idealistic to me. Why? Because it suggests that one should stick to a conventional path despite immediate dissatisfaction, hoping for future rewards that may or may not come. I know a close friend who, after five years in architecture, came to the same realization. The pay scale was low, and it didn't offer the fulfillment she sought. She eventually transitioned to a different career, much like I did. Another friend of mine pursued animation and related creative fields because he was passionate about exploring fiction. His statements really got me thinking. I feel traditional fields like architecture and engineering are very much vital and can be rewarding, but they are NOT the only routes to success and fulfillment. Sometimes, stepping off the well-trodden path may lead to a more satisfying and lucrative career. Later, I realized this person didn't have a proper understanding of architecture. He made sweeping statements without truly knowing the intricacies and potential of the field. He even went to the extent of saying that ChatGPT could write my content for me. I immediately defended my stance, explaining that while AI tools can assist, they cannot replicate the human touch, creativity, and personal experiences that a writer brings to their work. In the end, it's about finding a balance between pragmatism and idealism. It's crucial to be realistic about the challenges and opportunities in any field, but it's equally important to pursue what genuinely brings joy and satisfaction. For me, writing has become that path, and despite any naysayers, I am confident in my choice. Thank goodness I wasn't swayed by someone who didn't fully understand the nuances of my former profession or the depth of my new one. #architecture #writing

7 Things To Keep In Mind When Applying For A Job. We've gone through 500+ applications in the past 3 days for the role of a video editor. We notice a lot of patterns and common mistakes that are killing the chances of people getting the job. Here are the most common ones: 1. No Subject line, no email body: It's unbelievable how many applications we get with no subject lines and zero body. People just leave a link in there. When we're running ads for multiple accounts, there's no way to know for which position the candidate has applied. 2. Emails too lengthy: Many candidates just copy a lengthy description about themselves from chatGPT and paste it. We do not read it. Nobody has the time to read lengthy intros. keep them short and crispy. 3. Portfolio links on different websites: If you want to increase the chances of your work getting seen, just upload the files on google drive, change the access settings, and share that instead. We reject many applications because we are asked to sign up to even check the portfolio. 4. Not keeping the word: Many candidates say they're willing to edit a sample reel or make a sample work during the application process, but when they get the assignment, they back out. There's nothing more unattractive than a person who wouldn't keep their word. 5. Delays: Some people who do take on the assignment, do not submit on time. There's always an excuse. And 90% of people use the same reason for the delay. Seems like it's a common excuse. 6. Lack of skills: Some good candidates who do everything perfectly, unfortunately, get rejected because of their bad skills/lack of skills. You need to work on your skills. 7. Bad attitude: Some people straight up come out as if the job is owed, and right away start complaining about the pay and the work even before they have sent their sample (we never hire them, no matter how good their skills are). Make sure you avoid these mistakes so you can have a higher chance of getting that job.

In my mind, this is how the conversation goes: Editor: "We need a new topic or theme around which to create content." Writer/Reporter: "What about adding "quiet" to something that already happens and basically restating something that's already known? Editor: "Like what?" Writer/Reporter: "Quitting. Vacationing. AI. Politics. Working. Breathing. Sitting. Firing. Really anything." Editor: "Brilliant!"

Looking at GenAI through the lens of a career Technical Writer is a fraught experience for many of us. Concerns over our jobs, funding, and the future dominates many conversations I see within my field. Yet, the more I dig into it, the more I believe that this is not an existential risk to us - it is an existential *opportunity*. Our, at times staid, career field is on the cusp of radical change for the first time in decades. Now is not the time to fight it, but embrace it - we owe it to ourselves and our field to understand how our content expertise plays into a GenAI future. It is through educating ourselves, our leaders, and the public that we will move tech writing forward. The future may be a little scary but it's also big, bright, and exciting! More to come...

🤔I want to be a specialist. I want to be a generalist. I want both - and that used to feel like career suicide. For decades, we've been told to pick our lane. Get really good at one thing. "Jack of all trades, master of none" was the career death note. But something fascinating is happening. The same technological revolution that's making specialists invaluable is simultaneously creating an urgent need for connectors - people who can bridge different domains and make sense of complexity. Last week, I spoke to a copywriter who's become more valuable for her ability to craft AI-enhanced marketing campaigns than traditional writing alone. They didn't abandon their expertise. They expanded it. This is where the real opportunity lies. Not in choosing between depth and breadth, but in mastering the art of "strategic adaptation." The future doesn't belong to pure specialists or generalists. It belongs to those who can be both - the ones who maintain deep expertise while developing the ability to connect dots across disciplines. I call them "adaptive experts." They're the ones who: 👉Build on their core expertise rather than abandoning it 👉Actively seek connections between different domains 👉Stay curious about adjacent fields 👉Learn to translate complex ideas across audiences The question isn't "specialist or generalist?" It's "how can I build depth while maintaining the agility to evolve?" How are you future-proofing your career? Are you Team Specialist, Team Generalist, or are you crafting your own path? #Careerdevelopment #Jobs #Careers #Professionaldevelopment

One of our clients was having trouble backfilling technical writer positions. Every time a writer resigned, went on PTO, or straight up didn’t show up to work, those were lost hours. Which, if you know anything about technical writing, means products can’t be shipped and sales cycles grind to a halt. So these stoppages translated directly to lost revenue. Then Brightwing stepped in. Because of our extensive talent network, we were able to keep these positions filled—and give new technical writers a shot they otherwise may not have received. After nine years of working with the same writers, the client decided to hire them. Now, that wouldn’t have happened had either the client or writers been squeamish about a contract agreement. So don’t dismiss a contract role out of hand—even if your ultimate goal is a permanent placement. Because you never know how one opportunity could change the course of your career for the better. Do you have stories of how a contract position led to an even better opportunity down the line? Drop a comment and let me know.